THE GREAT ULAMA SCAM ZAKAT  

In the Quran God and His Messenger have asked us to be generous and to give to charity. But charity comes under 'sadaqah' or 'nafqah' and not 'zakat'. We will look at some verses in the Quran detailing 'sadaqah' and 'nafqah' charity but there is not even one single verse in the Quran, which relates 'zakat' to charity. 'Zakat' means purify or purification and it is an extremely important duty incumbent on all believers. 'Sadaqah' and 'nafqah' mean charity or free will offerings and they are also extremely important duties incumbent on all believers.

There is no such thing as paying 'zakat' alms or 'zakat' charity. "Zakat is the great ulema scam. The ulema have been fooled by Bukhari, Abu Hurairah, Tirmizi and others. And now the ulema have fooled millions of their followers into handing money over to them for 'zakat' charity.

"And We blessed him (Zachariah) with kindness from us, and purity (zukaatan) for he was righteous". Surah 19:13

Among other things God blessed Zachariah with purity.

In the story of Moses there is another reference to a son who is to be purified: "We wanted that their Lord substitutes a better son who would be purified (zakaatan) and more considerate". Surah 18:81.

Also the following verse: "Such blessings as the sending of a messenger from among you, to recite for you our revelations and to purify you (wa yuzakkeehim ) and to teach you the scripture and wisdom, and to teach you what you never knew".
Surah 2:151.

Hence there are over 45 occurrences of the word 'zakat' and its derivatives in the Quran (please refer "A Concordance of the Quran" by Hannah E Kassis or any other good index of the Quran) and not even one of the verses where they occur connect 'zakat' to charity. And now let us note the following verse extremely very carefully:
"No soul will bear the burden of another soul, and when a burdened soul implored for help, nothing can be unloaded, not even by a close relative. None will heed your warnings except those who reverence your Lord in their privacy, and observe salat. Anyone who purifies himself does so for his own good (waman tazakka fa inama yatazakka linafsihi) To God is the ultimate destiny". Surah 35:18

No soul can bear the burden of another soul. There is no intercession in Islam, especially by the Prophet. We can only purify ourselves (`tazakka') standing on our own two feet. One way to purify ourselves is through salat. Hence the Quran has 27 verses with the phrase 'aqeemus salat wa aatuz zakaat'. The ulema's understanding of this phrase is 'perform the salat and give zakat charity'. This is incorrect.

Aqeemus salat wa aatuz zakaat' simply means stand for prayer and make purification. Salat purifies the believers (Surah 35:18 above).

Now let us look at the following verse: "O you who believe if you wish to confer with the messenger, you shall give away a charity (sadaqatan) before you confer with him. This is better for you and purer. If you cannot afford it then God is forgiver, merciful. If you had failed to give charity (sadaqatin) before your conference and you repented thereafter then you shall observe the salat and make purification (aatuz zakat) and obey God and His messenger. God is cognizant of everything you do." Surah 58:12-13.

In these two verses we see the appearance of 'sadaqah' charity together with 'zakat' which is purification. Before they confer with the messenger believers are required to give away a charity (`sadaqah'). If they failed to give away a charity (sadaqatin) then they must perform the salat to purify themselves (`aqeemus salat wa aatuz zakaat').

Hence 'sadaqah' is charity and `zakat' is purification. "Take from their money a portion for charity (sadaqatan) in order to cleanse them and to purify them (watuzakkeehim) with it and pray for them, for your prayer pacifies them. God is hearer, knower. Do they not know what God accepts the repentance of His servants, and accepts the charities (sadaqati) and that God is redeemer, the merciful?" Surah 9:102-103.

Again, 'sadaqah' and 'zakat'; appear in these verses. In these two verses God accepts charity (`sadaqah'). The giving of charity (`sadaqah') can purify us (`watuzakkeehim'). The giving of money to charity is 'sadaqah' and not 'zakat'. `Zakat' means purification.
"...They ask you what to give as charity (yunfiqoona) say "The excess". God thus clarifies the revelations for you that you may reflect."
Surah 2:219

You give to charity from your excess. The ulema say you must pay 2.5`% as 'zakat' charity. There is no basis for this 2.5% anywhere in the Quran. After taking inflation into consideration 2.5% cannot even buy candy for the children This 2.5% ruling also has other bad effects on "muslims". They have become a stingy people. After paying 2.5% there is a tremendous sense of relief. Their charity obligations are done. Salvation can be got for a minimum of 2.5%.

Similar to those who pray only once a week on Fridays, they feel all their sins are washed off. They even feel arrogant enough to start checking up on other people's attendance at Friday prayers.

Today there is no "islamic" aid organisation anywhere in the world that can operate across borders. Be it floods, fire, earthquake or disaster there are no "islamic" aid organisations that can help. They do not seem to go beyond the 2.5%. They are saved already at a minimum of 2.5%. If aid groups exist, they are limited to "muslims" only. Other human beings are not worth helping.

When the Bhopal poison gas tragedy happened in India, the tabligh mullahs refused to help saying their mission was the "hereafter" and not "worldly". In other words they are concerned with their own souls only but not other peoples' lives. But God and the messenger said:
"And do not keep you hand tied to your neck, nor open it in excessive charity, lest you end up blamed and remorseful" Surah 17:29

"If he asks you to donate in excessive amounts, you may turn stingy and hatred may prevail among you". Surah 47:37

Hence God and the messenger never made it a law exactly how much we have to donate. There is no 2.5% loophole either for our salvation. But we are to exercise our righteousness.
"O you who believe, you shall give to charity (anfiqoo) from our provisions to you before a day comes wherein there will be no trade, no favouritism and no intercession. It is the disbelievers who choose wickedness." Surah 2:254

First we must have excess earnings. No one can tell anyone else when his earnings are in excess. But we cannot keep our hands tied to our necks in stinginess or open up our cheque book too foolishly. Each one of us has to decide how much charity he or she can afford to give. The bottomline is we must give:
"Charity (sadaqah) shall go to the poor, the needy, those who administer them, the converts, the freeing of slaves, those afflicted with hardship in the cause of God and to the alien. This is God's desire, and God is knower, Wise". Surah 9:60.