ZAKAT LITERACY
In honor of Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza
Zakat is widely understood to be one of the five pillars of Islam and is unique in terms of community development and Muslim philanthropy. However, it could be argued that Zakat is still very much misunderstood and not always correctly implemented. Questions remain regarding how it should be calculated, how it is different from charity (sadaqa), and how the various categories should be implemented in the modern period. This page is dedicated to educating the community about the pillar and bridging the gap between scholars and community members.
In honor of Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza
Zakat is widely understood to be one of the five pillars of Islam and is unique in terms of community development and Muslim philanthropy. However, it could be argued that Zakat is still very much misunderstood and not always correctly implemented. Questions remain regarding how it should be calculated, how it is different from charity (sadaqa), and how the various categories should be implemented in the modern period. This page is dedicated to educating the community about the pillar and bridging the gap between scholars and community members.
RESOURCES
1) BOOKS
- Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza - Five Pillars of Prosperity (especially Chapter 5)
- Five Pillars of Prosperity: Essentials of Faith-Based Wealth Building by Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza provides readers with a balanced and sensible approach to financial planning and security.
2) VIDEOS
- Zakat Panel from the CICW Conference at Huron College, Canada
- The event brings together scholars, philanthropists, financial advisors, and social workers to explore the practical challenges of collecting, calculating, and distributing zakat (a pillar of Islam) within modern, complex global economies
- Five Pillars of Prosperity Book Talk at ADAMS Center
- Dr. Yaqub Mirza visits ADAMS to discuss his book Five Pillars of Prosperity: Essentials of Faith Based Wealth Building
- Webinar on Five Pillars of Prosperity at IIUM
- This webinar hosted by Centre for Professional Development at IIUM features Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza discussing his book, Five Pillars of Prosperity, which outlines an Islamic framework for financial management and ethical wealth building. The session provides practical insights on balancing earning, saving, investing, spending, and charitable giving to achieve personal stability and social impact.
3) ARTICLES AND OTHER RESOURCES
- Dr. Yaqub's Mirza's article on Zakat in Islamic Horizons
- Dr. Jasser Auda's tafsir on the Qur'anic verse on Zakat
- Dr. Jasser's Auda's article on paying Zakat to a waqf
- Dr. Jasser's Auda's presentation on understanding the Zakat
- Fiqh Council of North America's position on the Zakat on Stocks
- Drafted by Shaykh Umer Khan. Approved by the Fiqh Council.
- Collection of fatawa (fatwas) by the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America
- "The Use and Misuse of Zakāh Funds by Religious Institutions in North America" by Yousef Aly Wahb
Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza (1946 - 2025)
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DEDICATION
This page is in honor of M. Yaqub Mirza, who was the founding President of the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World (CICW). He was a life long philanthropist and advocate of Zakat, speaking and writing widely on the issue. He believed that community members should educate themselves in Zakat, continuously research it, and find mechanisms to implement it. Many of his lectures, writings, and resources are found on this page. An obituary of M. Yaqub Mirza can be found here. |