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Zakat:
The
obligatory yearly tax on Muslims to pay for the poor and needy
According
to Quran and Sunnah
WWW.MUTTAQUN.COM
The Noble Qur'an At-Taubah 9:60
As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ'
(poor), and Al-Masâkin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the
funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined
(towards
Islâm); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for
Allâh's Cause (i.e. for Mujâhidûn - those fighting in the
holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from
everything);
a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise.
Hadith -
Abu Dawood, Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib, r.a.Al-Abbas asked the
Prophet (peace be upon him) about paying the sadaqah (his
zakat) in advance before it became due, and he gave permission to do
that. Hadith -
Abud Dawood, Narrated Anas ibn Malik, r.a.
The
Prophet said: He who collects more sadaqah
than is
due is like him who refuses to pay it.
The
Noble Qur'an - Al-Baqarah 2:267
O you who believe!
Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned,
and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not
aim
at that which is bad to spend from it, (though) you would not accept it
save
if you close your eyes and tolerate therein. And know that Allâh is
Rich (Free of all wants), and Worthy of all praise.
While mentioning this verse, al-Bara' said: "This was
revealed in relation
to us [al-Ansar--the Helpers], because we were owners of palm trees. A
man
may bring from his palm trees [dates] depending on how much he had, a
cluster
or two, and hang it at the mosque, and the people of the Saffah who had
no
food would come to the cluster and beat it with their rod. The green
and
unripe dates would fall off and they would eat them. There were people
who
did not seek good. Someone would bring a cluster of bad or inferior
quality
dates [shis and hashaf] or an already-broken cluster [before it had
ripened]
and hang it at the mosque. At this time, Allah revealed the 'ayah: 'And
seek
not the bad [with intent] to spend thereof [in charity] when you would
not
take it for yourselves save with disdain' [al-Baqarah 267]." Al-Bara'
continued:
"If one of you receives as a gift something similar to what he gives
away,
he would not accept it except out of feigned pleasure." Said al-Bara':
"As
a result of that, each one of us used to offer the good part of what he
had."
It was narrated by at-Tirmidhi who said: "It is good and sound."
In his summation of the subject, ash-Shaukani says: "This [the
preceding
hadith] means that the owner is not allowed to set aside the bad from
the
good on which zakah is due, especially in regard to dates as well as,
by
analogy, the various other categories on which zakah is due.
Furthermore,
the collector of zakah is not allowed to take it.
Those Entitled to Receive Zakaatby Imam Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeenfrom
Fusool fis-Siyaam wat-Taraaweeh waz-Zakaat
The people entitled to
Zakaat are those places we can direct our Zakaat to. Allaah took charge
of explaining for Himself what these places are, saying:
"The charity (Zakaat) is only for the poor, the needy, those
employed to collect (the Zakaat), those whose hearts will be inclined
(towards Islaam, by giving them Zakaat), for slaves, for those in debt,
for (Jihaad in) the Cause of Allaah, and for the wayfarer (
i.e. destitute traveler). It is an obligation imposed by Allaah, and
Allaah is the All-Knower, the All-Wise." [Surah At-Tawbah: 60]
1. The Poor (Fuqaraa):
They are those who are not able to support themselves with sufficient
means, except for very little, which is less than half (a year). So if
a person cannot find that which will support himself and his family for
at least half a year, he is considered poor (
faqeer) and he should be given what will suffice him and his family for a year.
2. The Needy (Masaakeen):
They are those who are able to support themselves with sufficient means
for half of the year or more, but not enough for the entire year. So
they should receive support that will complete the year for them. If a
person does not have any cash on him, but yet has some other source of
income, such as a profession, a salary or investment profits that will
support him financially, he should not be given Zakaat. This is based
on the Prophet's statement: "There is no share in it (i.e. the Zakaat) for a
wealthy person or for a strong able-bodied person who can earn a living."
3. Those employed to collect the Zakaat:
They are the ones put in charge by the ruler of a country to collect
the Zakaat from those who owe it, distribute it to those who are
entitled to it, guard the funds and all other types of duties involved
with the supervision of Zakaat. So they should be given a portion of
the Zakaat in accordance with the work they put in, even if they may
already be wealthy.
4. Those whose hearts will be inclined:
This refers to tribal and clan leaders, who do not have strong Faith.
They should be given Zakaat so as to strengthen their Faith, which will
make them callers to Islaam and good role models. But what if a person
is weak in his Islaam, and he is not from the leaders who are followed
and obeyed, but rather from the common folk, should he be given some
Zakaat in order to strengthen his Faith?
Some
scholars hold that it should be given to him since benefiting one's
religion is better than benefiting one's body. Look at the example of a
poor person. He is given Zakaat in order to nourish his body. So
nourishing someone's heart with Faith is greater and of more benefit.
However some scholars hold that he should not be given the Zakaat since
the benefit of strengthening his Faith is a personal benefit that is
specific to him alone.
5. Slaves:
What falls under this is buying slaves using Zakaat funds in order to
free them, as well as assisting in the liberation of Muslim war
captives.
6. Those in debt: They are the
ones who owe debts. This is on the condition that they do not possess
that which will enable them to remove their debts. So these people
should be given enough (Zakaat) that will relieve them of their debt,
whether it is a small or large amount, even if they may be wealthy due
to their livelihood. So in the case where there is a man who has some
income that is enough for the livelihood of himself and his family, but
he has some debt that he cannot repay, he may be given sufficient
Zakaat that will remove his debt from him. However, it is not
permissible for a person who is owed money by a poor person to cancel
that person's debt, intending to give his share of Zakaat by that.
The
scholars have differed regarding the case where the one in debt is
someone's father or son. Can he be given Zakaat in order to remove his
debt? The correct opinion is that it is permissible. It is permissible
for a person who owes Zakaat to go to the creditor (person owed the
debt) and pay him back the loan of the indebted without the latter
being aware of it. This is on the condition that the person owing
Zakaat knows that the indebted one is unable to repay his debt.
7. In the Cause of Allaah:
This refers to Jihaad in the Cause of Allaah. So those who fight in
Jihaad should be given a portion of the Zakaat that will suffice them
for their Jihaad and enable them to buy the necessary tools for Jihaad
in the Cause of Allaah.
What also falls under "the Cause of Allaah"
is religious knowledge. So a student of Islamic knowledge should be
given that which will enable him to seek knowledge, such as books and
so on. This is unless he already has money of his own that will enable
him to achieve that.
8. The Wayfarer:
This refers to a traveler that has been cut off from his journey. So he
should be given enough Zakaat that will enable him to return to his
homeland.
These are the people who are
entitled to receive Zakaat, the ones whom Allaah has mentioned in His
Book and informed us that this is an obligation that He mandated, which
stems from His knowledge and wisdom. And Allaah is All-Knowing,
All-Wise.
It is not
permissible to direct the Zakaat to any other place, such as towards
building masaajid or fixing roads. This is because Allaah has told us
those who are entitled to receive the Zakaat for the purpose of
limiting them to just those mentioned. So this limitation indicates
that we are to negate all other potential recipients that due not fall
under this limitation.
If
we were to reflect on those individuals that we may give Zakaat to, we
would come to realize that among them are those who are in need of the
Zakaat for personal use as well as those who are in need of it for the
Muslims generally. So by this, we can see the extent of wisdom behind
the requirement of Zakaat. And we would come to know that the wisdom
behind Zakaat is to build a complete and upright society, as best as
possible. And that Islaam does not disregard money or the benefits that
can be generated from wealth, nor does it leave greedy and stingy souls
to go about freely an unchecked with their stinginess and vain desires.
On the contrary, it is the greatest guiding force towards the good and
betterment of nations. And all praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the
universe.
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Items for
the
uttaqun:
Zakat
al-Fitr and
the annual 2.5% Zakat are two different zakats.
Zakat
al-Fitr
(wheat/grain) and is due for each family member and is to be given to
the
Masjid before Eid al-Fitr each year.
The annual 2.5% Zakat
is due any time of the year, to be given annually to an Islamic cause,
but
it does not have to be given to the Masjid.
Do
not draw attention
to yourself in your zakat, such as announcing that you gave to charity
or
making public the amount of your annual 2.5% zakat you
gave.
The
annual 2.5% Zakat
is usually given during Ramadan, because of the hadith with states that
we
receive extra blessings for any sadaqa done during Ramadan; however, it
can
be given annually at any time, basing a year on the Islamic
calendar.
Remember...
Allah, Subhana wa Tala,
sees everything we do!
***
Alahumma infa`ni bima `allamtani
wa `allamni ma yanfa`uni!
OH ALLAH! Make useful for me what You taught me
and teach me knowledge that
will be useful to me!
(Aameen)
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