Asking because I haven’t heard much about it that comes from reliable sources (actually reliable sources, not what Wikipedia defines as a reliable source).
Asking because I haven’t heard much about it that comes from reliable sources (actually reliable sources, not what Wikipedia defines as a reliable source).
Erm the people I work with and grew up with are perfectly normal people. In fact often my most reliable. I learned that most pay a “religious tax” from their take home pay (after usual taxes etc) to give to charities.
Zakat, which is ~2.5%. It’s also not just take home pay, but all your assets that you’ve had for at least a year
Christians and Jews call it a tithe, it’s supposed to be 10%. Idk about most Jews, but most local (to me) Christians donate 0-10%. Some tithe more.
Isn’t tithe specifically for the operations of the church, with one of those duties being charity? Apologies if I’m incorrect, I’m not Christian so I don’t know the exact concept.
I know we Shia Muslims have Zakat as well as well as Khums. Zakat being a percentage of all wealth (1/40th) taken at the end of the year for charity and Khums being 1/5th of disposable income for the operations of the faith. Essentially Zakat is based on wealth and a direct donation to charity whereas Khums is based on available income and assets after debts have been paid meant to uphold religious programs (one of which is also charity).
Khums is collected and distributed by mosques, Sheikhs, scholars, and Marja and distrubuted by these institutions to things like upkeep, funding schools, charity, pilgrimage programs, etc. It’s also quite specifically exists in the Shia faith because we believe that Sayyeds (people who have family connections to the prophet) are not allowed to recieve charity unless from other Sayyeds.
Khums is collected from Muslims and disturbed by those who collect it. Zakat meanwhile is an individual duty of every Muslim rather than something you just give to the masjid.
I’m writing all this to basically say, I thought that tithe was like the Christian version of Khums. However if someone can contridict me I’m case it’s a misunderstanding then please do so.
Thank you for sharing and expounding on your giving tradition, it’s quite interesting; are any exceptions made for those in poverty?
Well I’m not Jewish, but if I understand correctly, the word “tithe” descends from Jewish tradition of charity. Perhaps one of our Jewish comrads could confirm or deny?
Eta: in Christianity that I’ve experience with, whether protestant or Catholic, a flat 10% of gross income is expected, donated as you will. If given to a church, the church decides distribution, unless otherwise specified by the donor.
I personally try to give 70% monetarily, and 30% time, although my income after taxes often inverts the formula or dispenses with it altogether (based on material conditions). This formula is specific to myself for my own peculiar reasons.
No problem. If you have any debts to pay, for example a mortgage, rent, etc, than you must pay that first before Khums, though I’m not as sure about Zakat but I assume most Marja would apply the same ruling.
After looking it up from Sistani, the most widely followed Shia Marja, he essentially says, If the amount you have to pay after debts goes below a minimum threshold then Zikat is not obligatory.
Some links to Sistani on the general ruling of Zakat:
Q&A Zakat
Distribution of Zakat
Fitra: I’m not sure I grasp the full comprehension of this word as given by search results, the best seems to be here: https://blog.quranmajeed.com/what-is-fitra-and-fidya-in-islam/ I admit I am regrettably ignorant, so the fault is probably my own.
I think I have a vague but good enough understanding of Zakat.
From a cursory reading of your and my links here, it does seem that if a person can not meet both debt and sustainable living expenses, you are correct about a very poor person being released from Zakat.
It would seem almsgiving from every religious perspective is supposed to prioritize the individuals over the institution, if it’s not possible to give to both.
For anyone with a faith position, whether you take it literally or not: how do you approach donated necessities of life (food, shelter, clothing, refrigeration, a way to cook, heat, cool, clean self and dwelling) that aren’t actually needed or usable by you? I tend to pass then along to the next person or donation outlet, which seems more desirable than letting it spoil or go to ruin if not perishables. Do you feel this is correct? Not that it absolves me from any portion of my own obligations, of course.
Fitra, basically is just derived from fitr which means “fasting”. If I’m remembering right, in regards to zakat, it’s essentially something somebody does if they can’t make up their fast for Ramadan for whatever reason. Instead of redoing your fast at a later day/partaking in the fast in general (usually due to health) the way to make up that fast is to give to charity.
For my family, we usually just try to use spoilables whenever we can but give them to other family members or the Mosque when we have a surplus. For things like clothing, I’m not as in tuned as I’m not one to buy ew clothing much unless I need to. For unneeded ones we usually give them to thrift stores, good will, donation, or to someone we know who needs them.
It just seems like the natural thing to do in my opinion, so I’ve never really ascribed a moral or objective position to it. So I guess by that metric I’d call it “correct” but that’s from just my subjective perspective rather an a detailed analysis of practice.
Look at that, a Muslim and Christian whose values largely align rather neatly, 🫂
Most excellent replies, comrade, I look forward to reading these after evening chores! Thanks so much, again!
Yes most western Christian tithes go into the pocket of the church admin. Usually they have some performative charity program they will use some for to keep up the illusion of helping people and every now and then a church does a significant amount of charity that is more admirable.it is still quite different than how zakat typically functions