In Islamic legislature, Az-Zakat
is defined as being "Financial Expenditure" in its widest sense,
and in language it denotes "purity" and "growth" and as man's own
self grows up, gets purified and gains sublimity by paying Zakat,
the same thing is to be said in regard to wealth for it can also
be purified by Zakat which is legally regarded as an imposed
act.
Besides, Az-Zakat is looked upon
as one of the basic pillars of Islam on which it principally
relies and is considered one of the pre-requisites of religion
where in most cases compared with the prayer, for both of them
are usually remembered together in so many positions
of the holy Quran.
Of positions as such, we adduce to
you ample instances to highlight on the point:
1. "And
perform As-Salat" (the prayer) and give Az- Zakat (charity) to
the poor and bow down (in prayer) in obedience to Allah."
(Al-Baqarah:43).
2. "And
(remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel
(saying): "Worship none but Allah (Alone) and be dutiful and good
to parents and to kindred and to orphans and Muhtajin (the needy)
and speak good to people (i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid
evil) and say the truth about Muhammad and perform As-Salat and
give Zakat, then you slid back, except a few of you while you are
backsliders" (Al-Baqarah: 83).
3. "Truly, those who believe and do deeds of
righteousness and perform As-Salat (the prayer), and give Zakat,
they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no
fear nor shall they grieve." (Al-Baqarah 277).
4. "But
those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the
believers believe in what has been sent down to you (Muhammad)
and what was sent down before you, and those who perform As-Salat
(the prayer) and give Zakat (obligatory charity) and believe in
Allah and the Last Day, it is they to whom We shall give a great
reward" (An-Nisa:162).
5. "Then
when the Sacred Months (the 1st,7th, 11th and 12th months of the
Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikun wherever
you find them and capture them, and besiege them and lie in wait
for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform
As-Salat and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah
is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(At-Tawbah:5).
6. "And
He has made me blessed wherever I be and He has enjoined on
As-Salat (the Prayer) and Zakat; as long as I live"(Maryam:
31).
7. "(These Muslim rulers) Who, if We give them
power in the land, they enjoin As-Salat (the prayer) to perform
(the five compulsory congregational prayers)(the males in
mosques) pay the Zakat, and they enjoin Al-Ma'ruf the (Islamic
Monotheism) and all that Islam orders one to do.) and forbids
Al-Munkar ( i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and all that Islam has
forbidden) ( i.e. They make the Quran as the law of their country
in all the spheres of life) and with Allah rests the end of all
matters (of creatures)" (Al-Hajj.41).
And there are also 26 other verses
where Zakat came to emphasize the necessity of its practice as
divine imposition act.
And what it contains of direct
effect over the conduct of man with the prayer as an effective
factor of course…together with the rest of the other impositions
which Allah has necessitated on the Muslims.
Sun -
22 Jamadilawal 1446H -
