Zakaat – Easy way to gain proximity of Allah Most High

 

 

Giving Zakaat is included among the qualities described by Allah Most High in Holy Quran of successful worshippers:

 

Certainly the believers have attained their goal, those who become most humble and submissive in their Prayer, And who (always) keep away from absurd talk, And who (always) pay Zakat (the Alms-due [and keep purifying their wealth and souls]),  Surah Mominoon (23:1-4)

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim about how Allah Most High showers His bounties on those who give Zakaat and how the Lord Almighty is generous with His generous worshippers:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) relates to us from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and related a few Hadith.  Among these, he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Allah Most High told me:  O Beloved!  You keep disbursing, I will grant you.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The hands of Allah Most High are brimming.  Continuous disbursement doesn’t lessen it.  Just think!  When He created the heavens and the earth, how much did He disburse!  There is nothing lacking in His hands (i.e. in His power to grant).  His ‘Arsh is on water and in His other hand is His attribute of constriction.  He raises whom He wills and He lowers whom He wills.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2356)

 
The importance of Zakaat in Islam is made clear by the following Hadith:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Darda (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Zakaat is the bridge of Islam.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani , Hadith No. 175 Shu‘abul Iman, 3159)

 

There are now 2 opinions about the fact that if there is no bridge, it is very difficult to reach the destination and through a bridge those who are far can come near.  By declaring Zakaat as the bridge of Islam, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) made clear its importance in Islam that if you want to reach the destination of pleasing Allah Most High, then take the bridge of Zakaat and cross this bridge to gain proximity to Allah Most High.  This bridge simultaneously bridges worshippers with worshippers and also joins them with the Creator.

 

Properly fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of the fellow human beings is a firm means of gaining perfection in faith and strengthening the belief.  The following words of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) support this:

 

Translation: ……… Hadhrat Kulsoom (May Allah be well pleased with her) narrates on the authority of her father that the year of Ghazwa Muraisee’, when he embraced Islam, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The completion of your Islam is that you give the Zakaat of your wealth.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 14434)

 

Islam cannot be complete unless and until Zakaat is given.  Zakaat is the bridge of Islam and its article without which no one can come close to Islam and neither can anyone gain perfection in faith.