Zakat
Zakat
is a form of charity that is often collected by the Muslim ummah. It is
considered a religious obligation in Islam, according to the Qur'anic rankings,
important is next after prayer (salat). As one of the five pillars of Islam,
zakat is a religious duty for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of
wealth to help the needy. It is a compulsory charitable contribution, often
considered a tax. Zakat payments and disputes have played a major role in the
history of Islam, especially during the Ridda war.
It
is said that zakat is paid to purify one's wealth, just as bathing is done to
purify one's body. Zakat does not only sanctify wealth. At the same time, this
beautiful provision of Islam also removes the misery of the mind. However, the
ruling on zakat does not apply to all classes of people. In the language of
Islamic law, zakat is the handing over of wealth to its rightful owner on a
definite condition. Zakat is considered to be the act of delivering the
prescribed amount of wealth to the rightful owner if Allah possesses the
prescribed amount (nisab) and keeps it with him for one year. The punishment
for not paying Zakat is much more.
Importance and Virtue of Zakat in Islam
Allah,
the Exalted, declares, ‘And He is the One who has created the gardens with
stems (without stems) and stems without (stems), date palms, food grains of
different flavors, olives and Pomegranates — which are similar and incomparable
to each other. When it bears fruit, eat of its fruit, and give it its due on
the day of harvest, and do not waste it. Surely He does not love the
extravagant. (Surah An-Nam 6: 141).
Allah
the Almighty declares that those people are not prevented from remembering
Allah, establishing prayers, and paying zakat in trade and commerce. They fear
the day when many hearts and minds will be disturbed. (Surah Noor 24:37)
If
zakat is paid as usual then there will be no more poverty. Once upon a time, there was no one like Zakat. In this regard, the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him) said that you should pay sadaqah (zakat) because the
time will come when people will go around with their sadaqah but will not find
anyone to accept it. (The person to whom the donor wishes to give) The man will
say, I would accept it if it was brought till yesterday. Today I have no need.
(Sahih Bukhari: 1411, Sahih Muslim: 1011)
The
consequences of not paying the zakat are terrible. Rasulullah Pak (peace be upon
him) said that a person who has received wealth from Allah but has not paid his
zakat, on the Day of Resurrection that wealth will turn into a poisonous snake
with two black spots on its head. This snake will be wrapped around the
person's neck. Then the snake will hang on the person's neck and bite his two
cheeks and say, I am your property, I am your accumulated wealth. (Sahih
Bukhari: 1403).
You May Know: What is the meaning of sadaqatul fitr or fetra?
The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said that every morning
two angels descend. One of them said, O Allah! Give the giver a good reward for
his gift. And the other said, O God! Destroy the miser. (Sahih Bukhari: 1442,
Sahih Muslim: 1010). So be careful about paying zakat. Because the Prophet
(peace be upon him) said, when the one who collects zakat comes to you, let him
be satisfied with you from you. (Sahih Muslim: 989).
The
Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the amount of Zakat on the crops of the
lands which are irrigated by rain and spring water, or the lands which are
irrigated from the surface, is one-tenth. And in the lands where water is
supplied from wells, one-twentieth of the crop of those lands will have to pay
Zakat (usury). (Sahih Bukhari: 1473). With the help of Zakat, the poor people
will observe the fast by eating good food and breaking the fast, Insha’Allah.
Who is eligible for Zakat?
According
to Quran, Zakat 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.
A
brief description of the eight types of sectors is as follows: -
(i-ii) ‘Fakir and miskin’
(destitute): since both
words are almost equivalent; used for one another. That is, the fakir is called
Miskin and the miskin is called fakir. Therefore, there is a difference of
opinion in the definition of these two. However, in the sense of both the
words, it is certain that the one who is destitute, who is deprived of money
and materials according to his needs to meet his own needs and wants, is called
fakir-Miskin. There is a hadith about the Miskin that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘The Miskin are not the ones who go from
door to door for one or two lokmas or one or two dates. Rather, the ‘Miskin’ is
the one who does not have enough goods to meet his needs. He who does not
express his poverty, that people will consider him poor and deserving and will
give him alms. Nor does he ask for it from anyone. (Bukhari and Muslim Zakat
Chapter) The real miskin is determined in the hadith.
(iii) Employees engaged in
the work of zakat (collection):
The purpose of this is those employees of the government who are engaged in the
responsibility of collecting and distributing zakat and sadaqah and accounting.
(They should be given Zakat goods as remuneration and salary.)
(iv) Those whose minds
must be devoted to Islam:
First of all, if you help a person who is a devotee of Islam to some of the
disbelievers, it is hoped that he will convert to Islam. Second is the
neo-Muslim who needs help to stay strong in Islam. Thirdly, he is also involved
in the person who, if he is helped, is expected to prevent the people of his
area from attacking the Muslims and similarly he will protect the Muslims closest
to him. Zakat money can be spent on all those people and other people in this
category; whether the mentioned persons are rich or not. The Hanafis do not
have this sector at present. But this is not correct. Depending on the
situation and time, it is permissible to spend Zakat money on this sector at
every age.
(v) Emancipation of
Slaves: Some scholars
consider the word 'slave' to mean only the slave whose master has written the
treaty of emancipation on the condition that he will earn his dues. Other scholars,
on the other hand, refer to all kinds of prisoners of war and slaves. Imam
Shawqani (RA) has given priority to the last verdict.
(vi) Debtor: First of all, the debtor intends to
borrow from people to meet the expenses of his family and the necessities of
life. And he has no cash and no furniture (or land) to sell and repay the loan.
Secondly, the bailiff has bailed out anyone, then the bail money has fallen on
his neck if he is not able to collect his real guarantor. Thirdly, those whose
fruits and crops have been destroyed by disasters or whose trade and industry
have been damaged and as a result, they have become indebted. It is legal to
help all these people from the zakat fund.
(vii) The way of Allah: It means jihad. That is, it is
permissible to purchase war equipment, weapons, and necessary furniture, and to
spend zakat money on the Mujahideen (whether they are rich or not). And it is
mentioned in the hadith that Hajj and Umrah are also included in 'Fi
Sabilillah'. For some similar ulama, the work of Islamic da'wah and preaching
is also included in 'fi-sabilillah'. Because in this too, like jihad, the
purpose is to exalt the word of Allah.
(H) Musafir: That is if a Musafir (legitimate) needs help on a journey; Even if he is in abundance in his country or at home, it is lawful for him to be helped by the zakat.
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