The divinely ordained system of zakah is the right of Allah within His dominion. The word “zakah” means purification and growth. Its regular payment purifies the owner’s remaining wealth and purifies his heart from such ailments as greed and selfishness. The system of zakah ordained by Allah is the ideal way to meet the needs of poor without causing hardship to the rich. This booklet is an outline of basic Islamic rulings pertaining to obligatory zakah and voluntary charities..