Is Zakaat equivalent to tax?

June 1, 2014 By

Question:

1) Is income tax I pay to Indian government not equivalent prima facie to zakat?

2) If not, am I not burdened twice being a Muslim?

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1) Zakat and tax are not the same thing. There’s a world of difference between the two. Hence, by paying tax, one is not absolved of zakat — just as by paying zakat, one will not be absolved from tax.

2) Tax may be a burden if it is being misused by the government or if too much of it is levied on the public. As for zakat, it is a means of purification and increase of one’s wealth. Allah Ta’ala is the One who gave us wealth and He has all the right to take it away from us whenever and however He wants.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Mufti Faizal Riza
14/08/2013

Darul Ifta Australia

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Filed Under: Fatwa, Zakaat and Sadaqa (charity)