The fact that the Bani Hashim have been forbidden from...

The fact that the Bani Hashim have been forbidden from taking the Zakat is incontrovertible and this is an issue, which has been mentioned in numerous books of tradition and jurisprudence. Is it possible for us to believe that while Islam has made arrangements for the orphans and the incapable and impoverished ones of the non-Bani Hashim, it has left the Bani Hashim without any security – unattended and unlooked after? 3.

And if we notice that some of the traditions state: كَراَمَةً لَهُم عَنْ أَوساَخِ النَّاسِ The objective is to keep the Sadat away from Zakat since it is reckoned to be a kind of filth of the people’s wealth) it is for the purpose of appeasing and placating the Bani Hashim over this prohibition (of utilizing the Zakat) and also for explaining to the people that they should desist from being a burden upon the public treasury, unless absolutely necessary, and leave the Zakat for those, who are seriously in need of it.

Zakat (Taxation) We may consider Salat (Prayer) and sawm (Fasting) as two acts of worship whose immediate basis is physical rather than spiritual. Zakat (taxation) is of an entirely different nature. According to the Shi’as, after Salat in rank comes “Zakat”. Indeed from some of the traditions of the Holy Imams (PBUTH), it is understood that if a person having the criteria does not give “Zakat” his salat also is invalid.

Like all other Muslims, the Imamiyah consider “Zakat” compulsory on nine things: camels, cows, goats; wheat, barley, dates, raisins; gold, and silver coins. The precise conditions and regulations can be found in the appropriate books of jurisprudence. It is interesting to note that all the rules are in basic conformity with those of the “fiqh” of the four Sunni schools of thought, Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali.