At this article I’ll handle the concept of zakat. it’s one of the five pillar of Islam that we all glorify, it’s the third one, it’s an obligation where Muslims give part of their money to poor and needy people, for a moment let’s shift from the concept to the language to know the meaning of word (zakat), it means growth, blessing and purity. May you ask now how giving a part from the money making it grow and increase? , and what is the link between zakat and purity?
To answer your questions I have to talk in details about zakat, when the rich give the poor part of their money, Allah saves them(the rich) from disasters if it happened it would take a huge part of their money, so although the amount of the money decreases, its effect and benefit increase, Allah says : (take zakat from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it ) (Taubah 103)
Talking about purity, we all know that human nature tends to collecting and accumulating money, selfishness and stinginess, they are bad things that cause harm to man and society, these negative emotions make money owner imprisoned in stress, anxiety and depression all the time , he always fears losing his money and wants to be the most rich ever, and the poor also are trapped in the stress of need and poverty, they can’t stop the feelings of Envy and jealousy, they feel bad all the time because the wealthy leave them suffering without help, and Allah created them poor, zakat comes as water that extinguishes burning fire (negative emotions) and purify hearts and souls from it.
Psychiatrists have proved that zakat and sadaqah help in treating a lot of diseases like depression, anxiety and so on.
As thinking about the problems of the others helps you to concentrate less on your own sorrow and forget it, helping people giving you a magical feeling of happiness which elevates the level of serotonin (happiness hormone) in your blood, From the point of view of the poor they stop feeling worry and jealous also.
At the community level, you can draw a contrast between a community which doesn’t give zakat and the one does , absolutely the first is a class inequitable, unstable community but the second one is stable one with harmony and mercy among people, as the Islamic Sharia is better than any human laws, we found the benefit of zakat at the economical aspect too, it’s better than other tax laws because it encourages work and investment, it also prevents serious problems like unemployment mendacity and robbery, as zakat encourages the poor to do small projects instead of begging.
It’s the mercy of Allah who makes the amount of zakat differs from case to case so as not to be a burden on the owner of the money, but commensurates with his earnings without exaggeration, this is, of course, contrary to some unfair tax systems.
If we talk about distribution of zakat we will find Quran clarifying that, Allah says : (As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat ) are only for the Fuqara’ (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allah’s Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun – those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise. (Taubah 60)
If we concentrate at the end of this Ayah we will find that Allah says he know what we don’t, He takes and gives wisely for a reason whether we know it or not.
Over all, zakat ensures a decent life for everybody, helps in establishment and progress of society, and enhance the unity of Ummah.
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