By FA Soomro
Poverty alleviation has become a matter of increasing concern particularly for oriental and occidental countries. It is only Islam, the religion of peace, which has covered the all material as well as spiritual, needs of human beings. That is why it has been called the religion of the poor and indigent, meeting their (poor) essential requirements of self-dignity and respect. If the belief is a spiritual duty, and fasting, prayer and Hajj are bodily duties then the payment of Zakat from lawful earning is a fiscal duty. Jurists call it ‘Ibadat-e-Maliyah’ (worship of God by means of property and wealth). The Holy Qur’aan in this regard, says, ‘Fight in the name of Allah with your wealth and lives.’ (Surah Tauba:41)
This word (Zakat) is derived out from Arabic word ‘Tazkia’. Its literal meaning is: purification; growth; giving better part of thing. As Prayer is bodily supplication, Zakat is financial devotion to Allah Almighty. The Holy Qur’aan says, ‘And offer prayers, and pay Zakat, and bow down with those who bow.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah:43)
Again the Holy Qur’aan says, ‘Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, therefore, for them is their reward with their Lord. And there is no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.’ (2:247)
And again: ‘The attributes of a grain which grows into seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains; and God multiplies it for whom He pleases. For God is vast knowing.’ (2:261)
That is why our Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said that by swear of Allah, no body can be poor by giving Zakat. If any Muslim refused to pay Zakat, the Islamic government was duty bound to punish him. In the times of Caliph Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhi Allaho anho), some mighty tribes showed leniency in connection with the payment of Zakat. He categorically declared war against them.
Again history speaks that when Hadhrat Umar Farooq (Radhi Allaho anho) showed some hesitation against those who hesitate or refused to pay Zakat, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhi Allaho anho) said in an enraged way, ‘Definitely, by Allah, I will wage war against those who deny prayers and Zakat (because they are refused in the Holy Qur’aan concurrently and repeatedly altogether). And again, by swear of Allah Almighty, if they withhold from me even a lamb, which they used to render to the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam), I would fight against them for it.’ (Saih Muslim)
The greatest benefit of Zakat is to eliminate the dichotomy of haves and have-nots. The existing altercation in our contemporary societies is not but lack of following the eternal rules of Islam, duly told by the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) and no doubt the conflict between the capitalists and poor; money lender and debtor; landlord and tenant; mitigated and charity get birth from denial of Zakat. Because it is Zakat, which fosters the feelings of fraternity and homogeneity and maintaining economic equilibrium diminishes the idea of greed. The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) has clearly enunciated the purpose of Zakat, ‘If they (unbelievers) accept this (Islam), tell them that Allah has made obligatory a charity in their wealth, which is taken from wealthy among them and returned to the poor among them.’
Zakat has always been obligatory upon the Ummah of all prophets (Alaihimus Salaam), because this institution regulates the conduct of an individual Muslim as well as the member of society and community. In our country, many a beggar are strolling through out streets, roads, public parks, hospitals, colleges, offices, mosques above all every nook and corner. Are they professional beggars? Probably not. They are victim of poverty, which compels them to act like that. According to human psychology, no conscious allows to do like that. It (Zakat) is pivot and hub of Islamic financial system, which has promised a lot in order to secure the persecuted conditions of the poor. Source: The News
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