Zakat al- fitr is due after the month of Ramadan is over. Each Muslim must pay it on his behalf and for those whom he is duty bound to support. How it is paid, to whom, the amount and the time are all explained below. 

Zakat due on loans differs according to the state of the borrower. If his is not able to pay; then the lender has to pay it just for one year. But in case he can repay it, the lender has to pay zakat for all the period. 

Zakat is due on Muslims only but some conditions are to be applied such as; being free, owning more than person’s need from money food and clothes, and in some cases the turn of a full lunar year on a person’s property.  

Zakat is payable for the poor and needy wherever they are. It is permissible to transfer zakat to another town. It is also encouraged to pay it to poor relatives as it gives one the advantage of kindness to relatives.

Zakat isn't a must in 6 classes of people; those who can earn their living, offspring, wives, ancestors, unbelievers, prophet's descendants, and slaves. It isn't necessary to satisfy the 8 zakat deservers.

Zakat is for 8 classes of people; the poor, the needy , the administrative workers , those whose hearts are to be won over, freeing people in bondage, paying debts , travellers in need and for further god causes.

Cattle include camels, cows and bovine animals are objects deserving zakat to be paid on certain conditions; the threshold should be met, to be owned for more than a year, grazing period and not used for living.

Zakat is obligatory on what earth produces; grains which are fully grown, can be eaten, stored and meeting the threshold. Rikaz which is gold or silver and minerals which is agreed to be anything coming from earth.

Commercial commodities refer to everything a Muslim own and uses for trade. They should be owned by personal action for the intention of trading and their value must be equal or to exceed Zakat threshold.

Scholars agree that Zakat is due on jewelry kept as savings. But they differ in their view on jewelry kept for permissible use. As a conclusion, zakat is not due on usable jewelry if it is within reasonable limits.

Zakat must be paid on gold and silver. An amount of 2.5 percent is required to be paid but there are some conditions that should be met like; ownership of the threshold, full ownership and the turn of a year.

Zakat has a huge positive economic effect on the society. It helps solving poor and needy problems. It plays a significant role in wealth and resources redistribution and encourages better productivity.

Zakat has numerous social effects. It erases zakat payer sins, purifies his heart from any greed and removes any traces of miserliness. It also spreads a spirit of mutual care and love within the Muslim community. 

Zakat is paid on 5 types of properties; cattle, gold and silver, commercial goods, grains and fruits and mineral resources. Each has its conditions. Those who neglect paying it are promised a painful suffering. 

Withholding zakat is a grave sin but it does not mean that the person is an unbeliever. They are liable to punishment and zakat could be taken from them by force until they submit to God’s commands. 

If a Muslim denies zakat and he is fully aware of Islamic rules and has access to scholars he is considered as an apostate. Only those who are new to Islam or have valid reason are not deemed to be unbelievers.

Zakat is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is a charity duty imposed on a certain threshold of excess money and paid to the poor. It is the most important pillar after testifying that there is no deity than God and prayer.