Ilona Horvath using virtual reality goggles in the Margareta nursing home in Kecskemet, Hungary. Reuters
Ilona Horvath using virtual reality goggles in the Margareta nursing home in Kecskemet, Hungary. Reuters
Hand sculpted pyramids by artist Jim Denevan, as part of a land art installation for the Manar Abu Dhabi Initiative on Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Hand sculpted pyramids by artist Jim Denevan, as part of a land art installation for the Manar Abu Dhabi Initiative on Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Migrants in the border town of Lukeville, Arizona, wait to be transported by the US border patrol after crossing the border wall into the US from Mexico. Reuters
Migrants in the border town of Lukeville, Arizona, wait to be transported by the US border patrol after crossing the border wall into the US from Mexico. Reuters
Daniela Haralambie of Romania during the women's FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competition in Engelberg, Switzerland. AP
Daniela Haralambie of Romania during the women's FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competition in Engelberg, Switzerland. AP
A priest in Buenaventura, Colombia, blesses the crew of the ARC Simon Bolivar before its departure to Antarctica. EPA
A priest in Buenaventura, Colombia, blesses the crew of the ARC Simon Bolivar before its departure to Antarctica. EPA
Viviane Oliveira has her make-up done before a Christmas celebration organised by the NGO Favela Mundo in the Caju slums complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Reuters
Viviane Oliveira has her make-up done before a Christmas celebration organised by the NGO Favela Mundo in the Caju slums complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Reuters
Migrants wait to be transported by the US border patrol after crossing the border into the US from Mexico. The number of migrants has surged in the border town of Lukeville, Arizona. Reuters
Migrants wait to be transported by the US border patrol after crossing the border into the US from Mexico. The number of migrants has surged in the border town of Lukeville, Arizona. Reuters
An aerial view of fishing boats in the harbour in Lianyungang, China. Boats were ordered back to port after a yellow warning was issued for cold weather and high winds. AFP
An aerial view of fishing boats in the harbour in Lianyungang, China. Boats were ordered back to port after a yellow warning was issued for cold weather and high winds. AFP
Workers remove a head from the Soviet Army monument depicting a Soviet soldier, a worker and a mother and her child, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Work to dismantle the monument began this week after years of controversy between Russophiles and pro-Europeans in the former Communist country. AFP
Workers remove a head from the Soviet Army monument depicting a Soviet soldier, a worker and a mother and her child, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Work to dismantle the monument began this week after years of controversy between Russophiles and pro-Europeans in the former Communist country. AFP
Commuters on a street during heavy smog in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP
Commuters on a street during heavy smog in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP
Dancers of the Youth Russian Ballet Company wait backstage before performing in The Nutcracker at the annual Festival of Lights at Joburg Zoo, in Johannesburg. AFP
Dancers of the Youth Russian Ballet Company wait backstage before performing in The Nutcracker at the annual Festival of Lights at Joburg Zoo, in Johannesburg. AFP
Walkers on the Brazil-Venezuela border in the Brazilian city of Pacaraima. Reuters
Walkers on the Brazil-Venezuela border in the Brazilian city of Pacaraima. Reuters
Workers leaving after sprucing up the iconic Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles, California, for its 100th birthday. AFP
Workers leaving after sprucing up the iconic Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles, California, for its 100th birthday. AFP
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski collide during the second half of an NBA basketball game. AP Photo
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski collide during the second half of an NBA basketball game. AP Photo
Newly arrived Rohingya refugees receive donated food at a beach in Laweueng in Indonesia's Aceh province. AFP
Newly arrived Rohingya refugees receive donated food at a beach in Laweueng in Indonesia's Aceh province. AFP
Models present creations during an Africa Fashion Week event at Delight Technical College in Nairobi. AFP
Models present creations during an Africa Fashion Week event at Delight Technical College in Nairobi. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain fans light flares in the stands during a match against Nantes in the French capital. Reuters
Paris Saint-Germain fans light flares in the stands during a match against Nantes in the French capital. Reuters
USA's Madison Chock and Evan Bates compete in Grand Prix of Figure Skating final in Beijing. AFP
USA's Madison Chock and Evan Bates compete in Grand Prix of Figure Skating final in Beijing. AFP
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaks to the media on day 12 of Cop28 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaks to the media on day 12 of Cop28 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as seen from Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as seen from Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Waiters serve desserts during the Nobel Prize Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. AFP
Waiters serve desserts during the Nobel Prize Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. AFP
Israeli army soldiers keep position on a hill overlooking northern Gaza, amid continuing battles between Israel and Hamas. AFP
Israeli army soldiers keep position on a hill overlooking northern Gaza, amid continuing battles between Israel and Hamas. AFP
An apartment is left exposed where a corner of the residential building collapsed in the Bronx, New York. AP Photo
An apartment is left exposed where a corner of the residential building collapsed in the Bronx, New York. AP Photo
The special effects head of E.T. is displayed during Julien's Auction's press preview ahead of the public exhibition and auction, California. AFP
The special effects head of E.T. is displayed during Julien's Auction's press preview ahead of the public exhibition and auction, California. AFP
Pilgrims visit the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe inside the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Getty Images
Pilgrims visit the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe inside the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Getty Images
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour after a UN General Assembly meeting to vote on a non-binding resolution demanding 'an immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza. AFP
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour after a UN General Assembly meeting to vote on a non-binding resolution demanding 'an immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza. AFP
A worker fumigates a neighbourhood against dengue-promoting mosquitoes, in Caracas, Venezuela. AP
A worker fumigates a neighbourhood against dengue-promoting mosquitoes, in Caracas, Venezuela. AP
Palestinians shelter in a building damaged by Israeli strikes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Palestinians shelter in a building damaged by Israeli strikes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber with other officials before a plenary session during the UN climate summit in Dubai. AFP
Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber with other officials before a plenary session during the UN climate summit in Dubai. AFP
In this aerial view, the landmark Kuwait Towers and other skyscrapers pierce through the cloud cover over Kuwait City. AFP
In this aerial view, the landmark Kuwait Towers and other skyscrapers pierce through the cloud cover over Kuwait City. AFP

Weekend

The best photos of the week: From virtual reality in Hungary to clouds in Kuwait

Striking pictures from around the world

The National

December 15, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Friday's best photos: From ski jumping in Switzerland to virtual reality in Hungary

Thursday's best photos: From pyramids in Abu Dhabi to smog in Lahore

Wednesday's best photos: From the UN General Assembly to Cop28

Tuesday's best photos: From fog in Kashmir to Christmas lights in London

Monday's best photos: From fog in Kuwait City to a giant panda in the snow

Sunday's best photos: From Venetian canal turned green to Biathlon World Cup

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Zakat definitions

Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.

Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.

Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.

Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.

Updated: December 15, 2023, 6:41 PM
Weekend