"….. And MY Mercy embraces
everything. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are
Muttaqun-the pious and those who believe in our (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs and revelations)."
(Al-A'raf:156) and a part of the extent of His Mercy that He came
with several legislations which take care of man's life on the
whole for being the noblest of His Creation till He finalized it
with the legislature of Islam which He made it as a religion of
mercy among the people through solidarity, cooperation on the way
of charity and piety (….and cooperate on charity and piety not on
committing sin and transgression and fear Allah for Allah is
Severe in punishment. (Al-Maedah:2).
This heavenly breadth of Mercy has
been embodied in several Islamic legislations for the sake of
regulating the lives of the people including the legislation of
Zakat Al-Fitr which takes place in the end of the noble fasting
month of Ramadan.
This legislation has been known
since the time of the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) up to the
present time and for this reason this month is named as Zakat
Al-Fitr for being given after the whole of Ramadan is over which
is announced publicly to be exactly in due course with regard to
what follows as Eid of Al - Fitr. As for time of its delivery to
those who deserve the Zakat
But as for restricting the
quantity and the quality of this Zakat, we can exclusively
determine that the whole matter refers to the qualifications of
the widely-followed Supreme Religious Authority of all the
Moslems in whose hand does lie the decision of such restriction
some days before the time of breaking the fast is
due.
So, in order not let confusion
take place in between Zakat of Al-Fitr and Zakat of wealth,
legislators sum it up in one main point which sounds reasonable
to avoid the occurrence of that intervention between them i.e.
reference to intention of the giver of the Zakat
himself.
Zakat of property (wealth) is
specialized and restricted to materialistic belongings of man
such as buildings, furniture and anything that the individual
owns …whereas Zakat of Al-Fitr is restricted to the purification
of the human soul and body and among the denotations of
legislating Zakat of Al-Fitr is that it is: a kind of social
solidarity which is to be paid to the poor and the needy by those
who are well-to-do people or those who are extremely rich and who
are able to afford to pay…
Zakat is imposed on all Moslems
without exception neither a fasting one, nor a fast - breaker nor
even children for all are involved in it without any distinction
or differentiation But for ease of understanding what to do
especially those whose incomes are limited and who can't make
both ends meet, so, with the bliss of Zakat, embarrassment has
been removed from them: "Allah intends for you ease and He
doesn't want to make things different for you.……"
(Al-Baqarah:185) It is so much so because most people can't
afford to pay the duty of Zakat or from the surplus they leave
behind.
The other cause which is more
pressing is that, by means of satisfying the demands of the vast
majorities of the poor and the needy during the end of this most
benevolent and blessed month of Ramadan is that vast and wide
meeting of the people in all their types and colors without any
distinction among one another heralding the advent of the
forthcoming joyous festival without distinction or
differentiation between them.
This purification of the heart,
the body and the soul through giving the Zakat of Al-Fitr is but
a joy that overwhelms all people in their spectra colors and
origins.
It does not restrict itself to the
beneficiaries and the needy but also involves those who pay
it - for this Zakat is a true kind of one's purification of
all kinds of filth, dirt and anything that may be impure whether
such filth came forth from a misdeed, bad conduct or acts which
may not violate the sanctity of this noble month and in
consequence displeases Allah, the Almighty: "Indeed
whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting
Islamic Monotheism) shall achieve success." And remembers
(glorifies) the Name of His Lord (and worships none but
Allah"(Al-A'ala:14 -15) and perhaps among the consequences of
this noble month is that it breeds in man the spirit of permanent
benevolence and mercy and to be embodied as general behavior-not
being restricted to the blessed month of Ramadan only but
trespasses it to cover the whole year round.
Sun -
22 Jamadilawal 1446H -
