Zakat (Charity)
Zakat is an obligatory charity due on wealth, with certain conditions, and to be distributed to a specific group s of people at specific time. Zakat is a pillar of Islam and is one of Islam's most important components.. It is mentioned and linked to Salat (prayer) in a great number of places in the Book of Allah (SWT) (Qu'ran 2:110; 9:11; 98:5).
The Muslims have agreed indisputably that zakat is obligatory. Whoever denies its obligatory nature after knowing this, is a Kafir, outside the fold of Islam. And whoever is miserly, withholding some or all of it, then he is an unjust oppressor, befitting of punishment.
There are many benefits from Zakat:
- Purification of the believer's soul from teh stains of sins and transgressions and tehir negative effects on the hearts. It also cleanses the soul from despicable qualities of miserliness and stinginess and the ill effects. Allah (SWT) said: "Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them." (Qu'ran 9:103)
- To fulfill the requirements of the poor Muslim and to preserve his honor from the humiliation of asking other than Allah for help.
- Lightening the burden of the Muslim debtor by helping to pay off his debts
- To join disparate hearts on belief and Islam, bringing them from a state of doubts and spiritual uneasiness and weak faith to firmly rooted faith and complete certainty
- Helping the stranded Muslim traveler to complete his journey; he is given from the zakat what he needs to get back home
- Purification of wealth and its increase and protection form ruin through the blessing incurred by the obedience of Allah, and the aggrandizement of Hid order; and kindness to His creation
Summarized from The Pillars of Islam and Iman by Muhammad bin Jamil Zeno
Please click on the links below to view articles in this section.
Articles
Concerning Zakaat and Its Benefits
Those Entitled to Receive Zakaat