ZAKAT does not mean "charity"----it is simitar money---
and all "believers" are required to PAY IT
Somehow I think that this is less than accurate.
What is ZakatZakat means grow (in goodness) or 'increase', 'purifying' or 'making pure'. So the act of giving zakat means purifying one's wealth to gain Allah's blessing to make it grow in goodness.
Further:
Zakat - Wikipedia the free encyclopediaAccording to the Quran, there are eight categories of people (asnaf) who qualify to receive zakat funds:[21][22]
- Those living in absolute poverty (Al-Fuqarā').
- Those restrained because they cannot meet their basic needs (Al-Masākīn).
- The zakat collectors themselves (Al-Āmilīna 'Alaihā).
- Non-Muslims who are sympathetic to Islam or wish to convert to Islam (Al-Mu'allafatu Qulūbuhum).
- People whom one is attempting to free from slavery or bondage. Also includes paying ransom or blood money (Diyya). (Fir-Riqāb)
- Those who have incurred overwhelming debts while attempting to satisfy their basic needs (Al-Ghārimīn).
- Those working in God's way (Fī Sabīlillāh).
- Children of the street / Travellers (Ibnus-Sabīl).
The poor, the enslaved, orphans, priests--which of these people use scimitars, exactly?