A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Zakat – Almsgiving
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ZAKAT – ALMSGIVING
Zakat,
or the alms-tax, is the third pillar of Islam. There are two
forms of charity in Islam—obligatory and voluntary which are
called
zakat
and
sadaka
respectively.
Zakat
means (to purify) from
the verb zakah. By giving up of a portion of the wealth in one’s
possession, the remainder is purified or legalised to be used by the
alms-giver.
Zakat
is God’s due portion of what we own and what we produce.
There are many ways of making a living in this world: one can work
on the land, in a factory, a shop or in an office. But what part do
we actually play in all this? Our role is, in fact, minimal. Multiple
forces are at work in the universe and within ourselves, which
accord to our needs. All these forces come together to enable us
to earn a livelihood. All this has been ordained by the Lord of the
Universe. That is why, once a year, one should calculate one’s
earnings, and put aside a portion for God. In so doing, one
acknowledges the fact that it is all from God.
Without His help, one could earn nothing. To spend for the cause
of God is to express a sublime attachment to the Lord; it shows a
yearning to empty oneself before him. One should feel as one gives
that one is offering everything to God and seeking nothing for
oneself. This is the spirit in which a Muslim should help others:
We feed you for God’s sake only; we seek of you
neither recompense nor thanks. (76:9)
