The Meaning Of Zakat:
Zakat can be described as an Arabic word that translates to “to purify”. After Salah, (interlink of Salah to be added) Zakat is the third Islamic pillar. The literal description of Zakat is to cleanse your soul and increase wealth through almsgiving and charity. The goal of this principle of Islam is to establish the notion of equality among Muslims and to level up their status & wealth.
History Of Zakat:
According to various sources the evidence suggests that prophets prior to Muhammad (SAW) also were told to collect the payments of Zakat however it was an optional duty for them. Following the time that Islam was accepted by all in the early years, the concept of collecting the Zakats was made obligatory for all Muslims. Muhammad (SAW) was the Prophet. Muhammad (SAW) has been instructed to pay the Zakats payment at a particular period of time throughout the year, and it is believed that it came from the area of.
Importance Of Zakat:
The importance and significance of Zakat is evident from the fact that it is the term Zakat is used in at the least 82 instances in the Holy Quran along with Salah. Zakat and its significance are highlighted in the Holy Quran. Zakat and its significance are highlighted in a variety of occasions within the Quran.
Zakat & The Holy Quran:
The 43rd verse of Surah Baqarah states about Zakat that:
Then, establish the prayer in the midst of the prayer. Pay Zakat and bow with those who bow.”
Verse 13 of Surah Mujadilah highlights the concept of Zakat as:
“And thoroughly continue to duly establish the Prayer, and give the Zakat-Charity”.
Zakat can also be found in verse 274 in Surah Baqarah as;
“Those who give to charity night and day, secretly and publicly, receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve”.
The Third Pillar In The Hadiths:
The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW) spoke of Zakat that:
“The best charity is that which is practiced by a wealthy person. And start giving first to your dependents.” (Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 24, 507)
He also narrated that:
“Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,’ and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allah! Destroy every miser.” (Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 24,539)
Zakat And Its Recipients:
There are eight kinds of people mentioned in the Quran to whom one can give the Zakat.
- The poor are those who don’t have enough money to pay for their basic needs
- The needy are people in urgent require of any need
- The Zakat administrators and collectors are in order to also distribute the Zakat.
- People who have recently converted Muslims who are unable to pay their requirements
- The slaves and those who are captives
- The burden of debt is borne by debts
- The people who are travelling or fighting for the cause of Allah
- The travelers who are in need of funds
Benefits Of Paying The Charity:
There are numerous societal and spiritual benefits to paying the Zakats. They include:
- Zakat is the name we have for the concept of equality
- Zakat cleanses the soul as well as wealth
- It makes one feel closer to Allah
- Zakat takes away our sins
- It further develops the idea of brotherhood.
- The Zakat is a way to eliminate inequality and creates a stable society
- It is a way to cleanse one’s personality
- Zakat aids in eradicating poverty
- Zakat takes away the grudges and odd feelings inside the souls of poor people
- The same is true for Zakat. Zakat eliminates the sense of pride in the heart of rich people
The Purpose Of Almsgiving:
The main purpose of Zakat is to establish the concept of equality and the concept of brotherhood within Muslim society. The almsgiving concept was introduced to abolish the difference of the mindset of an king and a slave. With this pillar of Islam an Muslim can purify their cash to make it Halal as well as the needy and poor of the nations are helped gently without any concept of judgement or superiority.
Conditions of Zakat:
The Zakat is only eligible upon those conditions:
- The person giving the gift must be a Muslim because charitable giving is a means of bringing a believer closer to Allah
- The person who donates to a charity must be able to meet the calculations of a Zakat and be wealthy enough to give them
- He should be an adult and believe in the pillars of Islam and their significance
- He is not a slave or a captive
The Curriculum Of The Zakat:
The principle of the curriculum (Nisab) that is part of Zakat is that one’s amount of wealth must be more as compared to that of the threshold value. To determine Nisab, there are two different types of measures which are silver or gold.
What is the Nisab for gold is 87.4 grams of gold or its equivalent cash. In contrast, the Nisab in silver is 612.3 kilograms, or the equivalent cash. Furthermore, one can also offer Zakat in the form of pensions, cattle or agricultural goods, etc.
Zakat & The Today’s Era:
The idea of paying for the Zakat is becoming less important each day in the modern age, resulting in a society that is unbalanced, not purifying wealth, and inequality between the rich and the poor. These problems are also causing significant damage to the brotherhood of the Muslims empire, whose unity is less unified compared to the older days. To address these issues, the rulers must establish proper institutions and provide training to collect the Zakat, so that the future generation and era can not be left without these blessings and the elements of Islam.
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