Dear Islamic brothers in this piece of
writing we will learn answers to these questions:
What is the significance of Zakat?
When did Zakat become Fard?
What is the Definition of Zakat?
What is the ruling on denying Zakat to
be a Fard act?
What amount of Zakat will be given?
On whom is Zakat Fard?
What are the punishments of not giving
Zakat?
Dear brothers! Zakat is the basic pillar
of Islam and became Fard in 2 Hijri before the Siyam. 1/40th part
of the zakat nisab
(i.e. 2.5%) will have to be given as Zakat. It is proven from the Holy Quran
that Zakat is Fard; one who denies it is a Kafir. The Beloved Rasoolصَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has stated, ‘The foundation of Islam is
on five acts: To testify that there is none worthy of worship except
Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ and Muhammad صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is His Rasool; to offer Salah; to pay
Zakat; to perform Hajj; and to observe Sawm of Ramadan.’
(Bukhari/Kitab ul Iman)
The significance of Zakat can be observed by the fact that:
Salah and Zakat have been mentioned together in the Holy Quran 32 times.
(Radd ul Mukhtar/Kitabuzakat)
Besides this, the fortunate Zakat-giving a person receives great blessings and benefits of this world and the Hereafter.
Zakat is Fard
It is proven from the Holy Quran and
Sunnah that Zakat is Fard. Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ has stated in the Holy Quran:
وَ اَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا
الزَّكٰوةَ
Translation from Kanz-ul-Imaan: And establish (obligatory) prayer, and give Zakat.
(Part 1, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 43)
Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Na’eemuddin
Muradabadi رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ (who passed away in 1367 Hijri) has
stated: This Ayah says about Salah and Zakat donation being
Fard.
When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ sent Sayyiduna Mu’aaz رَضِیَ
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ towards Yemen, he صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: Tell them that Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ has made Zakat Fard in their wealth; it
should be taken from the wealthy people and given to the Fuqara [poor people.
(Tirmizi/Kitabuzakat)
Definition of Zakat
That wealth specified by Shari’ah is
termed as Zakat from which a person discontinues his benefit in every manner
and then for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ, it is given into the possession of such
Muslim Faqeer [Shari’ah-declared poor person], who is neither Hashmi himself
nor is he a slave freed by any Hashmi.
(Durr e Mukhtar/Kitabuzakat)
On whom is Zakat Fard?
Giving and Zakat
calculator is Fard on every such ‘Aaqil [sane] and Baligh [person who
has reached puberty] Muslim who is not a slave and who meets the following
conditions:
1 He owns Nisab.
2 This Nisab is Naami [growing in nature].
3 He has Nisab in his possession.
4 Nisab is exclusive of his Haajat-e-Asliyyah (i.e. basic
necessities of life).
5 Nisab is exclusive of the money he owes (i.e. he should not owe
the people such debt that his Nisab will no longer remain if he pays it).
6 A year passes on this Nisab.
(Bahar e Shariat)
Punishments of not giving Zakat
Not giving Zakat is a cause of the destruction of wealth as the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ
وَسَلَّمَ has said: The wealth that has got destroyed in the land
and sea, it has got destroyed because of not giving Zakat.
(Majma-ul-Zwaed/KitabulZakat)
At another place, he صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has said: Wealth of Zakat will destroy
the [wealth] in which it will be present.
(Shob-ul-Iman)
Explaining the abovementioned Hadith,
Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has stated, ‘Some great Ulama have
stated the following meaning of this Hadith: If Zakat becomes Wajib on a person
but he does not pay it and keeps it included in his wealth, this Haraam will
destroy that Halal. Imam Ahmad رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has stated the following meaning: If a
wealthy person takes Wealth of Zakat, this Wealth of Zakat will destroy his
wealth as Zakat is for the Fuqara [poor people]. Both meanings are
correct.’
(Bahar-e-Shariat)
The nation which does
not give Zakat can suffer from troubles collectively. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has said: The nation which will not give
Zakat, Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّwill
make it suffer from drought.
(Al Moj-ul-Osat)
At another place, he صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has said: When the people abandon paying
Zakat, Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ stops the rain. If quadrupeds were not
present on the Earth, even a single drop of water would
not fall from the sky.
(Ibn-e-Majah)
The person who does not give Zakat has
been cursed, as Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ood رَضِیَ
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has narrated: Rasoolullah صَلَّی
اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has cursed the one who does not give
Zakat.
(Sahih Ibn-e-Khuzaimah)
Dear Islamic brothers! this is very
short writing for this important topic if you want to read details of it please
visit our online book library and read many books on this topic you can also
buy these books from Maktaba-tul-Madina.
May Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ enable us to learn our Deen and to act
upon its teachings! Ameen