THE PHILOSOPHY OF OBLIGATORY CHARITY (ZAKAAT)
Zakaat is a form of charity to the ummah treated in Islam as a religious obligation (farz). Zakaat is next to Namaaz in importance. It is a religious obligation for all Muslims who meet the criteria of wealth to help the poor and needy.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And establish Prayer and pay Zakaat, and whatever good you send forward for yourselves you will find it with Allah. Indeed Allah is seeing over what you do'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 110)
In the verse of The Holy Quran, Allah Ta'ala is commanding the believers to establish Namaaz, pay Zakaat, and obey Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Allah Ta'ala is stating that after establishing Namaaz, if you meet the criteria of wealth, then pay the obligatory Zakaat. Allah Ta'ala gives all wealth and this wealth includes a share for the poor and needy too. Hence, it becomes obligatory upon who possesses wealth to distribute the share of the poor and the needy to them. And in your worldly and deeds for the hereafter, become a faithful disciple and follower of Prophet ﷺ, and a piety by virtue of devotion to duty. By establishing Namaaz, paying Zakaat and obeying Prophet ﷺ, Allah Ta'ala will grant you blessings and mercy, and you will be successful in this world and in the hereafter. Allah Ta'ala is commanding the believers to establish Namaaz, pay Zakaat and whatever good you send forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah Ta'ala. On the Day of Judgement you will receive the rewards of these good deeds, or acts equal to these in a beauteous manner. And indeed Allah Ta'ala is seeing over what you do. In The Holy Quran, Allah Ta'ala has commanded to pay Zakaat in approximately eighty-four places, and in most instances it is mentioned next to Namaaz.
Namaaz is 'ascent to heaven' (Mi'raj) of a believer (mu'min). By performing Namaaz, a believer becomes pure, perfect, clean and chaste both physically and spiritually. By performing Namaaz, a believer is protected from the deception of the devil (shaitaan/iblees). Namaaz keeps one away from being arrogant and being proud of himself. By bowing in Namaaz, Allah Ta'ala fills ones heart with prosperity and kindness. By performing Namaaz, one gets the nearness and love of Allah Ta'ala. Namaaz makes one obedient of Allah Ta'ala. By performing Namaaz, one attains chastity and cleanness of his outwardness and chastity and cleanness deep down in his heart.
After establishing Namaaz, Allah Ta'ala commanded the believers to pay Zakaat because after achieving chastity and cleanness as a result of performing Namaaz, Allah Ta'ala wishes the believers to pay Zakaat from the wealth Allah Ta'ala granted them, so that their wealth also becomes pure, clean, and taintless.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'O Beloved Prophet! Realize, the poor-due out of their wealth, to purify and clean them. And pray for them. No doubt, your prayer is a solace for their hearts. And Allah Hears, Knows'
(Surah At-Tauba. verse 03)
Allah Ta'ala is inspiring Prophet ﷺ to take wealth from those meeting the criteria of wealth, to help the poor and the needy, and to make their wealth pure, clean, and taintless by distributing it among the poor with his own blessed hands. And to pray for those in need of help as the supplication (dua) will be a comfort for their hearts.
Zakaat signifies purity, cleanness and growth. By paying Zakaat, the wealth becomes pure and clean. By spending in the path of Allah Ta'ala, there is prosperity and growth in the wealth. One may ask as how wealth or money can grow by spending it. The simple mind tells us otherwise. But there are certain instances, where spending or distributing in fact gives prosperity and growth. For example, a person with knowledge distributes his knowledge; there is definitely an increase in his knowledge. If he does not impart his knowledge to others, then there are chances that he may lose his knowledge. Similarly, if you do not continually draw out water from a well, the water becomes dirty and stinky. Instead of quenching thirst, the water from such a well will make one sick. Regular pruning keeps a fruit tree healthy, grows more vigorously and produces more fruits. The same applies for spending your wealth in the path of Allah Ta'ala. The more you spend in the path of Allah Ta'ala, the more prosperity Allah Ta'ala gives you.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain of wheat, which grows into seven offshoots, and each offshoot contains one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies (His reward) to whomsoever He pleases. And Allah is the All Encompassing. All knowing'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 261)
Those who spend in the path of Allah Ta'ala to seek contentment and pleasure of Allah Ta'ala, their charity resembles the one grain which grows into seven offshoots and each offshoot contains one hundred grains. This means that giving charity in the path of Allah Ta'ala; Allah Ta'ala rewards with seven hundred times more to whomsoever He pleases because Allah Ta'ala is All Encompassing and All Knowing.
To increase their wealth, some people deposit money in banks on a fixed term, or loan to others in return for interest.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And whatever you pay a usury (interest) that it may increase the wealth of the givers and then it will not increase with Allah. And whatever you give as charity (Zakaat) desiring the pleasure of Allah, and then it will increase manifold'
(Surah Ar-Rum. verse 39)
'Allah destroys interest and increases charities. And Allah loves not any ungrateful big sinner'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 276)
From this we learn that there can be no blessings in interest for the believer, it can only be nourishment for a non-believer. A believer will flourish by paying Zakaat. Allah Ta'ala will increase his reward in this world and in the hereafter. Those who give money to earn interest, in fact lose everything after a while. But who gives charity (Zakaat) desiring the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala, then Allah Ta'ala blesses him in this world, while in the hereafter increases his every one reward by seven hundred times or more. Whoever spends in the path of Allah Ta'ala, they will have their reward with Allah Ta'ala.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'Establish Prayer and pay Zakaat, and whatever good you send forward for yourselves you will find it with Allah'
'And whatever you give as charity (Zakaat) desiring the pleasure of Allah, and then it will increase in manifold'
'Allah Ta'ala rewards with seven hundred times more to whomsoever He pleases'
**
This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
