Zakah and its Status in Islam

First Sermon:

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh . We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness and repent to Him. We seek refuge with Allâh  from the evils of ourselves and from the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever that Allâh  guides, none can mislead him, and whomever He sends astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allâh  alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ )

(O ye who believe, fear Allâh  as he should be feared and die not unless you are Muslims) [Al-Imran: 102]

( يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا )

(O people fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul. From it, He created its spouse, and from both of them scattered many men and women. Fear Allâh , by whom you ask one another, and (fear) the wombs (lest you sever its relationship). Allâh  is ever watching over you.) [An-Nisa: 1].

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا )

(O you, who believe, fear Allâh  and say sound statements. He will mend your deeds for you and forgive your sins. Whosoever obeys Allâh  and His Messenger shall win a great victory) [Al-Ahzab: 70-71].

It is part of the laws of Allâh  the Almighty to create the rich and the poor; so as to correct the system of life. Allâh  the Almighty said,

( نَحۡنُ قَسَمۡنَا بَيۡنَہُم مَّعِيشَتَہُمۡ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۚ وَرَفَعۡنَا بَعۡضَہُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ۬ دَرَجَـٰتٍ۬ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُہُم بَعۡضً۬ا سُخۡرِيًّ۬ا‌ۗ  )

It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work [Az-Zukhruf: 32].

 But Allâh  Almighty, the Most Glorified, has enjoined payment of Zakah on the rich to balance the scale somewhat, that the rich does not become tyrant. The Almighty said,

( كَىۡ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةَۢ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡأَغۡنِيَآءِ مِنكُمۡ‌ۚ  )

In order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you [Al-Hashr: 7].

Had the rich Muslims taken out the zakah due on their wealth, there would be no needy or poor left.

Zakah is a pillar among the pillars of Islam. The Messenger of Allâh , (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him), said, " Islam is built upon five (pillars): Testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allâh , establishing Salah (obligatory prayer), giving Zakah(obligatory alms), Hajj (pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allâh  in Makkah), and fasting Ramadan" (Agreed upon).

The Islam of any one upon whom Zakah is obligatory can never be perfect without paying it. It is the right of the poor upon the rich, and not a favor from him. Allâh , the Almighty said,

( وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ حَقٌّ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ * لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ  )

And those in whose wealth there is a recognised right, (24) For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth [Al-Ma'arij: 24-25].

O believers! The establishment of the obligation of Zakah is indeed indispensably of great importance. This will be clarified in the following points:

• Dissemination of love, affection and compassion between Muslims and prevention of hatred and envy from infiltrating into the hearts of the poor towards their rich brothers.
• It saves the poor of the humiliation of begging, and helps for the disappearance of the phenomenon of begging in the streets. And as we have resolved: "If the rich give out the Zakah due on their wealth, the numbers of the poor and needy would reduce, there will be no poor person even".
• It strengthens the Islamic state economically and militarily. Economically, it brings out money for work and into circulation, which strengthens the country's economy, rather than treasuring and disabling it. As for strengthening the state militarily, (in the path of Allâh which here means jihad or holy war), is among the areas for expending Zakah.
• Owing to the paramount importance of Zakah, Allâh enjoined it on every free Muslim that owns the (Nisaab) quorum, which is the surplus money from his basic needs, when one year has passed over it except in the case of those wealth in which one-tenth is compulsory. Zakah is paid to all or some of recipients mentioned in the words of Allâh, the Almighty,

( إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡہَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ‌ۖ فَرِيضَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَڪِيمٌ۬ )

As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakâh) are only for the Fuqarâ' (poor), and Al-Masâkin (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and 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 battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveler, who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise [At-Taubah: 60].

Slaves of Allâh ! Payment of Zakah involves many great virtues, including the following:

• Allâh the Almighty sent down the wealth for it to be paid. The Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, "Allâh  said: Verily We have sent down the wealth to establish the prayer and pay (Zakah) the poor dues" (Ahmad).

Hence, Allâh  has not sent down wealth and left it to our disposal except to establish the religious rituals such as prayer, obligatory alms, pilgrimage...

• Zakah doubles one wealth in this world and the Hereafter. Allâh , the Almighty said

( يَمۡحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ وَيُرۡبِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ )

Allâh will destroy Ribâ (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqât (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allâh likes not the disbelievers, sinners [Al-Baqarah: 276],

i.e. He increases the wealth and blesses it in this world and doubles the reward in the hereafter. The Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him), explained it saying, " If anyone gives as charity the equivalent of a date from that (earning) earned honestly, for Allâh  accepts that which is lawful, the Lord would accept it with His Right Hand, and even if it is a date, it would foster in the Hand of the lord, as one of you fosters his colt, till it becomes bigger than a mountain " (Agreed upon).

• It serves as purification for the wealth and the soul. Allâh , the Almighty said,

( خُذۡ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ صَدَقَةً۬ تُطَهِّرُهُمۡ وَتُزَكِّيہِم بِہَا )

Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it [At-Taubah: 103].

• Zakah is the cause of mercy as Allâh the Almighty said,

( وَرَحۡمَتِى وَسِعَتۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ فَسَأَكۡتُبُہَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ )

And My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are pious, and give Zakâh [Al-A'raf: 156].

He the most Exalted and Glorified also said,

( وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ )

And establish regular Salâh, and give Zakâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) that you may receive mercy (from Allâh) [An-Nur: 56].

• Zakah is a protection from the torment of the grave. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, "When the dead is put in his grave, he hears the pounds of the peoples shoes while they are leaving him. If he were a believer, the prayer (Salah) will be at his head, fasting will be at his right, Zakah will be on his left, the good deeds he used to do of charity, maintaining ties of relations, enjoining good, giving charity to the people will be at his feet. Then he is visited from his head side, but the prayer would say: there is no entrance from my side, then he is visited from his right, but fasting says: there is no entrance from my side, then he is visited from his left, but Zakah says: there is no entrance from my side... "(Ibn Hibban).
• It is one of the goals of empowerment in the earth. Allâh , the Almighty said,

( ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ )

Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish worship and pay the poor-due [Al-Hajj: 41].

So whoever is empowered in the earth is required to pay it regularly.

• Zakah dispels the evil in wealth. Jabir narrated that a man said, O Messenger of Allâh ! What if a man pays the Zakah due on his wealth? The Messenger of Allâh , (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) replied, "Whoever pays the Zakah due on his wealth has dispelled its evil" (At-Tabarani).

In another wording, he said, "If you pay the Zakah due on your wealth you would have dispelled its evil".

It increases the wealth without diminishing its value. Allâh , the Almighty replaces it with that better than it as He said,

( وَمَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّن شَىۡءٍ۬ فَهُوَ يُخۡلِفُهُۖ)

Whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh's Cause), He will replace it [Saba': 39].

He replaces in this world with that which is better than it and in the Hereafter with Paradise. In the hadith Al-Qudsi (divine tradition), Allâh  the Almighty said, "'O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you." (Agreed upon).

In reality, Zakah does not diminish the wealth; for the Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him), said, "Wealth does not diminish by giving Sadaqah (charity)" (Muslim).

Giving out Zakah is part of being grateful for the favours Allâh  has bestowed. Allâh , the Most Glorified and Exalted, has promised saying,

( لَٮِٕن شَڪَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمۡ )

If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings) [Ibrahim: 7].

Above all that, giving Zakah is one of the reasons for entering paradise. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Ayyub that a man came to the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) and said, Direct me to a deed, which draws me near to Paradise and takes me away from the Fire (of Hell). Upon this, he (the Holy Prophet) said: You worship Allâh and never associate anything with Him, establish prayer, and pay Zakah, and do good to your kin. When he turned his back, the Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him), remarked: If he adheres to what he has been ordered to do, he would enter Paradise. "(Agreed upon).

O Muslims! If giving out Zakah is reason for the increment, purification, Paradise and abundant livelihood ... then evading it will be a reason for the antithesis of all that. Here you are with some penalties for evading Zakah:

First: Torment in this world and the hereafter. He that evades Zakah is not tortured once, but he is tormented in this world, tormented in the plane of resurrection, and then the punishment of the HellFire, May Allâh  safeguard against that.

As for the punishment in this world, half of his wealth is to be taken away from him as a penalty for evading it. The Messenger of Allâh , (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him), said regarding Zakah, "Whoever gives it seeking reward, he will be rewarded for it. Whoever evades it, we will take it, and half of his wealth, as one of the rights of our Lord, the Most Exalted and Glorified" (Abu Dawud).

The imam should even fight those who refuse to give out the Zakah if they were a formidable group that refrained from paying it due to their strength, as Abubakr, may Allâh  be pleased with him, fought those who withheld Zakah.

As for the torment on the plane of resurrection, he will be punished with the same wealth whatever the kind may be. Abu Hurairah (May Allâh  be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) said, "Any person who possesses gold or silver and does not pay what is due on it (i.e., the Zakah); on the Day of Resurrection, sheets of silver and gold would be heated for him in the fire of Hell and with them his flank, forehead and back will be branded. When they cool down, they will be heated again and the same process will be repeated during the day the measure whereof will be fifty thousand years. (This would go on) until Judgement is pronounced among (Allâh 's) slaves, and he will be shown his final abode, either to Al-Jannah or to Hell". It was asked, "How about someone who owns camels and does not pay what is due on him (i.e., their Zakat)?" He (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) replied, "In the same way the owner of camels who does not discharge what is due in respect of them (their due includes their milking on the day when they are taken to water) will be thrown on his face or on his back in a vast desert plain on the Day of Resurrection and they will trample upon him with their hoofs and bite him with their teeth. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be made to return during a day the measure whereof will be fifty thousand years, until Judgement is pronounced among (Allâh 's) slaves, he will be shown his final abode either to Al-Jannah or to Hell." It was (again) asked: "O Messenger of Allâh , what about cows (cattle) and sheep?" He (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) said, "If anyone who possesses cattle and sheep and does not pay what is due on them (i.e., their Zakah); on the Day of Resurrection, he will be thrown on his face in a vast plain desert. He will find none of the animals missing with twisted horns, without horns or with a broken horn, and they will gore him with their horns and trample upon him with their hoofs. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be made to return to him during a day the measure whereof will be fifty thousand years, until Judgement is pronounced among (Allâh 's) slaves; and he will be shown his final abode either to Al-Jannah or to Hell" [Muslim].

In addition to that will be a snake that will encircle his neck. Ibn Mas'ud narrated that the Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) said: 'There is no man who has wealth and does not pay the dues of his wealth, but a baldheaded Shuja'a (snake) will be made to encircle his neck, and he will run away from it but it will follow him. Then he read from the Book of Allâh  a verse to substantiate that:

( وَلَا يَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَٮٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيۡرً۬ا لَّهُم‌ۖ بَلۡ هُوَ شَرٌّ۬ لَّهُمۡ‌ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِۦ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۗ )

 'And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allâh  has bestowed on them of His Bounty (wealth)' think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakah). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld, shall be tied toothier necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection."' [Al-Imran: 180] (An-Nasaei).

The third torment is the Hellfire, and how bad will it be for an abode! Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him), said: "The withholder of Zakah will be in the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection" (At-Tabarani).

The second penalty: He will be the loser on the Day of Resurrection. He will even be the worst loser. It was narrated that Abu Dharr said, I went to the Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) while he was sitting under the shade of the Ka'ba. As he saw me he said: By the Lord of the Ka'ba, they are the losers. I came there till I sat and I could not stay (longer) and (then) stood up. I said: Messenger of Allâh , let my father and mother be ransom for you, who are they (the losers)? He said: They are those having a huge amount of wealth except so and so and (those who spend their wealth generously on them whom they find in front of them, behind them and on their right side and on their left side) and they are a few" (Muslim).

The third penalty: General drought and famine. That will be when evasion of Zakah is widespread in a folk. The Messenger of Allâh  (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allâh  lest you live to see them: …They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them... "(Ibn Majah).

Second sermon:

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh  alone. May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon the final Prophet.

Slaves of Allâh ! Among the penalties for withholding Zakah is that the whole wealth will be destroyed. Abu Huraira reported Allâh 's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh  be upon him) as saying, "There is never a day wherein the slaves (of Allâh ) get up at morning, but are not visited by two angels. One of them says: O Allâh , give him more who spends (for the sake of Allâh ), and the other says: O Allâh , bring destruction to one who withholds. "(Agreed upon).

Allâh  spoke the truth when He said,

( وَمَن يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ )

And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his ownself [Muhammad: 38].

So fear Allâh , O believers, and give out the Zakah due on your wealth with good and sincere minds. O Allâh  send your blessings upon Prophet Muhammad…