Lecture on Zakat and Worship During 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah

Key Practices During 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah

• Strive to maximize good deeds.
• Spend one hour in dhikr, reflecting on the words.
• Recite Quran frequently.
• For those who can, perform an extra Umrah.
• Give charity daily; it's highly beloved by Allah.
• Honor and please living parents.
• Help others at work with the intention to benefit them.
• Fasting is encouraged, especially to emulate pilgrims.
• For those with wealth, sacrifice one or more animals (including additional sacrifices in home or poorer countries).

Zakat Overview

• First type of zakat: Cash, Silver, Gold:
  • Conditions: Meet nisab threshold, maintained for one year.
  • Gold: Nisab is 85 grams; Silver: 595 grams.
  • If you have £5,000 or more, meet the nisab condition.
  • No zakat on personal-use gold/silver jewelry.
  • For cumulative wealth over a year, calculate total zakat.
  • Different rulings for loaned money and inheritances.

Second Type of Zakat: Livestock or Cattle

Specific Conditions:

1. Nisab Condition: Minimum threshold (e.g., 5 camels, 30 cows, 40 sheep/goats).
2. One-Year Holding Period: Must hold livestock for one year.
3. Free Grazing: Majority of the year must be spent free grazing.
4. Non-Working Animals: Animals used for work (e.g., plowing) are excluded as wealth-producing tools.

Nisab for Various Livestock:

• Camels: Start giving zakat at 5 camels (1 goat/sheep for 5-24 camels); scale up requirements as livestock numbers increase.
• Cows: 30 cows (start giving from cows at nisab level).
• Sheep/Goats: 40 sheep/goats (give 1 at 40, increase incrementally till higher amounts).

Zakat Practicalities and Examples

• Collecting zakat is ideally a governmental duty.
• Can only pay cash for animals under specific circumstances.

Modern Considerations and Miscellaneous Rulings

• Haram earnings do not require zakat but should be disposed of responsibly.
• Disputes exist regarding zakat on retirement pensions and loans.
• Special considerations for crypto and modern financial contexts.
• Zakat on trade goods discussed later.

Comprehensive Q&A Session

Worship-Related Questions:

• Combining Prayers: Conditions for combining due to difficulty/outside necessity were discussed.
• Voluntary Slaughter: One animal suffices for head of family, including dependents.
• Giving Zakat: Process and restrictions (e.g., can't pay zakat to the wife directly).

Topic-Specific Questions:

• Questions on nisab for various livestock.
• Validity and conditions for praying istikhara (guidance prayer).
• What happens if one intends to perform Hajj or Umrah and their logistical and ritual requirements.

Advanced Zakat Topics:

• Combination of Ownership: Clarified what consists co-owned zakat duties.
• Borrowed Money: If loaned funds are to be zakat eligible.
• Charitable Possibilities: Can redefine given loans as zakat categorized aid.

Conclusion and Reminders

• The lecture emphasized the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah as an optimal time for worship and charity.
• Specific focus on the importance of correct zakat calculations and intentions in all forms of giving.