form of capital, whether in the shape of cash or kind. Precious stones, as already stated, are excepted, because the payment of zakāt on them would necessitate their sale. Machinery employed in industry must follow the same rule. It should, in fact, be regarded in the same light as the implements of an artisan, and its earnings become taxable when the necessary conditions as to the assessment of zakāt are fulfilled. Stock-in-trade should be treated in a similar manner; that is to say, only the yearly profit should be taxable, not the stock itself. In the case of all things on which zakāt is payable, whether cereals, livestock or other articles of merchandise, their value should be determined, and zakāt levied at the universal rate of two and a half per cent. Where the Muslims live under non-Muslim governments, and the collection and disbursement of zakāt cannot be undertaken by these governments, the duty devolves on the Muslim community as a whole, and the institution of zakāt must take the shape of a national Muslim institution in every country where there is a Muslim population.

How zakāt should be spent

The items of the expenditure of zakāt are thus expressly stated in the Holy Qur’ān: “Alms (ṣadaqāt) are only for the poor (fuqarā’), and the needy (masākīn), and the officials appointed over them, and those whose hearts are made to incline to truth (al-mu’allafati qulūbu-hum), and the captives, and those in debt, and in the way of Allāh and for the wayfarer: an ordinance (farīdzah) from Allāh, and Allāh is Knowing, Wise” (9:60). As already noted, zakāt is sometimes mentioned under the name of ṣadaqah. That this is the significance of ṣadaqāt here is made clear by the concluding words of the verse, where it is called a farīdzah, or an obligatory duty, which word is applicable to zakāt only. The eight heads of expenditure spoken of here may be divided into three classes. The first relates to those who stand in need of help, including the poor, the needy, those whose hearts are made to incline to truth, captives, debtors and wayfarers. Secondly, there are the officials appointed for collection and disbursement of the fund. And, thirdly, a part of the zakāt is required to be spent in the way of Allāh. A few words of explanation may be added as regards each class.