Zakat means purity and cleanliness. A portion set apart from the wealth for the needy and the poor is called Zakat. By giving the Zakat, both the wealth and the self of the person get purified. If somebody fails to give the poor and the needy what is their due, then his wealth remains impure. So also the inner self of this person is impure. Both Salah (prayer or worship) and Zakat were ordained as compulsory for the Ummah of all Prophets.
After mentioning Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and the Prophets of his race, the Qur’ān says:
“…and made them leaders who would guide [others] in accordance with Our behest: for We inspired them [with a will] to do good work, and to be constant in prayer, and to dispense charity: and Us [alone] did they worship.” [Surah Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), 21:73]
The Qur’ān says about Prophet Ismail:
“Who used to enjoin upon his people prayer and charity, and found favour in his Sustainer’s sight. [Surah Maryam (Mary), 19:55]
Prophet Musa (Moses) prayed for his people:
“And ordain Thou for us what is good in this world as well as in the life to come: behold, unto Thee have we turned in repentance! [Allah] answered: “With My chastisement do I afflict whom I will – but My grace overspreads everything: and so I shall confer it on those who are conscious of Me and spend in charity, and who believe in Our messages.” [Surah Al-A’raf (The Heights), 7:156]
Even after Prophet Musa, the people of Bani Israil were admonished on account of Salah and Zakat:
“And, indeed, Allah accepted a [similar] solemn pledge from the children of Israel when We caused twelve of their leaders to be sent [to Canaan as spies]. And Allah said: “Behold, I shall be with you! If you are constant in prayer, and spend in charity, and believe in My apostles and aid them, and offer up unto Allah a goodly loan, I will surely efface your bad deeds and bring you into gardens through which running waters flow. But he from among you who, after this, denies the truth, will indeed have strayed from the right path!” [Surah Al-Ma’idah (The Repast), 5:12]
Prophet Isa (Jesus) the last prophet before Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was commanded:
“…and made me blessed wherever I may be; and He has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live.” [Surah Maryam (Mary), 19:31]
The Salah and Zakat are mentioned together in numerous places in the Holy Qur’ān:
“Alif. Lam. Mim. This Divine Writ – let there be no doubt about it – is [meant to be] a guidance for all the Allah-conscious who believe in [the existence of] that which is beyond the reach of human perception, and are constant in prayer, and spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:1-3]
“…and be constant in prayer, and spend in charity, and bow down in prayer with all who thus bow down.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:43]
“And be constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues; for, whatever good deed you send ahead for your own selves, you shall find it with Allah: behold, Allah sees all that you do.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:110]
“True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west – but truly pious is he who believes in Allah, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance – however much he himself may cherish it – upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly pious are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of Allah.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:177]
“Verily, those who have attained to faith and do good works, and are constant in prayer, and dispense charity – they shall have their reward with their Sustainer, and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:277]
“But as for those from among them who are deeply rooted in knowledge, and the believers who believe in that which has been bestowed upon thee from on high as well as that which was bestowed from on high before thee, and those who are [especially] constant in prayer, and spend in charity, and all who believe in Allah and the Last Day – these it is unto whom We shall grant a mighty reward.” [Surah Al-Nisa’ (The Women), 4:162]
“Behold, your only helper shall be Allah, and His Apostle, and those who have attained to faith – those that are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues, and bow down [before Allah].” [Surah Al-Ma’idah (The Repast), 5:55]
“And they should not think – they who niggardly cling to all that Allah has granted them out of His bounty – that this is good for them: nay, it is bad for them. That to which they [so] niggardly cling will, on the Day of Resurrection, be hung about their necks: for unto Allah [alone] belongs the heritage of the heavens and of the earth; and Allah is aware of all that you do. [Surah Al-Imran (The Family of Imran), 3:180]
“O you who have attained to faith! Behold, many of the rabbis and monks do indeed wrongfully devour men’s possessions and turn [others] away from the path of Allah. But as for all who lay up treasures of gold and silver and do not spend them for the sake of Allah – give them the tiding of grievous suffering [in the life to come]: on the Day when that [hoarded wealth] shall be heated in the fire of hell and their foreheads and their sides and their backs branded therewith, [those sinners shall be told:] “These are the treasures which you have laid up for yourselves! Taste, then, [the evil of] your hoarded treasures!” [Surah Al-Taubah (The Repentance ), 9:34-35]
“The offerings given for the sake of Allah are [meant] only for the poor and the needy, and those who are in charge thereof, and those whose hearts are to be won over, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage, and [for] those who are overburdened with debts, and [for every struggle] in Allah’s cause, and [for] the wayfarer: [this is] an ordinance from Allah – and Allah is all-knowing, wise.” [Surah Al-Taubah (The Repentance ), 9:60]
“Thus, as for him who gives [to others] and is conscious of Allah, and believes in the truth of the ultimate good – for him shall We make easy the path towards [ultimate] ease. But as for him who is niggardly, and thinks that he is self-sufficient, and calls the ultimate good a lie – for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship: and what will his wealth avail him when he goes down [to his grave]? Behold, it is indeed for Us to grace [you] with guidance; and, behold, Ours is [the dominion over] the life to come as well as [over] this earlier part [of your life]: and so I warn you of the raging fire – [the fire] which none shall have to endure but that most hapless wretch who gives the lie to the truth and turns away [from it]. For, distant from it shall remain he who is truly conscious of Allah: he that spends his possessions [on others] so that he might grow in purity – not as payment for favours received, but only out of a longing for the countenance of his Sustainer, the All-Highest: and such, indeed, shall in time be well-pleased.” [Surah Al-Layl (The Night), 92:5-21]
“What has brought you into hell-fire?” They will answer: “We were not among those who prayed; and neither did we feed the needy; and we were wont to indulge in sinning together with all [the others] who indulged in it; and the Day of Judgment we were wont to call a lie – until certainty came upon us [in death].” And so, of no benefit to them could be the intercession of any that would intercede for them.” [Surah Al-Mudathir (The Wrapped Up), 74:42-48]
The Iman (Faith), Salah and Zakat constitute the basis to bring the community of believers into existences:
“Yet if they repent, and take to prayer, and render the purifying dues, they become your brethren in faith: and clearly do We spell out these messages unto people of [innate] knowledge!” [Surah Al-Taubah (The Repentance), 9:11 ]
“And [as for] the believers, both men and women they are close unto one another: they [all] enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues, and pay heed unto Allah and His Apostle. It is they upon whom Allah will bestow His grace: verily, Allah is almighty, wise!” [Surah Al-Taubah (The Repentance), 9:71]
Zakat is one of the preconditions to receive Allah’s help:
“… those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying. “Our Sustainer is Allah!” For, if Allah had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, [all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques – in [all of] which Allah’s name is abundantly extolled – would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. And Allah will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, Allah is most powerful, almighty, [well aware of] those who, [even] if We firmly establish them on earth, remain constant in prayer, and give in charity, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong; but with Allah rests the final outcome of all events.” [Surah Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage), 22:40-41]
Zakat is a big blessing to those who realise its importance and give it wholeheartedly. There is severe warning to those who do not give the Zakat:
“Say thou, [O Prophet:] “I am but a mortal like you. It has been revealed to me that your Allah is the One Allah: go, then, straight towards Him and seek His forgiveness!” And woe unto those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him, [and] those who do not spend in charity: for it is they, they who [thus] deny the truth of the life to come!” [Surah Fussilat (Revelations Explained in Detail), 41:6-7]
It is obvious that the Zakat helps the needy recipients and moreover purifies the persons who give it:
“[But as for you, O believers,] never shall you attain to true piety unless you spend on others out of what you cherish yourselves; and whatever you spend – verily, Allah has full knowledge thereof.” [Surah Al-Imran (The Family of Imran), 3:92]
When giving Zakat one should not expect any return from the recipients:
“… and who give food – however great be their own want of it – unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive, [saying, in their hearts,] “We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks: behold, we stand in awe of our Sustainer’s judgment on a distressful, fateful Day!” [Surah Al-Insan (The Man), 76:8-10]
“O you who have attained to faith! Do not deprive your charitable deeds of all worth by stressing your own benevolence and hurting [the feelings of the needy], as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen and praised by men, and believes not in Allah and the Last Day: for his parable is that of a smooth rock with [a little] earth upon it – and then a rainstorm smites it and leaves it hard and bare. Such as these shall have no gain whatever from all their [good] works: for Allah does not guide people who refuse to acknowledge the truth.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:264]
Zakat is a social institution. It is best done collectively. Every Muslim possessing the liable amount of money or property must pay an annual percentage of that amount as Zakat. Zakat is to be given on wealth (money, gold, silver, jewellery, business goods etc); cattle; and the agricultural produce obtained by the farmers. The details of the minimum wealth on which Zakat is due and its calculations have been covered in detail in several articles of this magazine. This article has focused on the significance of Zakat and charity activities in the light of the Holy Qur’ān. The amount of Zakat based on the calculations is the bare minimum to be given. We need to give additional amounts to help the needy. Educating the poor and creating livelihood for the unemployed would be a good start. This helping nature is sure to contribute to the eradication of illiteracy and poverty in the community. This charity has great and obvious advantages in the society. It makes the rich reconcile with the poor. It fulfils some of the poor people’s needs and alleviates some of their suffering. It protects the needy from going astray in terms of criminal behaviour such as: robbery, violating other people’s property, and even committing suicide. May Allah Almighty Make us generous in helping others by giving Zakat; and additional help to the deserving and needy, Amen.
[The writer teaches at Engineering Department, Salalah College of Technology (SCT), Salalah, Sultanate of Oman. [email protected];]