An Overview of Zakat in Few Answers
Dear Islamic brothers in this piece of writing we will learn
answers of these questions:
What is the significance of Zakat?
When did Zakat become Fard?
What is the Definition of Zakat?
What is the ruling on denying Zakat to be a Fard act?
What amount of Zakat will be given?
On whom is Zakat Fard?
Dear brothers! Zakat is the basic pillar of Islam and became
Fard in 2 Hijri before the Siyam. 1/40th part of the Nisab (i.e.
2.5%) will have to be given as Zakat. It is proven from the Holy Quran that Zakat
is Fard; one who denies it is a Kafir. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ has stated, ‘The foundation of Islam is on five acts: To
testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ and Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ
is His Rasool; to offer Salah; to pay Zakat; to perform Hajj; and to observe
Sawm of Ramadan.’
(Bukhari/Kitab ul Iman)
The significance of Zakat can be observed by the fact that:
Salah and Zakat have been mentioned together in the Holy Quran 32 times.
(Radd ul Mukhtar/Kitabuzakat)
Besides this, the fortunate Zakat-giving person receives
great blessings and benefits of this world and the Hereafter.
Zakat
is Fard
It is proven from the Holy Quran and Sunnah that Zakat is
Fard. Allah عَزَّ
وَجَلَّ has stated in the Holy Quran:
وَ
اَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ
Translation from Kanz-ul-Imaan: And
establish (obligatory) prayer, and give Zakat.
(Part 1, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 43)
Maulana Sayyid Muhammad
Na’eemuddin Muradabadi رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ (who passed away in 1367 Hijri) has stated:
This Ayah says about Salah and Zakat being Fard.
When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ sent Sayyiduna Mu’aaz رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ towards Yemen, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ said: Tell them that Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ has made Zakat Fard in
their wealth; it should be taken from the wealthy people and given to the
Fuqara [poor people.
(Tirmizi/Kitabuzakat)
Definition
of Zakat
That wealth specified by Shari’ah is termed as Zakat from
which a person discontinues his benefit in every manner and then for the
pleasure of Allah عَزَّ
وَجَلَّ,
it is given into the possession of such Muslim Faqeer [Shari’ah-declared poor
person], who is neither Hashmi himself nor is he a slave freed by any Hashmi.
(Durr e Mukhtar/Kitabuzakat)
On
whom is Zakat Fard?
Giving Zakat is Fard on every such ‘Aaqil [sane] and Baligh
[person who has reached puberty] Muslim who is not a slave and who meets the
following conditions:
1
He owns Nisab.
2
This Nisab is Naami
[growing in nature].
3
He has Nisab in his
possession.
4
Nisab is exclusive of his
Haajat-e-Asliyyah (i.e. basic necessities of life).
5
Nisab is exclusive of the
money he owes (i.e. he should not owe the people such debt that his Nisab will
no longer remain if he pays
it).
6
A year passes on this
Nisab.
(Bahar
e Shariat)
Punishments of not giving Zakat
Not giving Zakat is a cause of destruction of wealth as the
Beloved Rasool صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has said: The wealth that has got destroyed in the land and sea, it has got
destroyed because of not giving Zakat.
(Majma-ul-Zwaed/KitabulZakat)
At another place, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ has said: Wealth of Zakat will destroy the [wealth] in which
it will be present.
(Shob-ul-Iman)
Explaining the abovementioned Hadith, Mufti Muhammad Amjad
Ali A’zami رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has stated, ‘Some great Ulama have stated the following
meaning of this Hadith: If Zakat becomes Wajib on a person but he does not pay
it and keeps it included in his wealth, this Haraam will destroy that Halal.
Imam Ahmad رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has stated the following meaning: If a wealthy person takes
Wealth of Zakat, this Wealth of Zakat will destroy his wealth as Zakat is for
the Fuqara [poor people]. Both the meanings are correct.’
(Bahar-e-Shariat)
The nation which
does not give Zakat can suffer from troubles collectively. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ has said: The nation which will not give Zakat, Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ will make it suffer from
drought.
(Al Moj-ul-Osat)
At another place, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ has said: When the people abandon paying Zakat, Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ stops the rain. If
quadrupeds were not present on the Earth, even a single drop of water would not fall from the sky.
(Ibn-e-Majah)
The person who does not give Zakat has been cursed, as
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ood رَضِیَ
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has narrated: Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ has cursed the one who does not give Zakat.
(Sahih Ibn-e-Khuzaimah)
Dear Islamic brothers! this is a very short writing for this
important topic if you want to read details of it please visit our online book
library and read many books on this topic you can also buy these books from
Maktaba-tul-Madina.
May Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ enable
us to learn our Deen and to act upon its teachings! Ameen
