Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. The word zakat means both ‘purification’ and ‘growth’. If you are a Muslim eligible for paying Zakat, you can attain spiritual and financial purity and increase the wealth of both yourself and of others by paying Zakat every year. In the Quran, Allah promises,

“Those who believe and do good deeds, and observe Salat, and give Zakat, will be rewarded by Allah; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

– Baqarah: 277

Allah says,

“The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”

– Surah At-Tawbah: 71