Zakat: the letter and spirit of the concept

Shakeel Ahmad

Although Yusuf Al-Qaradawi agrees with majority of scholars who interpret "fee sabilillah" as meaning Jihad (disagreeing with some other salafi commentators who are of the view that it includes all religious and secular interests), but he extends the meaning of Jihad to include other forms of Jihad like the intellectual and educational forms which serve to preserve Islamic identity (1)

Part-1: The Letter of Zakat (Zakah)

Zakat is compulsory after the personal wealth crosses a threshold ... we know this.

Zakat is to be given away throughout the year ... as soon as the wealth has crossed the threshold of time ... we know this.

Zakat is to be given only to the poor and destitute individuals ... we know this! Hardly do we know anything if we use ONLY in this sentence! A reference to Surah Tauba (Surah # 9)'s Ayat number 60 in Quran makes sufficiently clear the eight areas in which zakat money should be spent. Well, we know this. Sure, we do.

Zakat purifies our wealth ... we know this, alhamdolillah. 

Zakat means "to purify" and also "growth" ... well, it's not a new information for us. Really?

Zakat can be used in a bait-al-maal to render all kinds of service to the masses. This may benefit the poor mostly, but some benefits may actually accrue to the rich as well. To the rich as well? Vow! When Allah commands in the above Quranic verse to spend zakat money on the wayfarer (Travellers who find themselves in difficult circumstances), it is widely believed that He makes no difference between a poor wayfarer and a rich wayfarer (may be rich in his native place, but is currently without nisab). 

The literal meaning of zakat is widely understood and consensus is available on many uses despite differences on some of the points. If logic is applied to the reason why Allah made zakat a mandatory feature of a Muslim’s life, most of us believe this could be for taking care of the poor. What if I say it could have been to eradicate poverty? If it was not meant to eradicate poverty but just to feed the poor, thus maintaining the poor in the same conditions as they are, it may be considered by the Munafeqeen as an unfair act of Allah (na’ooz-o-billah), and the claim of Allah that He is the Most Fair and the Most Merciful would be challenged easily. If zakat is not meant to eradicate poverty, then how would this hadeeth come true one day?

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till your wealth increases so much so that one will be worried, for no one will accept his zakat and the person to whom he will give it will reply, 'I am not in need of it.' " (Sahih Bukhari, Book #24, Hadith #493)

Islamic Video Library

Economic Empowerment Project

Letter and Spirit of Zakat (Zakah) - Part2

Who should get Zakat

The Spirit of Zakat

Empowering the needy: proposal by Imteyaz Ahmad

Book: Riyaz-As-Saleheen (Riyad-us-saliheen) - most popular book of authentic ahadeeth (ahadees)

Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (THE SEALED NECTAR): Biography of Prophet [pbuh], by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Better light a candle than curse the darkness