Islam is a religion that echoes the message of love and peace. It emphasises to its the need followers to help the poor in order for the world to live in peace and harmony. This motto is exemplified in the obligation to give to charity, also known as zakat.
What is zakat?
In Islam, it is an obligation for every Muslim who meets the necessary criteria of wealth to give to charity in the form of zakat. Zakat is part of five pillars of Islam, the others being the declaration of faith, five daily prayers, fasting in Ramadhan and performing the Hajj pilgrimage.
Zakat literally means “that which purifies”, and is considered a way to purify oneself of selfishness and greed. Determining the amount of zakat to be given is based on the value of a person’s income and possessions — customarily 2.5{5b1d28c85ed37d3963061f74af16303ec8b9aa8029b6a54e97907047acacf584}.
Zakat is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from Allah to respond to those members of the community in need, and is mentioned in the Quran:
“Charity shall go to the poor, the needy, the workers who collect them, the new converts, to free the slaves, to those burdened by sudden expenses, in the cause of Allah, and to the traveling alien. Such is god’s commandment.” [9:60]
“You cannot attain righteousness until you give to charity from the possessions you love. Whatever you give to charity, god is fully aware thereof.” [3:92]
What Allah said in Quran shows how important is to give zakat. Failure to do so can lead to punishment from Allah, as mentioned in the hadith narrated by Abu Dhar:
“Whoever had camels or cows or sheep and did not pay their zakat, those animals will be brought on the Day of Resurrection far bigger and fatter than before and they will tread him under their hooves, and will butt him with their horns, and (those animals will come in circle): When the last does its turn, the first will start again, and this punishment will go on till Allah has finished the judgments amongst the people.”
There are three main concepts behind the importance of zakat are:
1. Purification of one’s heart
In the Arabic language, Zakat is translated to ‘purification’. Giving zakat allows people to purify one’s heart from greed, eradicate poverty and help build an equitable society for the poor and needy.
2. Circulation of Money
Giving zakat also develops a circulation of money. Money leaves the hands of the wealthy and is redirected to those in need. This way, the money leaves the circle of a few and is circulated to the whole economy.
3. Message of Sacrifice
Zakat teaches the message of sacrifice. Giving money away as zakat shows that followers love Allah more than their own wealth. In a nutshell, zakat develops sense of purification from greed, develops a circulation of money for the economy and teaches the message of sacrifice to the followers of Islam. It also encourages the people to develop a better society that lives in peace and harmony.
