Zakah (Alms Giving): New Levels of Meaning

Zakah (Alms Giving): New Levels of Meaning


 






Idiomatically Zakah means purity and involves the annual deduction of 2.5% of each individual’s net property, whether money, livestock and cattles or other treasures, after spending the basic necessities, expenses, and due credits of the year, provided that it reaches the Nisab.

Zakah is an obligatory act and duty on every sane Muslim who’s reached puberty.

Idiomatically Zakah means purity and involves the annual deduction of 2.5% of each individual’s net property, whether money, livestock and cattles or other treasures, after spending the basic necessities, expenses, due credits, donations and taxes of the year, provided that it reaches the Nisab.

Constituting one of the Five Main Pillars of Islam, Zakah money is to be distributed yearly among the poor and needy Muslims as well as fresh converts to help them meet their basic needs till they settle in their new life and establish new living. Other due recipients of Zakah money include Muslim prisoners of war so as to liberate them by paying required ransom, Muslim employees appointed to be in charge of Zakah distribution, and those Muslims who are serving a Cause of God whether working in the field of Dawah and preaching or research and studies. Also Muslim wayfarers who are stranded in foreign countries and Muslims who are in debt are valid recipients of Zakah.

Zakah is not a voluntary act or charity, but an obligatory duty aimed at fostering harmony, mutual care and social solidarity among Muslim communities, by removing social barriers and ill-feelings or bigotry resulting from the economic gaps splitting societies into so many hierarchical standards.

It removes any shades of greed from the heart of the wealthy, and any envious feelings from the heart of the poor and needy.

Allah has warned those greedy who, out of fear of losing their wealth, withhold due payment of Zakah money.

“And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.”—Quran 3:180

First revealed in Surah Al Muzzamil (Chapter 73 of the Quran) Zakah is mentioned along with Obligatory Prayers (Salat) in many verses throughout the Holy Qur'an.