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Books Section > The Religion of Islam > Zakat or Charity
Zakat or
Charity:
Charity as One of the Two Principal
Duties:
Charity towards man, in its widest
sense, is laid down in the Qur'an as the second great pillar on which
the structure of Islam stands. This is made plain in the very
beginning of the Holy Book: "(Those) who believe in the Unseen and
keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them; and who
believe in that which has been revealed to thee and that which was
revealed before thee, and of the Hereafter they are sure. These are
on a right course from their Lord, and these it is that are
successful" (2 : 3-5). The main principles of Islam, as laid down
here, are five: three theoretical and two practical. The three
theoretical essentials are belief in God, in Divine revelation and in
the Hereafter; and the two practical are keeping up prayer and
spending out of what God has given to man. The first of these, which
has already been discussed in the last chapter, i.e., prayer, is the
means of the realisation of the Divine in man, while the second, or
spending out of whatever has been given to man, stands for charity in
a broad sense, i.e., for all acts of benevolence and doing good to
humanity in general. For what God has given to man is not only the
wealth which he possesses but all the faculties and powers with which
he has been gifted.
That benevolence, or the doing of good to man, is one of the two mainstays of religion, is a constant theme of the Qur'an, and one more verse may be quoted. Speaking of the Jewish and Christian claims to salvation, on the basis of certain dogmas, the Holy Book says: "And they say, None shall enter the Garden except he who is a Jew, or the Christians. These are their vain desires. Say, Bring your proof if you are truthful. Nay, whoever submits himself entirely to Allah and he is the doer of good to others, he has his reward from his Lord, and there is no fear for such nor shall they grieve" (2 : 111, 112). In this verse submission to Allah takes the place of keeping up prayer, and the doing of good to humanity, that of spending out of what has been given to man. Thus, theoretically, Islam means a belief in God, in Divine revelation and in the Hereafter, and practically it means the realisation of the Divine in man by prayer, or entire submission to God, and the service of humanity. The numerous ordinances relating to various aspects of life, whether contained in the Qur'an or in the practice and sayings (Sunnah) of the Prophet, are only offshoots of these two practical essentials of religion.
Prayer is Useless if it does not
Lead to Charity:
The relation in which prayer stands to
charity is made clear by the order in which the two are mentioned.
When prayer and charity are spoken of together, and this combination
is of frequent occurrence in the Qur'an, prayer always takes
precedence over charity, because prayer prepares a man for the
service of humanity. In the verse which speaks of the five basic
principles of Islam, mention of belief in the Unseen is immediately
followed by an injunction to keep up prayer, and this again by
another to do acts of benevolence. This is to show the natural order.
Belief in the Unseen is the starting point of man's spiritual
progress. But this would lead to no good if the next step, the
seeking of communion with the Unseen through prayer, does not follow.
And this again is meaningless if it does not lead to acts of
benevolence. Prayer, therefore, is the first step because it leads to
the second, that is, charity. This is elsewhere made plain: "Woe to
the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers! who do (good)
to be seen and refrain from acts of kindness" (107 : 4-7).
Conception of Charity in
Islam:
The most frequently recurring words for
charity are infaq [The words fi sabil Allah
(meaning, in the way of Allah) are sometimes added to the
derivatives of infaq in the Qur'an, but the significance is
the same, even when the word is used without this addition.]
which means spending benevolently, ihsan which means
the doing of good, zakat which means growth or
purification, and sadaqah which is derived from the
root sidq, meaning truth, and comes to signify a
charitable deed. The very words used to denote charitable
deeds are an indication of the broadness of its conception. The
Qur'an not only lays stress on such great deeds of charity as the
emancipation of slaves (90:13; 2:177), the feeding of the poor
(69:34; 90:11-16; 107:1-3), taking care of orphans (17:34; 76:8;
89:17; 90:15; 93:9; 107:2.) and doing good to humanity in general,
but gives equal emphasis to smaller acts of benevolence. It is for
this reason that the withholding of ma`un (107:7), which
specially indicates small acts of kindness and charity, is
stated to be against the spirit of prayer. And in a similar strain,
the speaking of a kind word to parents is referred to as ihsan
(17:23), and generally the use of kind words is
recommended as in itself a charitable deed in many places (2 : 83; 4
: 8 etc.).
Tradition is much more explicit. To remove from the road anything which may cause hurt is called a sadaqah or a charitable deed (Bu. 46 : 24). According to another tradition "there is a sadaqah (charity) on every limb with every new sun, and to do justice among people is also a charity" (Bu. 53 : 11). Another report gives yet more detail: "On every limb there is a sadaqah (charity) every day; a man helps another to ride his animal, it is a charity; or he helps him to load his animal, this is also a charity; and so is a good word; and every step, which a man takes in going to pray, is a charity; and to show the way is a charity (Bukhari 56 : 72, 128)." Examples of other charitable deeds are "your salutation to people," "your enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong (Ah. II, p. 329)," "refraining from doing evil to any one (Ah. IV, p. 395)" and so on. The circle of those towards whom an act of charity may be done is equally wide. To give food to one's wife or one's children is called a charitable deed, while to maintain even one's self is not excluded from the category of charitable deeds: "The Prophet said, Whatever you feed yourself with is a charity, and whatever you feed your children with is a charity, and whatever you feed your wife with is a charity, and whatever you feed your servant with is a charity (Ah. IV, p. 131)." The doing of good to the dumb creation is also called a charity: "Whoever tills a field and birds and beasts eat of it, it is a charity (Ah. IV, p. 55.)." The Qur'an also speaks of extending charity not only to all men including believers and unbelievers (2 : 272) but also to the dumb creation (51 : 19).
Voluntary
Charity:
Charity, in the sense of giving away
one's wealth, is of two kinds, voluntary and obligatory. Voluntary
charity is generally mentioned in the Qur'an as infaq or
ihsan or sadaqah, and though the Holy Book is full of
injunctions on this subject, and hardly a leaf is turned which does
not bring to the mind the grand object of the service of humanity as
the goal of man's life, the subject is specially dealt with in the
36th and 37th sections of the
second chapter. The reward of charity is first spoken of:
"The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is as the parable of a grain growing seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains; and Allah multiplies further for whom He pleases" (2 : 261).
A charitable deed must be done as a duty which man owes to man, so that it conveys no idea of the superiority of the giver or the inferiority of the receiver:
"Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, then follow not up what they have spent with reproach or injury, their reward is with their Lord... A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury... O you who believe! make not your charity worthless by reproach and injury" (2 : 262-264).
Love of God should be the motive in all charitable deeds, so that the very doing of them fosters the feeling that all mankind is but a single family:
"And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive" (76 : 8)."And give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and to set slaves free" (2 :177).
"And the parable of those who spend their wealth to seek Allah's pleasure and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the parable of a garden on elevated ground" (2 : 265).
Only good things and well-earned wealth should be given in charity:
"O you who believe! spend of the good things that you earned and of that which We bring forth for you out of the earth, and aim not at the bad to spend thereof" (2 : 267).
Charitable deeds may be done openly or secretly:
"If you manifest charity, how excellent it is! and if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is good for you" (2 : 271).
Those who do not beg should be the first to receive charity:
"For the poor who are confined in the way of Allah, they cannot go about in the land, the ignorant man thinks them to be rich on account of their abstaining from begging. (2 : 273).
Significance of
Zakat:
Obligatory charity is generally
mentioned under the name zakat, but it is sometimes called a
sadaqah, specially in traditions. The word zakat is
derived from zaka, which means it (a plant) grew.
The other derivatives of this word, as used in the Qur'an, carry
the sense of purification from sins. The Prophet is again and
again spoken of as purifying those who would follow him
(yuzakki-him or yuzakki-kum) (2 : 129, 151; 3 :163; 9 :
103; 62 : 2) and the purification of the soul is repeatedly
mentioned as being real success in life (91 : 9; 92 : 18). The word
zakat is also used in the sense of purity from sin. Thus of
John it is said: "And We granted him wisdom when a child, and
kind-heartedness from Us and purity (zakat)" (19 : 12,
13). And on another occasion, one child is spoken of as being "better
in purity (zakat)" than another (18 : 81). The idea of
purity, and that of the growth of human faculties and success in
life, are thus connected together. According to Raghib, zakat
is wealth which is taken from the rich and given to the poor,
being so called because it makes wealth grow, or because the giving
away of wealth is a source of purification. In fact, both these
reasons hold true. The giving away of wealth to the poorer members of
the community, while, no doubt, a source of blessing to the
individual, also increases the wealth of the community as a whole,
and at the same time it purifies the giver's heart of the inordinate
love of wealth which brings numerous sins in its train. The Prophet
himself has described zakat as wealth "which is taken from the
rich and returned to the poor" (Bu. 24 : 1).
Importance of Zakat in
Islam:
The two commandments, to keep up prayer
and to give zakat, often go together, and this combination of
the two is met with in the earliest chapters of the Qur'an, as well
as in those which were revealed towards the end of the Prophet's
life. Thus in ch. 73, which is undoubtedly one of the very earliest
revelations, we have: "And keep up prayer and pay the zakat
and offer to Allah a goodly gift" (73 : 20). And in the ninth
chapter, which is the latest in revelation, we have: "Only he can
maintain the mosques of Allah who believes in Allah and the Last Day
and keeps up prayer and pays the zakat and fears none but
Allah'' (9 : 18). Not only are prayer (salat) and zakat
mentioned together in a large number of passages [Klein says:
"It is mentioned in eighty-two passages of the Qur'an in close
connection with prayer" (RI. p. 156, f.n.). I have not been able to
trace the combination of salat and zakat in more than 27 passages.
But there are a few more passages in which prayer to God and the idea
of charity in general are mentioned together.] but also these two
are treated as being the basic ordinances of the religion of Islam,
and their carrying into practice is often mentioned as being
sufficient indication that one is a believer in the religion of
Islam. The two verses quoted above point to the same conclusion. A
few more are:
"And they are enjoined naught but to serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience, upright, and to keep up prayer and pay the zakat, and that is the right religion" (98 : 5). "These are verses of the Book of wisdom, a guidance and a mercy for the doers of good, who keep up prayer and pay the zakat and who are certain of the Hereafter" (31 : 2-4). "But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the zakat, they are your brethren-in-faith" (9 : 11).
Zakat as the Basic Principle of
every Religion:
Salat and zakat are also
spoken of together as the basic ordinances of the religion of every
prophet. Thus of Abraham and his posterity, it is said: "And We made
them leaders who guided people by Our command, and We revealed to
them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of
zakat" (21 : 73). The Israelite law is also said to have
contained a similar commandment: "And Allah said: Surely I am with
you. If you keep up prayer and pay the zakat and believe in My
messengers and assist them and offer to Allah a goodly gift, I will
certainly cover your evil deeds, and cause you to enter gardens in
which rivers flow" (5 : 12). Ishmael is also spoken of as giving the
same commandment to his followers: "And he enjoined on his people
prayer and zakat, and he was one in whom his Lord was
well-pleased" (19 : 55). Even Jesus is said to have received a
similar Divine commandment: "And He has enjoined on me prayer and
zakat so long as I live" (19 : 31). [The words, so long
as I live, establish conclusively that Jesus is dead, because
zakat can only be given by one who is in possession of worldly
wealth and of Jesus it could not be said that he was in possession of
wealth in heaven, and even if it were so there would be none there to
receive the zakat.]
This view of religion shows that, according to the Qur'an, the service of humanity and the amelioration of the condition of the poor has always been among the principal aims and objects of religion. It is, however, true that the same stress has not been laid on this principle in the previous religions, and, moreover, the institution of zakat, like every other principle of religion, has been brought to perfection, along with the perfection of religion, in Islam.
Problem of the Distribution of
Wealth:
One of the greatest problems facing
humanity is undoubtedly the problem of the distribution of wealth,
with which is also bound up the question of political power. The
system of capitalism which is the foundation-stone, so to say, of the
materialistic civilisation of modern Europe, has led to the
concentration of wealth in fewer and fewer hands. Political power has
followed in the wake of wealth. The insatiable thirst for wealth on
the part of the capitalists, who are the real controllers of
political power, has reduced many nations of the world to a state of
slavery, and regular plunder has been legalised under different
high-sounding phrases such as colonisation, occupation, mandate,
sphere of influence, and so on.
The reaction against capitalism set in towards the middle of the nineteenth century. It came under the name of Socialism and gradually developed into what is now known as Bolshevism. It holds Russia in its grip, perhaps as severely as Capitalism still holds other European countries. Whether, in Russia, it has come to stay is a question which only the future can decide. But there is one thing that strikes one as very strange. Bolshevism, which had come in to liberate the people, is as much of a bondage as Capitalism. The autocracy of Czardom has only given place to the autocracy of the Soviet.
The question before us, however, is, has Bolshevism, by state-ownership of all means of production, finally solved the great problem of the distribution of wealth? A few years are but as one moment or even less in world history. To say that because the five-year plan has accelerated production to an extent which could hardly be imagined, and that therefore the state-ownership of means of production is the solution of the problem, is to show overhastiness in drawing a conclusion. Who knows that the people entrusted with the carrying out of the scheme, the state-agents, may not tomorrow degenerate into an oligarchy similar to the oligarchy of Capitalism? Human nature is too prone to these tendencies, and the Bolshevism offers hardly any remedy to check such tendencies. But there is more than this. Bolshevism which came as the friend of labour defeats its own end by denying to labour its fruits. The rigid system of doling out the necessaries of life to all alike, to the indolent and diligent, the stupid and the intelligent, will undoubtedly foster conditions which must soon become unbearable for humanity; for it is going directly against nature and nature's recognised laws. But its evil results cannot be seen in a day.
Islam's Solution of Wealth
Problem:
To Islam is due the credit of not only
solving the wealth problem but, at the same time, developing the
higher sentiments and building up character, on which alone can be
laid the foundations of a lasting civilisation for the human race.
The rigid laws of Bolshevism, which gave the body sufficient to live
on, are killing the higher sentiments of human sympathy and
love-qualities which not only make life worth living but lacking
which humanity must degenerate into the worst barbarism. Islam
accomplishes both objects by its state institution of charity, which
goes under the name of zakat or poor-rate. Every possessor of
wealth in the Islamic commonwealth is required to contribute annually
one-fortieth of his wealth to a common fund, which is managed by the
state, or by the Muslim community where there is no Muslim state, and
this fund is utilised by the state or community for the amelioration
of the condition of the poor. Zakat, therefore, acts not only
as a levelling influence but, also a means of developing higher
sentiments of man, the sentiments of love and sympathy towards his
fellow-man; while the rigid system of state ownership and equality of
distribution helps to kill man's higher instincts. By this means,
too, wealth is made to circulate in the body-politic of Islam, just
as blood circulates in a living organism, a fixed portion of the
wealth of the richer members being drawn to the centre, whence it is
sent forth to those parts of the body-politic which need it most. The
institution of zakat thus becomes not only a levelling
influence but also one of the means for the uplift of the nation as a
whole.
Zakat is a State
Institution:
It should be borne in mind that
zakat is not simply obligatory charity. It is a state
institution or, where there is no Muslim state, a national
institution. The individual is not at liberty to calculate and spend
his zakat as he likes. It must be collected by the state on a
national basis, and spent by the state or community. Where the Qur'an
describes the main heads of the expenditure of zakat, it
mentions an item of expenditure on officials appointed to collect and
distribute the same, which shows clearly that, by the institution of
zakat, it contemplated either a department of the state or at
least a public fund managed entirely by a public body. The donor is
not required to give a certain portion of his zakat to
deserving persons, but to contribute all of it to a fund which must
be used for the uplift of the community. It was in this sense that
the Prophet understood it, and when he assumed control of the
government, he made zakat a state institution, appointing
officials to collect it and directing his governors to do the same in
distant provinces [As in the case of Mu`adh who was appointed
Governor of Yemen (Bu. 24 : 1).]. Abu Bakr, the first caliph,
followed in the footsteps of the Prophet when he declared war against
some of the tribes which had refused to send their zakat to
the state treasury, adding: "Zakat is the right (of the state
or community) in the wealth (acquired by an individual), and by
Allah, if they refuse to make over even one lamb which they used to
make over to the Prophet, I will fight against them" (Bu. 14 :
1).
Property on which Zakat is
Payable:
Though injunctions relating to zakat
are met with in very early revelations, the details were given
only after Islam was established at Madinah. Silver and gold are the
two commodities which man has always loved to hoard, and beside this
these are the two precious metals which are the basis of the
currencies of the world. These two, therefore find special mention as
being articles on which zakat must be paid. Ornaments made of
silver or gold were treated as silver or gold. And cash, whether in
the form of coins or notes or bank deposits, would follow the same
rule. Precious stones were excepted from zakat, because in
taking a part, in this case, the whole would have to be broken up or
damaged. Articles of merchandise were also considered as being
subject to zakat to whatever class they may belong
[Footnote: There is almost a consensus of opinion on this matter.
Bukhari mentions no tradition on this point, but the heading of one
of his chapters, the 29th, in the book of zakat
is as follows: "The sadaqah (zakat) of kasb (what
is earned) and tijarah (merchandise)" (Bu. 24 : 29). He is
unable, however, to find a tradition supporting it, and contents
himself with quoting the following verse of the Qur'an: "O you who
believe! give in charity of the good things that you earn and of what
We have brought forth for you out of the earth"(2 : 267). It may,
however, be noted that this verse refers to voluntary gifts. Abu
Dawud mentions a tradition from Sumra ibn Jundub: "The Prophet used
to command us that we should pay zakat out of what we had for
sale" (AD. 9 : 31). Some have questioned the authenticity of this
tradition, but it is supported by another tradition. For instance,
there is a tradition reported by Dar Qutni and Hakam, according to
which the Prophet mentioned bazz (cloth for sale) as being one
of the things on which zakat was payable. According to
another, also reported by Dar Qutni, the Caliph `Umar ordered a
certain man who was carrying on trade in skins, to pay the zakat
by having the price estimated. There is also a tradition in
Baihaqi, according to which Ibn `Umar said that in
`urudz (commodities other than gold and silver), there was no
zakat unless they were meant for trade (AM-AD. II, p. 4). The
last-mentioned tradition is also reported by Abu Dhar (Ah. V, p.
199).]. Animals used for trade purposes were subject to zakat
only if they were kept on pastures belonging to the state. There
is no mention of immovable property, such as agricultural lands and
house property, among the things on which zakat was levied,
but the produce of land, whether cereals or fruits, was subject to a
tax called `ushr, literally, the tenth part. It has been
treated as zakat; actually, however, it falls within the
category of land revenue. Vegetables are excepted from zakat
(Tr. 7 : 13). Since zakat is a tax on property, therefore
it is realisable though the property may belong to a minor. According
to a tradition, the Prophet is reported to have said: "Whoever is the
guardian of an orphan, he should do trading by his property, and
should not allow it to lie idle so that it may come to an end by the
payment of zakat" (Tr. 7 : 15).
Nisab:
Zakat was an annual charge on
property which remained in the possession of a person for a whole
year, when its value reached a certain limit, called nisab. Nisab
differed with different kinds of property, the most important
being 200 dirhams or 52 1/2 tolas (nearly 21 oz.) in the case of
silver, and twenty mithals or 7 1/2 tolas (nearly 3 oz.) in
the case of gold. The nisab of cash was the same as that of
silver or gold, according as the cash was held in silver or gold. In
the case of merchandise of all kinds, the value was calculated on the
basis of, and the nisab was judged by, the silver standard. In
the case of ornaments, the nisab was that of silver, if the
ornaments were made of silver, and that of gold, if they were made of
gold. But jewels and the like would be excepted, and only the weight
of silver or gold would be considered in determining the nisab.
In the case of animals, the nisab was five for camels,
thirty for bulls or cows and forty for goats. In the case of horses,
no particular nisab is mentioned, but as zakat in this
case was judged by the price, the nisab must also be judged by
the same standard. In the case of cereals, the nisab was five
wasaq, according to two different calculations; it comes to
twenty-six maunds and ten seers, or eighteen maunds and thirty-five
and a half seers, or nearly a ton in the first case, and about
two-thirds of a ton in the second [The difference arises from the
measure of sa` which, according to the people of `Iraq, is
eight ratl in weight, and according to the people of Hijaz,
five and one-third ratl.].
Rate at which Zakat must be
Paid:
With the exception of animals, zakat
was levied at almost a uniform rate, being 2 1/2 per cent of the
accumulated wealth. In the case of animals, camels and sheep,
detailed rules were laid down, and animals of a particular age were
taken as zakat when the herd reached a specified number
[Footnote: In the case of camels, the rule laid down was as
follows: "One goat for five camels, and after that, one for each
additional five or part of five, up to 24. When the number reached
25, a young she-camel, one year old, sufficed up to 34. For 35 to 45,
the age was raised to two years; for 46 to 60, to three years; for 61
to 75, to four years. For 76 to 90, two young she-camels of the age
of two years were given as zakat; for 91 to 124, two of the age of
three years, and after that one she-camel of the age of two years for
every forty camels, or one of the age of three years for every fifty
camels, was to be added. In the case of goats and sheep, the zakat
was one goat or sheep for 40 to 120, two for 121 to 200, three for
201 to 300, and after that one for each hundred or part of hundred
(Bu. 24: 38). In the case of cows, a one-year old calf for every
thirty cows, and a two-year old one for every forty, is the rule laid
down in a hadith (Tr. 7 : 5). According to Bukhari (Bu. 24 : 45),
horses are exempt from zakat. The reason appears to be that they were
needed in time of war. Later jurists, however, consider horses to be
taxable according to their value at the rate of 2 1/2 % (H.I., p.
173).]. A perusal of the rates given in the footnote would show
that, though there is a slight variation, yet in the main, the rate
of 2 1/2 per cent seems to have been kept in view. The case of one
full-grown cow out of every forty cows, one she camel, two years old,
out of every forty camels, and one goat out of forty goats, makes
this clear.
The case of treasure-trove, out of which one-fifth was taken, is quite a different matter, and can hardly fall within the category of zakat, since it cannot be said to be a thing which has remained in the full possession of the owner for one year. In such circumstances, where other governments would take the whole treasure, the Muslim state takes only a fifth.
In case of `ushr, as already stated, it is not technically zakat; it is really land revenue. The state takes only one-tenth of the produce of agricultural land when it is grown with the aid of rain-water or natural springs, and one-twentieth when irrigated by wells or other artificial means in which labour is engaged by the owner of the land (IM. 8 : 17).
Zakat under Modern
Conditions:
It will thus be seen that zakat
proper is only a charge on accumulated wealth, and is intended to
do away with the inequalities of Capitalism. Wealth has a tendency to
accumulate, and zakat aims at its partial redistribution in
such a manner that the community, as a whole, may derive advantage
from it. A part of the amassed wealth or capital of every individual
is taken away annually and distributed among the poor and the needy.
Zakat would therefore be payable on all cash hoardings, or
hoardings in gold or silver, as well as on any form of capital,
whether in the shape of cash or kind. Precious stones, as already
stated, are excepted, because the payment of zakat on them
would necessitate their sale. Machinery employed in industry must
follow the same rule. It should, in fact, be regarded in the same
light as the implements of an artisan, and its earnings become
taxable when the necessary conditions as to the assessment of
zakat are fulfilled. Stock-in-trade should be treated in a
similar manner; that is to say, only the yearly profit should be
taxable, not the stock itself. In the case of all things on which
zakat is payable, whether cereals, live-stock or other
articles of merchandise, their value should be determined, and
zakat levied at the universal rate of 2 1/2 per cent. Where
the Muslims live under non-Muslim governments, and the collection and
disbursement of zakat cannot be undertaken by these
governments, the duty devolves on the Muslim community as a whole,
and the institution of zakat must take the shape of a national
Muslim institution in every country where there is a Muslim
population.
How Zakat should be
Spent:
The items of the expenditure of
zakat are thus expressly stated in the Qur'an: "Alms
(sadaqat) are only for the poor (fuqara), and the needy
(masakin), and the officials appointed over them, and those
whose hearts are made to incline to truth (al-mu'allafati
qulubu-hum), and captives, and those in debt, and in the way of
Allah, and the wayfarer: an ordinance (faridzah) from Allah,
and Allah is Knowing, Wise" (9 : 60). As already noted, zakat
is sometimes mentioned under the name of sadaqah. That
this is the significance of sadaqat here is made clear by the
concluding words of the verse, where it is called a faridzah,
or an obligatory duty, which word is applicable to zakat
only. The eight heads of expenditure spoken of here may be
divided into three classes. The first relates to those who stand in
need of help, including the poor, the needy, those whose hearts are
made to incline to truth, captives, debtors and wayfarers. Secondly,
there are the officials appointed for collection and disbursement of
the fund. And, thirdly, a part of the zakat is required to be
spent in the way of Allah. A few words of explanation may be added as
regards each class.
It will be seen that six kinds of people fall under the first head. The first are fuqara' (pl. of faqir), derived from faqr which means the breaking of the vertebrae of the back, and faqir therefore means literally a man who has the vertebrae of his back broken or one afflicted by a calamity (LL.). Apparently it refers to disabled people, who, on account of some defect, are unable to earn their living. The second are masakin (pl. of miskin), which is derived from sakana meaning it became still or motionless. Miskin therefore signifies one caused by poverty to have little power of motion (LL.). There exists a good deal of difference as to the real distinction between the two words faqir and miskin; but, keeping the literal significance in view, the real distinction appears to be that faqir is one who is disabled from earning on account of some physical disability, while miskin is one who, though fit to earn sufficient, is unable to do so on account of poverty or lack of resources. The miskin is the needy man who if given a little help can earn livelihood for himself. The unemployed would fall in this category.
These are the two chief classes for whose benefit the institution of zakat is maintained, and hence they are separated from others by a mention of the establishment. The other groups falling in this class are also of persons who stand in need of help for some sufficient reason. There are al-mu'allafa-ti qulabu-hum, those whose hearts are made to incline to truth, that is, people who are in search of truth but unable to find means to have access to it on account of poverty. In this category would also fall new converts to Islam who are deprived of the means of their subsistence because of their conversion. Then there are the captives, or those who have been deprived of their liberty, and are unable to regain it by their own exertion. The freeing of slaves falls in this category. Then there are the debtors who are unable to pay off their own debts, and, lastly, there are the travellers who are stranded in a foreign country or in a distant place, and are unable to reach their homes.
There are two other heads of expenditure of zakat, the first of which is the maintenance of an establishment and office for the collection of zakat. This shows that zakat was meant to be collected at some central place, and then distributed, and the maintenance of people who did this work was a charge under this head. The Qur'an, therefore, does not allow the giving away or spending of zakat according to the individual's choice [There is a tradition which states that the Prophet allowed one-third of the zakat to be spent by an individual for those whom he thought fit to receive the zakat. He is reported to have said: "When you estimate, leave one-third; if you do not leave one-third, then leave one-fourth" (AD. 9 : 14). Explaining this tradition, Imam Shafi'i says that the one-third or one-fourth was to be left, so that the person from whom the zakat was taken should spend the portion left on his relatives or neighbours as he desired (AM-AD. 9 : 15).]. The collection of zakat, in spite of the remuneration paid for it, is regarded as an act of merit and according to one tradition, the collector of zakat is equal in merit to one who takes part in jihad or in a war to defend religion [AD. 19 : 6; Tr. 7 : 18.].
Zakat may be Spent in Defence and
Propagation of Islam:
The establishment charge being a
corollary of the nationalisation of the institution of zakat, the
only item of expenditure besides the help of those in need, for one
reason or another, is, what is called fi sabili-llah,
or in the way of Allah, which is accepted generally as
meaning warriors defending the faith [IJ-C. X,
p.100]. While such warriors are undoubtedly the most important
national need of a community, it is equally true that they are an
exception and not the rule, and hence the significance of the words
fi sabili-llah cannot be limited to them. But there is
another paramount need of the Muslim community which is called
jihad kabir, or the great jihad, in the Qur'an: "And if
We had pleased, We would have raised a warner in every town. So do
not follow the unbelievers, and strive against them a mighty striving
(jihad-an kabir-an) with it" (25 : 51-52). The personal
pronoun it, as the context clearly shows, refers to the
Qur'an, and therefore striving with the Qur'an, or taking the message
of the Qur'an to distant corners of the world, is the greatest
jihad of Islam. And the item of expenditure fi sabili-llah
therefore refers to both these paramount needs of national
existence, that is, wars to defend religion and the propagation of
Islam, the latter being the greatest need of this age. Hence it will
be seen that the institution of zakat, while chiefly aiming at
the amelioration of the condition of the poor, has also in view the
defence and advancement of the Muslim community as a
whole.
Other National Charitable
Institutions:
Zakat, though the most
important, is not, however, the only national institution of charity
set up by Islam. There are two others of a similar nature, both
connected with the Id festivals, whereby into every Muslim heart is
instilled the idea that even when in his happiest mood, he must never
forget the distress of his poorer brethren. The first of these
institutions is the sadaqat al-Fitr or zakat al-Fitr, i.e.,
charity connected with the `Id al-Fitr. Every
Muslim on that occasion is required to give away in charity a certain
measure of food, or its equivalent in money. This sum must be
collected by every Muslim community and then distributed among those
who deserve it [It has already been shown, in the chapter on `Id
prayers, that the Fitr charity was collected and then
distributed; and here too the choice was not with the individual but
with the community.]. The second institution is connected with
the `Id al-Adzha, on which occasion not only are the poor
members of the community fed with the meat of the sacrificed animals,
but the skins of those animals (and also dried or preserved meat, in
case the supply is greater than the demand) are sold, and the sum
thus realised spent on some charitable object of national value, such
as the propagation of Islam.
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