Author: Mohamamd Hashim Qasmi Bastawi
One of the important and essential elements on which the foundation of Islam is based is Zakat. If someone denies Zakat, or says that Zakat is not obligatory in Islam, then that person will be exit from the circle of Islam. Zakat is obligatory upon wealthy Muslims. There are numerous verses in the Holy Quran regarding the obligation of Zakat, which emphasize that Muslims should give Zakat. In the prophetic hadiths, Zakat is considered an important part of the Islam. For instance, there is a famous hadith narrated from Abdullah bin Umar, the words of which are as follows:
عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عُمَرَ قاَلَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ، شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ» رواه مسلم في صحيحه (16)
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Islam is built upon five pillars: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the establishment of prayer, the giving of alms (zakat), the pilgrimage to the House (Hajj), and fasting during Ramadan.” [Sahih Muslim: 16]
In the same way, there is a famous hadith regarding the obligation of Zakat, which is narrated from Mu’adh bin Jabal, and its words are as follows:
“فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ وَتُرَدُّ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ” (صحيح البخاري: 1395، صحيح مسلم: 19)
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent Hazrat Mu’adh as the governor of Yemen, he instructed him, saying: “O Mu’adh! When the people of Yemen profess the oneness of God and the prophethood (of Muhammad) and begin to pray, then inform them that Allah has made zakat (charity) obligatory on their wealth, which will be taken from the wealthy among them and distributed to the poor.” (Sahih Bukhari: 1395, Sahih Muslim: 19)
From these two hadiths, anyone will know as well the obligation and importance of zakat.
Severe warning for those who do not give zakat:
The aforementioned points clearly indicate that zakat holds great importance in Islam; its status is that of a fundamental pillar. Those who believe in Islam must also understand that according to the Qur’an and Hadith, every wealthy Muslim is obligated to pay Zakat, and it is essential to fulfill this obligation. Now, those who do not give zakat despite having the ability to do so have been warned with a severe warning in the Qur’an and Hadith: Allah the Almighty says:
{وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ} [التوبة: 34]
As for those who accumulate gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them the good‘ news of a painful punishment. [Surah At Taubah: 34]
Similarly, in the hadiths, there is a stern command from the Messenger of Allah regarding those who do not give zakat.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” مَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا، فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ مُثِّلَ لَهُ مَالُهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ، ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ – يَعْنِي بِشِدْقَيْهِ – ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَنَا مَالُكَ أَنَا كَنْزُكَ، ثُمَّ تَلاَ: (لَا يَحْسِبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ) ” الآيَةَ (رواه البخاري في صحيحه: 1403)
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: “If Allah gives a person wealth and he does not pay Zakat on it, his wealth will appear to him on the Day of Resurrection as a bald-heated bald snake with two dots above its eyes. It will take hold of the corners of his mouth on the Day of Resurrection and will say: ‘I am your wealth I am your hoarded treasure.’ The he recited this verse: ‘And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (wealth) and think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakat).” (Surah Aali Imran: 180) [Sahih Bukhari: 1403]
There is also a hadith that severely warns those who do not pay Zakat.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ صَاحِبِ ذَهَبٍ وَلَا فِضَّةٍ، لَا يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا، إِلَّا إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ، صُفِّحَتْ لَهُ صَفَائِحُ مِنْ نَارٍ، فَأُحْمِيَ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ، فَيُكْوَى بِهَا جَنْبُهُ وَجَبِينُهُ وَظَهْرُهُ، كُلَّمَا بَرَدَتْ أُعِيدَتْ لَهُ، فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ، حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ، فَيَرَى سَبِيلَهُ، إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ».
قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، فَالْإِبِلُ؟ قَالَ: «وَلَا صَاحِبُ إِبِلٍ لَا يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا، وَمِنْ حَقِّهَا حَلَبُهَا يَوْمَ وِرْدِهَا، إِلَّا إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ، بُطِحَ لَهَا بِقَاعٍ قَرْقَرٍ، أَوْفَرَ مَا كَانَتْ، لَا يَفْقِدُ مِنْهَا فَصِيلًا وَاحِدًا، تَطَؤُهُ بِأَخْفَافِهَا وَتَعَضُّهُ بِأَفْوَاهِهَا، كُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ أُولَاهَا رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ أُخْرَاهَا، فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ، حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ، فَيَرَى سَبِيلَهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ».
قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، فَالْبَقَرُ وَالْغَنَمُ؟ قَالَ: «وَلَا صَاحِبُ بَقَرٍ، وَلَا غَنَمٍ، لَا يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا، إِلَّا إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ بُطِحَ لَهَا بِقَاعٍ قَرْقَرٍ، لَا يَفْقِدُ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا، لَيْسَ فِيهَا عَقْصَاءُ، وَلَا جَلْحَاءُ، وَلَا عَضْبَاءُ تَنْطَحُهُ بِقُرُونِهَا وَتَطَؤُهُ بِأَظْلَافِهَا، كُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ أُولَاهَا رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ أُخْرَاهَا، فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ، حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ، فَيَرَى سَبِيلَهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ». إلى آخر الحديث… (رواه البخاري في صحيحه: 286، ومسلم في صحيحه: 987)
Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: If any owner of gold or silver does not pay what is due from him, then on the Day of Resurrection, plates of fire will be prepared for him. These will be heated in the Hellfire, and his sides, forehead, and back will be cauterized with them. Whenever these cool down, they will be reheated; the process will be repeated during a day whose length will be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among the servants, and he sees whether his path will lead him to Paradise or to Hell.
It was said: Messenger of Allah, what about the camel? He (the Holy Prophet) said: If any owner of the camel does not pay what is due from him, and of his due in that (camel) is (also) to milk it on the day when it comes to water. When the Day of Resurrection comes, a soft sandy plain will be set for him, as extensive as possible ; he will find that not a single young one is missing, and they will trample him with their hoofs and bite him with their mouths. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be made to return during a day the extent of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among the servants, and he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or Hell.
It was (again) said: Messenger of Allah, what about cows (cattle) and goats? He said: If any owner of the cattle and sheep does not pay what is due on them, when the Day of Resurrection comes , a soft sandy plain will be spread for them ; he will find none missing, whether with twisted horns, without horns , or with a broken horn, and they will gore him with their horns and trample him with their hooves . As soon as the first of them passes him, the last of them would be made to return to him during a day the length of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among the servants. And he would be shown his path leading him to Paradise or to Hell. To the end of Hadith…. [Sahih Bukhari: 286, Sahih Muslim: 987]
The reason for the obligation of Zakat in Islam:
From all these Hadiths, it has become clear that Zakat is an important and necessary part of the religion of Islam, and that there is severe accountability for those who do not give Zakat in the sight of Allah. There are two fundamental needs for the obligation of Zakat in Islam: one is to help poor Muslims, and the other is for the elevation of Islam. When we look at the recipients of Zakat and its eligible recipients, these two necessities become evident to all. To understand this, we will briefly mention the recipients of Zakat and its eligible beneficiaries.
Recipients of Zakat:
Allah, the Exalted, has directly talked about the recipients of Zakat in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 60:
{إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ } [التوبة: 60]
The compulsory alms are only for the poor and the needy and the agents employed therein and those whose hearts are to be conciliated and those in bondage and debtors and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer: an ordinance from Allah: and Allah is knowing, wise[Surah At-Tawbah: 60].
According to this verse, there are a total of eight recipients of Zakat Zakat, which are as follows:
(1) The poor (2) The needy (3) Those who collect Zakat and charity on behalf of the government (4) That of people whose hearts are to be won, meaning new Muslims (5) Debtors (6) To free slaves (7) Travelers, Wayfarer (8) Mujahideen (Fi Sabilillah)
Note: There is some detail about these categories, which we have mentioned in our article: “Zakat in Light of Quranic Verses.” For reference, please click the link below:
Zakat in Light of Quranic Verses
In any case, among these recipients, the provisions for the poor, needy, debtors, travelers, and those who are appointed (to collect zakat) directly or indirectly contribute to the support of poor Muslims. And the purpose of the “Muwallafatu al-Qulub” (reconciliation of hearts) and the Mujahideen is to elevate the word of Allah and the honor of Islam. The intent of Islam regarding Zakat is to assist poor Muslims and to uplift Islam. For this reason, Zakat is obligatory in Islam.
Which Muslims are obligated to give Zakat? When and how much should be given?
After understanding this, it should also be noted in brief that every Muslim who possesses 612.36 grams of silver or 87.48 grams of gold, or an equivalent amount in cash of either of these two, and whose wealth exceeds his daily needs, is obligated to give Zakat. It is necessary for him to pay 2.5 percent of his total wealth after a year has passed.
Summary:
The essence of all the mentioned points is that in Islam, Zakat holds great importance; its purpose is the elevation of Islam and the assistance of poor Muslims. Zakat is obligatory on every wealthy Muslim, and there are severe warnings in the Quran and Hadith for those who do not give it. Every Muslim who possesses the Nisab (minimum amount for Zakat) must give 2.5 percent of his wealth once a year to one of the eligible categories of Zakat recipients.


Join our list
Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.