Zakaat - A great article of Islam

Zakaat is a great article of Islam.  This was made obligatory in 2 Hijri.  In Islam, after Salaat, this is the worship which is stressed.  There are glad tidings for those who give Zakaat and there are strict warnings for those who don’t give it.

 

The benefits of the system of Zakaat

 

On one hand, the wealth of the person who gives Zakaat is blessed and on the other hand, it is a means of fulfilling the needs of the poor and the needy.

 

Nowadays, many programs and schemes are devised and launched for eradicating poverty.  If only, they would understand the benefits of Zakaat and embrace it, poverty would be actually eradicated from the world.  The poor and needy people can also lead happy lives and the crimes which are committed because of economic backwardness can all be wiped out.

 

How it works

 

All the sections of the society can work only when wealth is not stagnant in the hands of a few or a particular class or section of the society.  It should not be that the rich keep on getting richer and the poor wilt, wane and die.  In this connection, in Islam, usury has been declared forbidden, Zakaat has been made obligatory for the rich and other forms of charity have been encouraged.

 

For mistakes and shortcomings in some acts of worship, expiation (Kaffara) has been declared Wajib (compulsory) and even for war booty, a fifth of it is earmarked for charity as Khums, so that through these forms, wealth circulates through the society and does not remain concentrated in the hands of a few.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said in the Khutba of Hujjatul Wada’a:  The usury of the days of ignorance is waived but the principal amount is your right………..You keep giving the Zakaat of your wealth.”

 

It is necessary for the person whose wealth reaches the prescribed limits, to give the 40^th part i.e. 2.5% of his/her wealth once a year as Zakaat to the needy people.  This means that a person who has 60 gm 755 mg gold or 425 gm 285 mg silver or its equivalent wealth in the form of liquid cash or trade goods must give 2.5% of this wealth after a year has passed on it.

 

Zakaat on showrooms, shopping complexes and the like

 

Zakaat becomes Wajib on gods only when they are taken for trade.  For this the conditions are that the value of the goods should reach the limits of Zakaat (Nisab) and 1 year should have passed on them.  The things kept in showrooms, etc. are kept obviously for trade and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given the order to give the Zakaat on trade goods.  There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibn Jundub (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would order to give Zakaat of the goods that we would prepare for trade.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 1546)

 

Thus, clothes, Zakaat is Wajib on vehicles, houses and all those things, which are for trade, if their value reaches the prescribed limits of Nisab, then Zakaat is Wajib on them.  If at the beginning of the year, their value was already reaching the prescribed limits of Nisab and the value increases in the year and the increase remains until the end of the year, then Zakaat should be calculated on this increased amount only.  As given in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 175, 179.

 

Zakaat is not Wajib on things, which are given out for hire.  However, if the income gained from them reaches the prescribed limits of Nisab, then Zakaat is Wajib on that amount, when it is more than the basic needs and a year has passed on it.

 

In light of this, we can say that on cars, houses, trading complexes and the articles given out by the supplying company for hire, Zakaat is not Wajib on these articles per se, but on the income gained on them.  As given in Fatawa Khaniya on the explanatory notes of Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 251.

 

Zakaat on shares

 

If the value of the shares or amount kept in any kind of schemes reaches the prescribed limits and a year has passed on it, then Zakaat has to be given on it.  If the amount increases or decreases in the year, then the amount at the end of the year should be considered.

 

To whom should Zakaat be given

 

Zakaat cannot be given to parental relations like grandfather/grandmother and similarly all paternal and maternal relationships and to relations of marriage like son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter and all others below them.  Also, a husband and wife cannot give Zakaat to one another.  Apart from these all other relatives who are in need of Zakaat, if they are not Saadat i.e. descendants of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) can be given Zakaat.  Relatives should be preferred over others while giving Zakaat.  Giving Zakaat to relatives has a 2-fold reward, one of giving Zakaat and the other of maintaining good relationships with the relatives. (Sila Rahmi).

 

It is better (Afdhal) for the person giving the Zakaat to give it first to their brothers, sisters, then their kids, if they are needy and are not Syed, then the father’s brother and sister, then their kids, then the mother’s brother, sister, then their kids.  Then after this, the maternal relatives will be considered deserving.  As per the details given, the wife or the husband whoever is giving the Zakaat should give it to their own relatives in the described order.

 

 

Using Zakaat for social service

 

To serve the society is really appreciable.  Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) will also be pleased by this and the society should also try to follow this. 

 

As far as collecting Zakaat amount for social services like burial purposes is concerned, it is necessary that the poor person to whom Zakaat is given should be made the complete owner of the Zakaat amount.  Since in using Zakaat money for social service, this ownership is not transferred, this cannot be done so.  As given in Fatawa A'alamgiri, Vol. Pg No. 170.  Thus, instead of using Zakaat amount for this, one may collect money which is not Zakaat.