Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Zakāt (Arabic: زكاة IPA: [zækæːh], sometimes "Zakāh/Zekat"[1]) or "alms giving", one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the giving of a small percentage of one's possessions (surplus wealth) to charity, generally to poor and needy Muslims. It is often compared to the system of tithing and alms, but it serves principally as the welfare contribution to poor and deprived Muslims, although others may have a rightful share. It is the duty of an Islamic community not just to collect zakat but to distribute it fairly as well.