Let’s see Zakat’s Meaning and Importance in English:” Zakat is the fourth and fundamental pillar of Islam. Its denier is excluded from the realm of Islam. Its importance can be gauged from the fact that in the Holy Qur’an, Zakat is mentioned along with prayers in 82 places. What is charity? And what is Zakat?
Zakat has a literal meaning, “To be pure, to grow” Whereas in the Shari’ah term, charity definition & Zakat means that a person whose wealth reaches the scale of paying Zakat should pay his special wealth with special conditions, according to a certain rate.
In many verses of the Holy Qur’an, it is commanded to pay Zakat. Almighty Allah says, “O you who believe, perform the prayer and pay the obligatory charity.“
Considering the study and meaning of Surah Al-Muzammil, Zakat has also been ordered to be paid in this Surah. The importance of Zakat is also evident from the fact that when a group came to the Prophet’s house and inquired about the teachings of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad(PBUH) mentioned prayers first and then Zakat charity in his deeds.
Charity
After the demise of the Prophet (peace be upon him), when some people confessed not to pay Zakat charity, Hazrat Abo Bakar (MAPH), the first caliph, waged jihad against them. The Qur’an has warned sternly against those who do not pay Zakat.
Since the literal meaning of Zakat is to purify, the person who pays Zakat not only purifies his wealth according to God’s command but also purifies his heart from the lust for wealth. Paying Zakat makes him realize that his wealth is not his own property but a trust given by God Almighty.
When a person spends a blessing like wealth on the command of Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty appreciates his self-sacrifice, considers this spent wealth his debt, and promises to repay this debt of the servant many times over.
Importance of Zakat in the light of Hadiths
Abo Horaira says that Holy Muhammad (PBUH) said: When you paid Zakat on your wealth, you did your duty.
It is narrated from Hazrat Hassan Basri that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “Protect your wealth through Zakat, treat your illnesses through charity, and face the waves of adversity through prayer and weeping.”
Hazrat Abo Horaira (MAPH) narrated charity, meaning that the Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said to the people sitting around him: You guarantee me six things, I guarantee you Paradise. Hazrat Abo Horaira said: Ya Rasool Allah (PBUH)! What are those (six things)? The Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said: Prayer, Zakat (payment), fidelity, protection of the private parts, protection of the stomach from haraam and tongue (do not say bad things).
Issues of Zakat
Zakat is obligatory on those who have traded a certain amount of gold, silver, money, or goods. This special amount is called Nisaab. The curriculum for different items is as follows: If the gold is seven and a half tolas, then Zakat has to be paid in the same way; if the silver reaches fifty-two and a half tolas, then Zakat has to be paid.
Zakat is obligatory on a property when a whole year has elapsed since its accumulation. The best way to pay Zakat is to pay the eight expenses mentioned in the Qur’an. That is, Zakat should be given first to one’s poor and deserving relatives, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, and city dwellers and later to other people. In addition, white-clad people who do not reach out to anyone despite their poverty should be given preference.
See More Related: The Benefits of Giving Zakat in Ramadan
Some Principles of Paying Zakat
- Zakat is taken only from Muslims.
- According to Shari’ah, relatives whose maintenance is obligatory include the mother, father, son, daughter, husband, wife, etc. Zakat cannot be given to them, but they are preferred over others.
- The Zakat of an area should generally be distributed in that area itself. However, Zakat can be given due to non-receipt of Zakat in this settlement or case of emergency like flood, earthquake, or famine in another settlement.
- Those who pay Zakat should satisfy as much as possible that those who receive Zakat deserve Zakat.
- Necessary items can also be purchased with Zakat money.
- It is unnecessary to tell the deserving Zakat that it is money or property of Zakat.
- One of the problems of Zakat is that if Zakat is given to a rich person who is not entitled to it unknowingly, he will have to pay it again when he finds out.
- Zakat is obligatory for an adult Muslim.
- Zakat is obligatory on the wise Muslims, that is, the Muslim who is in his senses, not the insane.
- Zakat is obligatory for free Muslims. Not on an enslaved person.
- Such a Muslim falls under the obligation of Zakat, on which there is no debt, i.e., he is free from debt.
- Zakat will be paid for the goods that increase, such as trade goods, gold and silver, etc.
Terms of Zakat
- The currency has reached the Shariah syllabus.
- A year has passed on it.
- He should be free from debt.
- Needs more than life.
- Zakat is not obligatory on residential houses, plots, flats, etc., unless the house or flats, plots, etc., are used for business purposes. Zakat is on their value.
- Zakat will also have to be paid to the original owner of the amount held by the agency holders and traders as collateral with a company or firm.
- Items provided for sale or profit are called trade goods, such as grains, textiles, animals and household goods. Zakat is obligatory for them, while it is not obligatory for trade instruments.
- The shareholder in the joint venture will pay Zakat in proportion to his share.
- Zakat is not paid by paying taxes.
Ramadan and Zakat
It is obligatory to pay Zakat only once a year. Most people prefer to pay Zakat during Ramadan because, in this holy month, the reward for every good deed is increased seventy times.
Allah Almighty protects those who pay Zakat from diseases like love and greed for wealth and from sins like stinginess and miserliness. The blessing of wealth creates in the heart of man the spirit of giving thanks to Allah.