Zakat

Zakat

 Zakat Meaning, Description and Significance 

.Meaning The word Zakat means sanctification and growth 

(1) The Quran says 

 خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِھِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَھِّرُھُمْ وَتُزَكِّیھِم بِھَا 

 “ Take from their wealth so that you might purify and sanctify 

them”

 (2)  Zakat purifies the soul of the giver from egoism and rapacity and cleans his wealth 

 from a portion specified for the unfortunate. Though, payment of Zakat supposedly 

. decreases plutocrat but, in broader sense, it causes rotation of wealth, which results 

.in its addition and therefore involves further and further people in its benefits. 

 Description Zakat is obligatory (Fard) on all Muslims men and women who are 

 Sahib-e-Nisab ie retain a specified limit of wealth, to pay each time a specified 

. portion from capital or savings like ranch yield, cattle, business conditioning, paper 

.currency and precious essence similar as gold and tableware 

 Significance of Zakat 

 The Holy Quran has mentioned Zakat further than eighty times. It's a duty from Allah 

 analogous to the duty of‘Salat’. Allah commands in the Holy Quran. 

فَأَقِیمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّـھِ 

 “ So establish Salat and give Zakat, and hold fast to Allah” (3) 

. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said 

 “ Islam was erected upon five pillars to substantiation that there's no 

God but Allah and that Muhammad (SAW) is His menial 

 and runner, performing prayer, giving Zakat, 

. performing passage and dieting the month of Ramadhan” (5) 

 The First caliph Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique (RA) declared war on the lines who 

 refused to pay Zakat, however, they were still observing Salat and professing Islam in 

. other matters. He reasoned that Divine Law (Shariah) can not be divided and that one 

 can not follow part of the Holy Book and cast away other corridor. (6) 

 Donors of Zakat 

The Holy Quran has mentioned in detail the people who are eligible to admit Zakat. 

 The Quran says 

 إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِینِ وَالْعَامِلِینَ عَلَیْھَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُھُمْ وَفِي 

 الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِینَ وَفِي سَبِیلِ اللَّھِ وَابْنِ السَّبِیلِ فَرِیضَةً مِنَ اللَّھِ وَاللَّھُ عَلِیمٌ 

حَكِیمٌ 

 “ The Sadaqat (Alms) are only for the poor, the indigent, those 

. who collect them, those whose hearts are to be conformed, 

. to free the internees and the debtors for the cause of Allah 

and for the trippers, a duty assessed by Allah, Allah is 

. full of knowledge & wisdom.” (7)