Concerning Zakat and Its Benefits (1/2)

Zakat is one of the obligations of Islam. It is also one of its (five) pillars, and the most important amongst them after the Testimonies of Faith and the Prayer. Proof for its obligation can be found in the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger and the unanimous consensus of the Muslims. So whoever rejects its obligation is a disbeliever who has apostated from Islam, and he should be made to repent, and if not then he should be killed. And whoever is cheap with giving it or minimizes any portion that is due from it, then he is from the wrongdoers who are deserving of Allah’s punishment.

Allah says:

“And let not those who hold back miserly from giving that which Allah has bestowed on them from His Bounty think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them. The things that they held back from giving will be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Recompense. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is well-Aware of all that you do.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 180]

And in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, Abu Hurairah (radyAllahu ‘anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever Allah has given money to and does not give his Zakat for it, it will take the form of a shiny-headed male serpent with two black spots over its eyes, which will encircle him on the Day of Judgement and bite his cheeks saying: ‘I am your money, I am your wealth.’”

Allah says:

“And those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend on them in the Way of Allah (i.e. by giving Zakat), give them the tidings of a painful punishment. This will be on the Day when those treasures (i.e. gold and silver) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it their foreheads, bodies and backs will be branded. (And it will be said to them): ‘This is the treasure that you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 34]

And in Saheeh Muslim, Abu Hurairah (radyAllahu ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There is no one that possesses gold and silver and doesn’t give his due (Zakat) on it except that on the Day of Judgement, it will be made into plates of fire, then dipped into the Fire of Hell and with it his body, forehead and back will be branded. Each time the plates grow cool, they will be reheated and brand him again. This will occur on a Day the length of fifty thousand years, until Allah judges His servants.”

Zakat has many religious, behavioral and communal benefits of which we will mention the following from them:

From its religious benefits are:

1. It is abiding by one of the pillars of Islam, upon which rests an individual’s prosperity in this worldly life and the Hereafter.

2. It brings a servant close to his Lord and increases his Faith. This is the case with all of the acts of worship.

3. What comes as a result of doing it, such as great reward. Allah says:

“Allah will wipe away (the reward) of usury and increase that of charity (i.e. Zakat).” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 276]

And He says:

“And that which you give as a gift (to others) in order that it may increase (your wealth by expecting something in return) from other people’s property, has no increase with Allah. But that which you give in Zakat sincerely for the sake of Allah, those people shall have manifold increase.” [Surah Ar-Room: 39]

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever gives away charity the size of a date, which is earned lawfully, since Allah only accepts the good lawful things, Allah will indeed take it with His right Hand and cause it to grow for its owner, just as one of you raises up his colt, to the point that the charity will become like the size of a mountain.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

4. Allah wipes away the (minor) sins by way of it, as the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Giving charity wipes away sins just as water extinguishes fire.”

The word charity (sadaqah) here refers to the Zakat as well as the supererogatory form of charity.

From the benefits it has on a person’s character are:

1. It causes him to follow the way of the generous individuals possessing kindness and magnanimity.

2. Giving the Zakat requires a person to characterize himself with the attributes of mercy and sympathy towards his destitute brothers, and Allah shows mercy to those who have mercy on others.

3. What has been witnessed is that giving financial and physical support to Muslims causes the hearts to become open and the soul to be pleased. And it causes a person to become loved and respected according to the extent of support he gives to his fellow brothers.

4. Giving Zakat cleanses one’s character from stinginess and miserliness, as Allah says:

“Take the charity (Zakat) from their wealth in order to purify and cleanse them by way of it.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 103]

(Continued)