3.33. ZAKAT: EVASION

God says

And they should not think -- they who niggardly cling to all that God has granted them out of His Bounty -- that this is good for them: no, it is bad for them.* That to which they so niggardly cling will, on the Day of Resurrection, be hung around their necks: … Q.3:180
*This is an allusion to the way of life of the unbelievers mentioned in the previous verse 179 : a way of life characterized by extreme attachment to the material things of this world – a materialism based on lack of belief in anything that transcends the practical problem of life.
Reluctance to pay Zakat, that is compulsory, is the product of this attachment and attitude. It would help to pay attention to the meanings of short surah 102.

….. They who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of God*, unto them give tidings [O Muhammad] of a painful doom. On the Day when it will [all] be heated up in the fire of hell, and their foreheads, sides and their backs will be branded therewith**, [those sinners shall be told:] Here is that which you have laid up for yourselves. Now taste the evil of what you used to hoard. Q.9:34,35
*Most probably this is, in the first instance, an allusion to the wealth of Jewish and Christian communities, and their misuse of their wealth. Some of the commentators, however, are of the opinion that the reference is wider, comprising all people including Muslims, who hoard their wealth without spending anything thereof on righteous causes.
** Cf. the parallel allegory, in 3:180, of suffering which will befall the greedy for riches and niggardly in the life to come.


Prophet said

Two women came to the Prophet wearing gold bangles. He asked them, “Have you both paid Zakat?” They replied in negative. He then asked, “Would you both like that God dresses you (On Resurrection Day) with Bangles from hell?” No!: they replied. He said, “Then pay Zakat of these” – H: Tirmizi. N: Amr-b-Shuaib through his father.

“Can anyone of you recite 1000 Qur’anic verses everyday?”, the Prophet continued, “Read surah “AL-HAKU MUT TAKASUR …..( surah 102, its equivalent)” -- H: Hakim. N: Abdullah-b-Omer

3.32. ZAKAT: PERSONS ENTITLED

God says

“The offerings [Zakat] given for the sake of God are [meant] only for (1) the poor and (2) the needy, and (3) those employed to administer the [funds], and (4) those whose hearts are to be won over, and (5) for freeing of human being from bondage, and (6) those who are over-burdened with debts, and (7) [for every struggle] in God’s cause, and (8) for the wayfarer : (thus is it) ordained by God- and God is all-knowing, wise.”* -- Q.9:60
*These eight categories circumscribe all the purposes for which Zakat funds may be expended. By “those whose hearts are to be won over” are apparently meant such non-Muslims as are close to understanding and, perhaps, accepting Islam and for whose conversion every effort should be made, either directly or indirectly (i.e., by means of the widest possible propagation of the teachings of Islam). As regards “for freeing of human being from bondage” it relates to both ransoming of prisoners of war and to the freeing of slaves. “those who are over-burdened with debts” contracted in good faith, which -- through no fault of their own – they are subsequently unable to redeem. The expression “for the sake of God or in God’s cause” embraces every kind of struggle in righteous causes, both in war and in peace, including expenditure for the propagation of Islam and for charitable purposes. As for “the wayfarer”, he may be very well off at home but if stranded away from home, he is entitled to Zakat.


Prophet said

A man asked the Prophet to give something out of Zakat (collection). The Prophet said, “God divided it (Zakat) into eight divisions:(See the verse 9:60 above) If you belong to any one of those, I will give it to you.” -- H: Abu Daud. N: Ziyad-b-al-Haris

Once Hasan Ibn Ali took a date out of the dates of Zakat and put it in his mouth. “Throw it off,” the Prophet said, “don’t you know that we do not devour Zakat.”
-- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.31. ZAKAT: (continued)

God says

And be constant in prayer, and pay Zakat, … Q. 2:43
*This is the constant reminder in the Quran. It is mentioned by Bukhari and Muslim that Caliph Abu Bakr Siddiqui once said, “By God, I shall surely fight against him who differentiates between prayer and Zakat…”

And withal, they were not enjoined aught but that they would worship God, sincere in their faith in Him alone, turning away from all that is false; and that they should be constant in prayer; and that they should pay Zakat: for this is moral law endowed with ever-true soundness and clarity. -- Q.98:5


Prophet said

‘…There is one dirham for every 40 dirhams, and there is nothing due (Zakat) upto 200 dirhams. When you have 200 dirhams, 5 dirhams become due (to you)…’ -- N: Abu Daud. N: Ali through Zohair.

TAXABLE ITEMS & EXEMPTIONS
Please obtain details from a qualified person regarding items of concern. Briefly, Zakat is applicable on gold and silver ornaments and savings; on animals (except those which are bred at home); field products; and on merchandise.
There is no Zakat on household conveyance, residential house, household furniture and furnishing, utensils, decorations articles, books etc., provided those are not meant for business. There is no Zakat on orphan’s property, vegetable. There is no Zakat on pearl and diamonds of personal use, (should check about gold or silver in which these are embedded?)

3.30. ZAKAT: THE BENEFIT TAX (to be continued)

God says

PIETY -- “[Truly pious is he who among other things] spends his substance however much he himself may cherish it” -- Q.2:177

‘INCREASE’ AND ‘FORGINENESS’ -- “Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty and bids you to be niggardly, whereas God promises you His forgiveness and bounty”-- Q.2:268.

MUCH, MUCH INCREASE --The parable of those who spend their possessions for the sake of God is that of a grain out of which grow seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains: for God grants manifold increase unto whom He wills; and God is infinite, all-knowing.-- Q.2:261,262

PURIFICATION –
“[Hence O Prophet!] accept [for collection] that part of their possessions which is offered for the sake of God, so that you may cleanse them thereby and cause them grow in purity”…. Q.9:103 (This primarily denotes Zakat)

Truly to a happy state shall attain the believers: those who humble themselves in their prayer, and who turn away from all that is frivolous, and who are intent on inner purity;* -- Q.23:1-4
* Lit., “working for” or “active in behalf of [inner] purity”, which is the meaning of zakah in this context (Zamakhshari; the same interpretation has been advanced by Abu Muslim).


Prophet said

‘For one who acquires wealth, there is no zakat due till a year passes over it.’ -- H: Tirmizi. N: Ibn Omer

Ali reported : Abbas asked the Prophet about advance payment of Zakat before a year passed. He gave permission for that -- H: Ibn Majah, Tirmizi & Abu Daud.

The literal meanings of Zakat are “purification” and “increase”. No wonder, its payment is made obligatory for the benefit of every Muslim possessing more than the wealth amounting to “Nisab”, after one year passes over it. Zakat encourages circulation of wealth, discourages its stagnation, and forms an integral part of the system of economics in Islam.

3.29. SUPPLICATION OF THE PROPHETS

God says

Prophet Abraham’s prayer-- “O our Sustainer! Raise up from the midst of our offspring an apostle from among themselves, who shall convey unto them Thy messages and impart unto them revelation as well as wisdom, and cause them to grow in purity…” – Q.2:129 (The prayer was accepted and verse 2:151 confirms this word by word for the Prophet of Islam)

Prophet Abraham’s prayer “Rabanagh-Firli wa-le-waledayya wa- lil-mominina, yaoma yaqumul-hisaab”-- (Grant Thy forgiveness unto me, and my parents, and all the believers, on the Day on which the [last] reckoning will come to pass”) (Q.14:41)

Prophet Job’s (Ayyub) prayer-- “Affliction has befallen me but Thou are the most merciful of the merciful!” -- Q.21:83

Prophet Jonah’s (Yunus) Prayer-- “There is no deity save Thee! Limitless are Thou in Thy Glory! Verily, I have done wrong!” -- Q.21:87

Prophet Zakariah’s prayer-- “O my Sustainer! Leave me not childless! But Thou are the best of inheritors!” -- Q.21:89

Prophet Noah’s prayer-- “O my Sustainer! Cause me to reach a destination blessed (by Thee) -- for Thou are best to show man how to reach his (true) destination. (Q.23:29)

Prophet Moses’s prayer – “Oh my Sustainer! Open my heart (to Thy light), and make my task easy for me, and loosen the knot from my tongue so that they might fully understand my speech.” -- Q.20:25-28
This one includes speech therapy


Prophet said

‘O God! I seek refuse to Thee from the evils of what I have done and from the evils of what I have not done’ -- H: Muslim. N: BibiAyesha.

The Holy Prophet said: one of the supplications of Prophet David was: O God! I beg to Thee for Thy love, and the love of those who love Thee and the act which may lead me to Thy love (excerpt form a Hadis)