Zakat – The Arabic term for the third of the five pillars of Islam, which is the mandatory distribution of excess wealth as alms to the poor. It typically consists of distributing 2.5% (one-fortieth) of one’s excess wealth every year, as well as mandatory charity before the Eid Al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam. See also the other pillars of Islam – Shahadah, Salah, Sawm and Hajj.
