Question and Answer

Unjust Zakah Rates

I fail to understand why the Zakat ratio is 5% for them who invest and include services while Zakat for those who invest or give services is 10%. I understand the professionals who are salaried persons earn much lesser than the businessmen. According to this theory Zakat obligation on businessmen is half of that for professionals who are earning much lesser than the businessmen.

First, it is more accurate to say Zakah is 5% for money that is earned by interaction of capital and labour, and is 10% for money that is earned by only one of these factors.

Second I don't think we can make a general rule that businessmen make more money than professionals. Only those businessmen earn a lot who have been successful in their business and have managed to make it vast and stable. Not many businessmen are like this, in fact not many businesses survive enough to bring any real profit to their owners.

It seems like the logic behind the rule, as mentioned above, is not related to the amount of earning but relates to the risk that might be involved. In general and overall, when an earning is based on both capital and labour, the risk of loss is higher compared to the situation where only capital or only labour is needed.
As you know there is also 2.5% Zakah due on any wealth that is not in personal or business use.