Pillars of Compassion: The Significance of Zakat in Islam

Essay, Pages 8 (1973 words)

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Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam, and certainly one of the most important for the Muslims. The word Zakat in Arabic means purity. Apportioning a certain amount of money from one’s personal assets is termed as Zakat. In its practical application, the act of calculating an amount from one’s personal assets or income and then segregating it and giving it in charity is considered as Zakat. Zakat is strong emphasized both in Quran and Sunnah, and we can clear verses in Quran. In fact, Zakat was made mandatory on all the Prophets as well, be it Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa, Prophet Isa and Prophet Muhammad. The word Zakat appears more than 30 times in Quran, which tells us the importance of it. Islam emphasize Zakat and charity and it is an obligatory charity for every Muslim.

Zakat is mostly given annually, based on the Islamic calendar. Muslim can mark out a specific day of the year to give zakat, for example the 20th of Ramadan, or the 15th of Ramadan.

However, it is not necessary to give zakat in Ramadan, you may give it at any time of the year but in Ramadan, it is not just more rewarding, it is also more practical because people are in the spirit, in the mood because of the holy month. Most of the Muslim ummah gives zakat in the month of Ramadan. Zakat has to be given only by proper intention and Niyah, it is not that you give someone money someday and then when calculating Zakat, you count it.

No, if you are giving Zakat before your annual year, it has to be with complete intention or else it would not be counted as a Zakat.

Zakat has to be given by every single Muslim who has above the Nisab. Nisab is an amount that decided by the Shariah, that is the Islamic law and roughly it equated to around 3 ounces of gold, means 3 ounces of gold or its equal cash. If a person has more than the amount of Nisab for over a year, he is obligatory to give Zakat. Zakat is 2.5% of your cash or your liquid assets, means when you calculate your income or minimal amount for the whole year, if it’s more than the Nisab, you have to give Zakat of 2.5% of that total amount of cash or assets you have, and it’s up to individual how much he wants to give, it can much more than 2.5% if he wishes, but it should not be less than 2.5%.

Who is eligible for Zakat? Allah (SWT) clearly mentions 8 categories in Quran to which Zakat can be given, and these 8 categories are the only one to whom Zakat can be given, if you are giving someone money who does not fall in the category, It will be considered a good deed but it won’t be considered as Zakat. Allah (SWT) tells Zakat can be given to, first and fore mostly the Faqir and secondly to the Maskeen or needy ones. Faqir is someone who does not have money or ways to eat, or place to live and maskeen are someone who are in dire need of money for whatsoever reasons. Thirdly, Zakat can be to given to Zakat collectors, means people who set up different Zakat centers to collect Zakat, and people who work there to collect Zakat needs salaries, and those salaries can be given by the amount Muslims pays as Zakat.

Fourthly, Zakat can be given to freeing captives of slaves. Next, Zakat can be given to people who are debt, it can be given to debtors. Zakat can also be given for the love of Allah, in the way of Allah. You can give zakat in the way of Allah if you have descent amount and Allah love those people who spends in the way for him. Lastly, Zakat can be given to the wayfarers, or the travelers who are cut off from their sources of income. Zakat is mostly given to the first two categories which are mainly the most important ones in the world as well. The other six are not really relevant for average Muslims, so we find people who are faqir and maskeen, who needs money for food and to live better, Zakat are given mostly to them. Most importantly, Zakat can be given your blood relatives who are in need, But Zakat can never ever be given to your mother, father or your son and daughter or wife or husband.

Zakat has immense amount of impact in one’s individual life and even as a whole society. Zakat has several economic and social impacts in a society. As far economic society is concerned, unlike capitalism or socialism, the economic order of Islam is based on this principle that everything is in this world, everything in this universe belongs to Allah (SWT), and He is the owner, the creator, and sustainer of everything. Based on this principle, Allah (SWT) says in the Quran [24:33]; ‘And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), write it for them if ye are aware of aught of good in them, and bestow upon them of the wealth of Allah which He hath bestowed upon you’ Allah is telling us to give out of the means He has provided us in the form of trust, property and wealth.

It tells us that all the wealth we have is of Allah (SWT) and tells that we have to spend it according to ways and means Allah has provided us, And Quran also clearly shows us how the wealth should be earned and spent. He has clearly told us to differentiate between Haraam and Halaal earning. The purpose of telling this all is that the wealth we have is all his, and he has shown us how spend it generously and equally, and giving Zakat and charity is a part of it. Allah (SWT) has told us to spend in his way and he loves it when we do, Allah (SWT) says in Quran [2:261]; ‘The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains.

And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills’ which tells us that if you spend even one grain in the way of Allah, Allah (SWT) will give him seven hundred times of profit to him, which is equal to seventy thousand percent profit in a business terminology, and there is no other business in the world which can give you any profit even closer to this. If everyone follows it, it will make the whole community better, and no one is going to sleep without food in his stomach of even roof on his head. Allah has given such amazing instructions which becomes equal for both poor and rich. There will be no poverty is every Muslim society practices Zakat properly. Zakat has several more collective social impacts as well in a society such as, it discourages beggary in a society, it embodies social justice and harmony and lastly it tightens the brotherhood between Muslims. Allah tells us that what I have given you, you have to share it with others who don’t have it.

Zakat is practiced by Muslims all over the world throughout the year as an order of Allah. Giving zakat is one of the most important practical application in a Muslim’s life, and it is a test from Allah as well to check how much wealth does the people who have, shares it with others. Zakat is a duty that we have to do in the way of Allah. Allah tells us to share whatever he has given us with those who don’t have it. Zakat is an ingredient of peace, you want peace, you have to share what Allah gave you with those who don’t have it. It was up to Allah, if he wanted he could have made all of us wealthy, if he wanted he could’ve made no one in need of the distribution of the wealth that another has but it is part of his divine plan, he will provide and he wants to see what you do with what he has provided, are you prepared to share it or not, if you are, you will achieve peace.

Allah has told us that he created the others who don’t have it what you have, and he asks us to dig deep in our pockets and share it with them. Many of us are selfish, we don’t share with the ones in need, we run away from someone who is in need, and then we ask why don’t we have happiness and peace, it’s because Allah does not give us the peace. However, Allah has even told us about the consequences of not paying zakat. Allah does not like when people who can pay Zakat don’t pay it. Allah does not shower his blessings on such kind of people, and similarly they don’t find peace in their life. Quran says [9:34]; ‘O you who have believed, surely many of the doctors and monks indeed eat (up) the riches of mankind untruthfully and bar from the way of Allah; and (so do) the ones who hoard gold and silver and do not expend them in the way of Allah.

Then give them the tidings of a painful torment’. This verse that asks to those, who hoard gold and silver, and does not spend it in the way of Allah (SWT), announce to them a grievous penalty, it further tells us that in the hereafter, their hoarded wealth, will be taken and it will be heated in the fire of hellfire. They will be then even asked to taste that wealth. And it is all because of hoarding the wealth and not spending in the way of Allah. It tells us how important it is to spend in the way of Allah.

Islam has always told the best possible way one can follow to live a peaceful and perfect life. Even though the teachings of Islam has been given since the start of the universe, they were given thousands of years ago, but still in today’s world, it is the perfect way to lead and it has all the answers of current problems and misconceptions, that is why it is also known as the most perfect and complete religion. As said before, In Islam, Zakat holds extreme importance as well and it helps the individual and collectively the whole community in several ways and there are many advantages that which the Islamic world receives in exchange of Zakat which the world outside Islam doesn’t. Islam has always told us that when we spend In the way of Allah, Allah rewards us with double the profits, and for Zakat, the teachings are same.

Islam says, those who gives charity, seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT), they will surely find an increased in their wealth. Zakat is a sign of true belief, and even Prophet Muhammad has said, when you give charity or Zakat, it does not decrease your wealth, and these all teaching and rewards are only given through Islam, and no other religion in the world,. Zakat increases the brotherhood between Muslim ummah, the whole Muslim ummah throughout the world, becomes one family, and they care for others, rich gives Zakat to poor and feel they all are a part of one family, they get to the pain and grieve of others, and take part in it like family, all these things does not happen in any religion except Islam, which shows us how much importance and significance it holds in the world.