Unit IV
ALMGIVING Zakat
Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam It is an obligation fard prescribed by God for those Muslim men and women who possess enough means, to distribute a certain percentage of their annual savings or capital in goods or money among the poor and needy Zakat is assessed at the end of the year on both capital and savings from income The details of percentages and the method of distribution and collection are based on the practices of Prophet Muhammed PBUH and his Companions
The literal meaning of the word Zakat is purity The Prophet PBUH has said "God has made Zakat obligatory simply to purify your remaining property " There is no equivalent practice in other religions Hence, while terms such as charity, poor-tax "alms-tax" and poor-due, almsgiving, have been coined by various translators, none of these terms actually conveys the true sense of the word Zakat Zakat is not a tax levied by a government, nor is it a voluntary contribution It is first and foremost a důty enjoined by God and hence an essential article of faith In Quran the payment of Zakat is frequently mentioned in the same sentence or verse as the establishment of salat prayers
"Lo! Those who believe and do good deeds and establish salat and pay Zakat, their reward is with their ustainer, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve" 2 2
Thus, while salat is an act of worship through words and bodily action, Zakat is a devotional act through ones wealth Without the spirit of submission to God and love of Him, both acts are without spiritual and moral significance
In the Quran, wealth is referred to as Gods bounty fad! God, as the Creator and ustainer of the universe, is also the Owner of all things, including all the things which man possesses
and uses
للفرقة الأولى
26
A
كتاب اللغة الإنجليزية
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