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Humanitarian and Medical Aid

Zakat - Rights of The Poor

The Islamic socio-economic system has a unique viewpoint on income and expenditure, method of wealth distribution and income generation which will allow the fullfilment of basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, education, health and basic sanitation) for all its citizens. Not only does it endeavour to guarantee basic needs it has the vision of creating a prosperous society whereby the rich will be in a position to serve and help less well-off citizens in an interdependent socio-economic framework. 

One important source of income and a right of the poor (irrespective of race, religion or gender) in the Islamic socio-economic system is Zakah. A brief overview is provided below :-

What is Zakah ?
The Zakat (Alms) is a form of giving to those who are less fortunate. It is obligatory upon all Muslims to give 2.5 % of excess wealth and assets annually to the poor. Giving the Zakat is considered an act of worship because it is a form of offering thanks to God and spiritual wealth purification for the means of material well-being one has acquired.  Zakah does not only purify the property of the contributor but also endeavours to eliminate selfishness, greed, envy and jealousy, as it fosters good-will and warm wishes for the contributors.

For society, zakat minimizes the feeling of envy among those who are not well-to-do;  provides a religiously-approved method of managing economy and finance; makes it possible for part of the wealth of the rich to be distributed among the poor.

 
Literally Zakat means 'grow (in goodness)' or 'increase', 'purifying' or 'making pure'. So the act of giving zakat means purifying one's wealth to gain Allah's blessing to make it grow in goodness.

The Qur'an (Sura Al-Tauba: 60) classifies the due recipients of zakat under the following eight categories:-

• "Zakat is for the poor, and the needy and those who are employed to administer and collect it, and the new converts, and for those who are in bondage, and in debt and service of the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarers...........". 

Zakat in the Qur'aan and Sunnah
The Quran says:-

• "Practice regular charity" (Al-Qur'an, 2:43)
• "Be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity. And whatever good you send forth, for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah." (Al-Qur'an, 2:110)
• "But it is righteousness.. to spend of your substance out love for him (Allah) for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask and for the ransom of slaves."
  (Al-Qur'an, 2:43)
• "For those who give in charity, men and women, and a loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit) and they shall have, (besides) a liberal reward."
  (Al-Qur'an, 57:18)
• "And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed upon you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say : O my lord! Why did you not give me respite for a little while? I should have given (largely in charity)".
  (Al-Qur'an, 63:10)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:-

• "Allah has made obligatory for them (Muslims) in their wealth, sadaqa (charity) to be taken from their rich and handed over to the poor." (Al-Bukhari Chapter of Zakat)

'Zakat' means 'to increase and to become pure.' Because the payment of Zakat leads to an increase in wealth and considered to be a reason for its cleansing, this obligation has been named "Zakat", by the Shariah (law). "Zakat" was declared "obligatory" in the 2nd year after the Prophet (S.A.W.) migrated to Medina.

He who acquires a property is not a liable for Zakat on it till a year passes.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also prescribed Zakat-ul-Fitr payable by all Muslims including slaves (and servants), about two and half kilo of dried dates, or grains and commanded that this should be paid before the people went out to pray the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr i.e. Ramadhan IDD. (Bulug-al-Maram Hadith : 505)

Zakat (the Alms Tax) - Why?
Zakat represents the unbreakable bond between members of the community, whom prophet Mohammad described to be

• "like the organs of the body, if one suffers then all others rally in response."

One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.  As Muslims pay the Zakat they have the genuine feeling that it is an investment and not a debit helping to establish economic balance and social justice in the society.

In general terms, what remains over and above the meeting of needs and expenses, and is hoarded for the full span of one year, is liable to Zakat. Zakat is the right of the poor in the wealth of the rich and is neither optional charity nor philanthropy.

Zakah has a deep humanitarian and social-political value; for example, it frees society from class welfare, from ill feelings and distrust and from corruption. Although Islam does not hinder private enterprise or condemn private possession, it does not tolerate selfish and greedy capitalism. Islam adopts a moderate but positive and effective course between individual and society, between the citizen and the state, between capitalism and socialism, between materialism and spiritualism.

Calculation Of Zakah
Zakah is a proportionately fixed contribution collected from the surplus wealth and earnings of the Muslim.

Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat individually. Zakah is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family expenses, due credits, taxes, etc i.e. after basic needs fulfillment. Every Muslim male or female who at the end of the year is in possession of the equivalent of 85 grams of gold (approx. $1400 in 1990) or more in cash or articles of trade, must give Zakah at the minimum rate of 2.5%. Taxes paid to government do not substitute for this religious duty. The contributor should not seek pride or fame but if disclosing his name and his contribution is likely to encourage others, it is acceptable to do so.

Other gains and profits have their respective formulae, such as proceeds from industry, agriculture and animal husbandry, real estate, etc. as thoroughly detailed in specialized references.

Muslims can also go above and beyond what they pay as mandatory Zakah, in which case the offering is a strictly voluntary charity (sadaqa). Sadaqa is given preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet said:-

• 'even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity'.

The Prophet said:-

• 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim'. He was asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity'. The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet said: 'He should help poor and needy persons.' The Companions further asked 'What is he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do good'. The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'

Although zakat can be distributed individually or collectively, in an ideal situation it should be managed by the state government to ensure effectiveness and equitable distribution. However, problems arise when many state governments today esp in the developing countries are deemed to be corrupt, immoral and engaged in poor governance, thereby rather than assisting the poor they are seen to be robbing them of their rights and leading them into further poverty. The only long term solution is the establishment of social welfare systems in all such countries which will guarantee the basic needs and endeavour to build a prosperous society on good governance.

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