Quote:
Originally Posted by rahat
Sorry I'm a bit confused. We have a different system of Islamic taxes ...
What is the sunni view on zakat?
What is the sunni view on khums?
not trying to start an argument! just genuinely interested.
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rahat
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So far as I know, there is no khums in Sunni Islam, just zakat and sadaqa. For zakat, you owe zakat if your assets are over a certain ammount, and you have kept them for a year or more. If those qualifications are met, your zakat is 2.5% of the assets you have kept for a year over that amount. I am not sure what the exact baseline level is, but I think you have to have assets more than $200 (If you're in America) to be required to pay zakat. You pay zakat on your savings, investement money, property, and other fixed valuables like Gold. If you have just an ordinary car, I don't think you pay zakat on that, since it devalues every year.
You pay Zakat either to the Muslim government for distribution, or you can distribute it yourself to those who are in need of zakat money. You can't give it to your relatives whom you are ordinarily required to support (parents, brothers and sisters, wife, children, husband) but you can give it to distant relatives if they qualify as needy enough for zakat. You cannot benefit from the zakat. So far as I know, the person who is qualified to recieve zakat is the person who is so poor as to not pay any themselves, and may also be mired in debts and facing oher hardships.
That's what I've learned from the books I've read. Anyone who has more knowledge, or if I've said something incorrect, please post.