Give your Zaka’at, But……Don’t forget…….

Zaka’at is the third pillar in Islam, it is hard to translate the word, or find its synonym in English. In Arabic, the word is driven from the root z.k.a and the verb that is driven from that root is zakka which means “to purify", and also means “make something grow and develop”. It is commonly known that al-Zaka’at is “alms giving”.

In most of the place in the Qur’an where Allah has commanded the believers to establish regular prayer there He also commanded to give Zaka’at. The word Zaka’at comes more than 20 times in the Qur’an.

 In Islam if you have wealth more than nisab level i.e. (85 grams gold or 595 grams silver or equivalent amount on which one lunar year is completed) then it is compulsory for you to pay Zaka’at on your wealth @ 2.5%.

There is severe punishment for the Muslims who don’t give Zaka’at. As Allah says in the Qur’an:

On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!"

(Al-Qur’an Surah Tawba Ch. 9 Ayat 35)

Unfortunately today in our society people are giving Zaka’at but its outcome is not witnessed in our society. Why?

Ø  The main reason behind this is that we don’t have any centralized Baytul Maal System, where all Muslims can give their Zaka’at and from that center we can gain collective help for the poor and needy people. One central Baytul Maal should be established. May Allah give us the authority to establish a centralized Baytul Maal System.

Ø Even if we don’t have a Centralized Baytul Maal System, on individual level whenever any person is giving Zaka’at to any individual or family, one should see to it that whatever amount he is giving, it should be enough for him so that he won’t have to ask a second person anymore! Normally, this is not practiced in our society. Whenever any poor person approaches a rich man for Zaka’at, the rich man gives him a very small amount through which he can’t even take one full meal of the day. That is one main reason why he goes to second person asking for money.

Ø  I would request and suggest all my brothers and sisters, whenever any poor person approaches you, don’t give him just a small amount to get rid of your responsibility. Do inquire about that poor person and try your level best to help him and if the person is capable to work and is jobless, try to help him getting a job. We have to make adjustments for him so that he also becomes giver of Zaka’at instead of extending hands from others. Insha’Allah this way we can bring revolution in our community.

Ø  Don’t forget whenever you are giving Zaka’at, the first person who is entitled a share in your Zaka’at is your relatives on which you don’t have responsibility of monitoring care. We tend to donate very big amount of money in our society, but we don’t care about our relatives, we must survey among our relatives first, who is in need of Zaka’at and we have to give them first.

Ø Don’t forget there are some people everywhere who are needy for the Zaka’at money but they don’t extend their hands for ask for any assistance due to their personal respect and dignity. Allah has used word Miskeen in the Qur’an for such people, WE MUST find out such people. And we have to help them.

Allah says in the Qur'an

“ And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah Hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks Like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.”

(Al-Qur’an Surah Al-e-Imran Ch. 3 Ayat 180)

May Allah guide us all.

Aameen

Moinuddin Ibn Nasrullah

peace.moin@gmail.com

www.peacemoin.blogspot.com