By Abdullahi Jamaa
When people stop paying zakat rain stops falling from the skies, the weather turns harsh and dull while the earth gets hot and timid. Environment on ground and the firmament above will become devoid of Allah’s blessings.
When people interpret Zakat as a penalty instead of reward they get swallowed in the earth afflicted with earthquakes, windstorms and tsunamis. These calamities will fall in succession, rapidly like withered leaves falling one after the other.
When nations stop paying Zakat, famine and drought ravages their people, food shortages will be a common occurrence. The vicious cycles of crippling natural disasters that always come hot on the heels of each other is a powerful indication of Allah’s punishments.
When people deal with Zakat as an avoidable expense just like avoidable government taxes in their books of account, a cosmos of biting and boring poverty will overshadow the blessings of their businesses and properties.
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said “Every day two angels come down from heaven and one of them says, O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in your cause and the other angel says O Allah! Destroy every miser”
The obligation of paying Zakat was commanded to the Muslims in the second year of Hijra calendar through a revelation in the holy Quran. Allah commanded “And be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down” (Quran: 2:43)
Every good deed done for the rich or the poor is charity. The giver of zakat takes advantage of countless blessings in the credence that charity will not diminish wealth.
Built on five fundamental pillars namely, Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Saum and Hajj, Islam is a religion of humanity that provides solutions to all kinds of problems that human beings face.
Meaning of Zakat
Zakat is an Arabic word which literally means ‘that which purifies”. In general, zakat within the Islamic concept means more than that including: growth, increase, righteousness, blessings and praise. Whoever honours its payment will inherit its beautiful attributes.
It purifies the payer from greed and selfishness while safeguarding feature businesses and investments. It also purifies receivers because it saves them from the humiliation of begging while preventing them from envying the rich and those blessed with wealth.
Obligatory alms propel equality and justice as it involves the rich to give out surplus wealth to the poor people. It is nobility that only those who understand the reason behind it will surely enjoy doing it.
“[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good – indeed, Allah is knowing of it.” [Al-Quran 2:273]
Imagine a world without Zakat; it would be a terrible place to live in for the poor. Allah’s commandment to pay Zakat is behind an intelligent understanding of the balance of world since both rich and poor need each other’s support in the equilibrium of life.
While givers of Zakat do it as an act of worship, the poor receives it as a right given to him by Allah (SW). In Islamic scholarly parlance Zakat is not a free mercy but an inalienable right of the poor. Denying its payment is tantamount to denying the rights of the poor.
Every rich Muslim is bound to pay Zakat as per the prescribed rate. Failing to do so attracts punishment both in this world and in the hereafter.
Allah (SW) says “O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah – give them tidings of a painful punishment” (Quran 9:34)
The devil intimidates with poverty and bids us to commit wicked and detestable deeds that includes refusal to pay Zakat. A Muslim must understand the wrath and the condemnation that comes with disobedience.
The Divine decree, by which Allah bids His servants to spend their wealth, is also significant in purging the habit of miserliness which is a grave sin.
Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the prophet (SAW) said “Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, I am your wealth, I am your treasure…..”
Rules of Zakat
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam that comes after testimonies of faith and prayers. It is a must for a wealthy Muslim to pay Zakat. It is obligatory alms that have deep roots in Islam.
As enshrined in the holy Quran and according to the teachings of our beloved prophet (SAW), Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and it is a form of worship that involves wealth.
When a Muslim person’s wealth reaches a prescribed amount called ‘Nisab’, in excess of his needs, that person is required to pay a share whether it is monetary wealth, gold or silver.
Its payment is obligatory upon all Muslims who are able to do so. It is an important act of worship that involves selflessness, generosity and piety.
One should endeavour to choose one of the most opportune times to pay Zakat, resulting in more closeness to Allah and compounding the value of the Zakat.
Zakat is payable once in a year at a rate of 2.5 per cent of excess wealth earned in that particular year. It requires strict compounding and calculations of exact payable amount to avert any inaccuracies.
There are certain favourable months of the year in which Zakat is encourage for payment. One such favourable time would be month of Muharram, since it is the first month of the Islamic year and one of the sacred months. Another is the Holy fasting month of Ramadan.
There are eight groups of people on whom Zakat should be spent. The Quran explains the list of qualified receivers in a clear way that defines why these groups of people were chosen to receive obligatory alms.
“Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler – an obligation [imposed] by Allah . And Allah is Knowing and Wise” (Quran 9:60)
Al-Fuqara (The poor)
Fuqara are the people who live below the poverty line and don’t have enough means to live a normal life like others. They deserve your zakat in order to meet the daily necessities of their lives.
Al-Masakin (The needy)
Masakin are extremely poor and needy people. These people don’t have any possessions or income. Your zakat money can help them in improving their living condition.
Zakat collectors
Zakat can be given to the people who are authorized to collect and distribute it among the needy and poor. It includes the trustworthy institutions and NGOS who are working to help underprivileged Muslim communities.
Converts
Those who are newly converted to Islam are eligible to receive zakat (if they are needy). For example, if someone has converted and is detached from their family and friends, you can give your zakat to them so that they can start their new journey.
Freeing captives
Slavery is prohibited in many parts of the world but there are still some places where people are trafficked and kept as slaves. Your zakat money can help slaves in freeing themselves and improve their living standard.
Debtors
Zakat can be given to pay off debts of someone who cannot repay on his own. However, one must make sure that the money borrowed by debtor is not used for any un-Islamic or wrong purpose.
In the path of Allah
Those who are striving in the path of Allah are entitled to receive your zakat. Your zakat can help them have a better living. They include those who seek knowledge of the deen and who cannot meet their financial obligations.
Wayfarer (Travelers)
Zakat can be given to a traveller who is left alone in a foreign land and is in need of money to get back to his destination or to fulfil his objective of traveling. There is a condition that the person should be traveling for a lawful purposes otherwise he is not entitled to receive zakat. Refugees are also wayfarers and can be given zakat money as they leave their countries because of violence and oppression in search of a safe and better place.
The role of Zakat
The hand that pays Zakat is always the upper hand. It is the hand of mercy and compassion. The hand that is loyal to its creator. It extends itself in total submission to the perfect commandments of Allah.
It is a blessing from Allah to both the giver and the receiver. Wealth in which Zakat is paid is different from the one in which Zakat has not been paid.
Hakim Bin Hizam narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said “The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses).And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient”
Overflowing with the milk of human kindness, zakat payers extend goodness of the heart and a brotherly love to deserving members of the community. Cementing friendship, advancing community interest and the bonds of harmony is what they stand for.
Those who pay it with unswerving obedience enjoy magnanimity and benevolence. Only true believers who foment their helping hand in aspiration of meeting their religious commandments will inherit Allah’s endless bounties.
Zakat establishes a society of mutual co-existence and brotherliness where those in need are supported with dignity without asking for assistance. This a wonderful attribute of Zakat that holds communities together, further building Islamic principles of brotherhood.
Obligatory alms helps in the reduction of social disparities among different groups within the community satisfying the recipients’ needs while addressing the longstanding problem of poverty and destitution.
Payment of Zakat plays a key role in the Muslim community. It bridges the gap between the haves and have-nots acting as a social welfare that supports and protects the less privileged in the society.
Zakat is the most effective measure to improve the economic condition of the have-nots. It is not, however, a mere tax, but a form of worship whereby a man comes close to his Lord.
Evading Zakah like government taxes is common among many Muslims, you can of course escape from man but one cannot hide his wealth from Allah, the ultimate owner of wealth. The primary motive of zakat is religious and spiritual, while the social and economic aspects are subservient to it.
So much is the importance of zakat in Islam that it has been mentioned at eighty two places in the Qur’an in close connection with prayer. Zakat acts as the shield that protects Muslims from the evil of the pleasures and splendours of world and the key to achieve ultimate success in the hereafter.
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The Meaning Of Wealth In Islam
Islamic Principles Of Wealth And Prosperity
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The Ideal Muslim Employee
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