Zakat

Allah ta’ala has given us wealth for our livelihood. All men do not possess equal wealth. Some have less and some have more. Allah ta’la has determined the share of the poor in the wealth of the rich. The system of akat has been set up with a view to helping the poor. Zakat literlly means purity, clarity and rectification. In the terminology of Shariat, a fixed part of the wealth of a Muslim is to be given at the end of every year to the sectors determined by Allah. If Zakat is paid, wealth becomes purified. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Payment of Zakat is faraz. In repect of importance Zakat is next to Salat. About Zakat it is said in the Holy Quran : “Establish Salat and pay zakat” (sura An Noor -5). The prophet (Sm) says about this : “Those for whom Zakat is Farz, will be severely punished by Allah in the life hereafter if they do not pay it.” In fact, no Muslim can remain a real Muslim unless he/she pays Zakat. Almighty says: “Destruction of the Mushriks is inevitable, because they do not pay Zakat. So, not to pay Zakat is the act of the Mushriks.”

Zakat is one of the pillars of economy established by Allah. To dany Zakat is like denying Allah and Allah’s Prophet (Sm). According to Islamic law, the persons who is able to pay Zakat, must pay it.

Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddiq (R), the first Caliph of Islam, fought against the persons wno denied Zakat in the same way as he fought against Kafirs. He considered the man who denies to pay Zakat as Murtab (one deviated from Islam).

The main aim of paying Zakat is to change the condition of the so that they can gain financial solvency and have on want.
A lot of poor people can be provide work by collecttng Zakat in our country. If we can provide with the work to the unemployed poor people by developing small cottage industries, one day there will be no needy people in the country. As a result, peace and other will come back in the country, if Zakat is patd regularly, there will be no distinction between the rich and the poor. So the rich must pay there Zakat duly.