Zakaat - Rules and modern issues

Importance of Zakaat

 

Zakaat is so important that it has been emphasized and stressed in many verses of the Holy Quran.  Allah Most High has mentioned Salaat and Zakaat together 32 times in the Holy Quran.  Zakaat has been ordered in different ways and approaches.  At some places, it is explicitly ordered:

 

And establish Prayer and pay Zakat (the Alms-due) regularly and kneel down (together) with those who kneel down.  Surah Baqarah (2:43)

 

At other places, it has been mentioned among virtuous acts.

 

Driven by love for Allah, he spends (his) wealth on the kindred, orphans, the needy, the wayfarers, and those who ask and in (liberating slaves’) necks; and establishes Prayer and pays Zakat (the Alms-due).  Surah Baqarah (2:177)

 

At various places, it has been declared as a characteristic of believing men and women.

 

There is a Hadith in Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: You cheerfully give the Zakaat of your wealth (be it, gold, silver or jewelry).  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 7413)

 

On various other occasions, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has described the importance of Zakaat and has ordered us to pay up.