Exploring Religious Thought Series

Social Justice in Islam: The Principle of Zakat

Zakat is one of the 5 Pillars of Islam which states that all people who are financially able are required to pay 2.5% of their wealth to the needy. This talk will explore how Zakat functions as the basis for Islam’s commitment to social justice serving as a bridge between rich and poor. We will explore the Qur’anic basis for Zakat, who is required to pay Zakat, who are its recipients and the ways in which Zakat can be given out. The talk will also explore how Zakat and social justice function as important elements of Islam’s commitment to communal harmony and prosperity.

Zeki Saritoprak is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and Director of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies, at John Carroll University. A native of Turkey he has spent more than thirty years studying Islamic theology and mysticism. He is the author of many works on Islam, spirituality, and interfaith dialogue. Dr. Saritoprak received his Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey and has authored more than fifty academic articles and encyclopedia entries. His books include Islam’s Jesus (2014) and Islamic Spirituality (2019) and he is currently working on a book on Islamic Eschatology.