Page last edited on 23 April, 2003
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Zakat in the Qur'aan and Sunnah
Zakat is the yearly compulsory
charity prescribed upon those Muslims who have wealth.
On the said wealth, two
and a half percent of charity has to be compulsorily given in charity. One
may give more than that. Allah tells in Quran : "Practice regular
charity".
(Al-Qur'an, 2:43)
"Be steadfast in
prayer and regular in charity. And whatever good you send forth, for your
souls before you, you shall find it with Allah."
(Al-Qur'an, 2:110)
"But it is
righteousness.. to spend of your substance out love for him (Allah) for your
kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask and for
the ransom of slaves."
(Al-Qur'an, 2:43)
"For those who give
in charity, men and women, and a loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be
increased manifold (to their credit) and they shall have, (besides) a liberal
reward."
(Al-Qur'an, 57:18)
"And spend something
(in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed upon you, before
Death should come to any of you and he should say : O my lord! Why did you not
give me respite for a little while? I should have given (largely in
charity)".
(Al-Qur'an, 63:10)
Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) said,
"Allah has made obligatory for them
(Muslims) in their wealth, sadaqa (charity) to be taken from their rich and
handed over to the poor."
(Al-Bukhari Chapter of Zakat)
'Zakat' means 'to
increase and to become pure.' Because the payment of Zakat leads to an
increase in wealth and considered to be a reason for its cleansing, this
obligation has been named "Zakat", by the Shariah (law). "Zakat"
was declared "obligatory" in the 2nd year after the Prophet (S.A.W.)
migrated to Medina.
He who acquires a property is not a liable
for Zakat on it till a year passes.
Zakat-ul-Fitr or Sadaqatul-Fitr : Prophet
Muhammed (S.A.W.) (peace be upon him) prescribed Zakat-ul-Fitr payable by all
Muslims including slaves (and servants), about two and half kilo of dried dates,
or grains and commanded that this should be paid before the people went out to
pray the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr i.e. Ramadhan IDD.
(Bulug-al-Maram Hadith : 505)
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* pbuh - Peace be upon him; It is a
Muslim practise to convey prayers of peace whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and other prophets is taken. |