It has been narrated from Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him)...
It has been narrated from Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him), that he said: “The reason for zakat is to ensure the sustenance of the poor and to levy the wealth of the rich, for Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has charged the people of good health with upholding the affairs of the people afflicted with illness and tribulation.” Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 93, Page 18 Hadith Number 6: The Reason for Zakat, Accountability of the Rich وَعَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَنْ أَبِيْهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللٌّهَ فَرَضَ عَلى أَغْنِيَاءِ النَّاسِ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ قَدْرَ الَّذِي يَسَعُ فُقَرَائَهُمْ.
فَإِنْ ضَاعَ الْفَقِيْرُ أَوْ أَجْهَدَ أَوْ عَرَى فَبِمَا يَمْنَعُ الْغَنِيُّ وَإِنَّ اللٌّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُحَاسِبُ الأَغْنِيَاءَ فِي ذٌلِكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيْماً.
On the authority of Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad (al-Sadiq) (peace be upon him), from his father (peace be upon him), from his forefathers (peace be upon them), from {Ali, Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), that he said: “Indeed Allah has imposed on the rich people a measure that will suffice their poor ones. Thus if the needy one is at a loss, or is overly strained, or is unclothed, then it is due to what the rich one has withheld.
And indeed Allah, the Sublime and Glorious, shall hold the rich ones accountable for that on the Day of Resurrection and shall punish them with a painful punishment.” Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 93, Page 28 Hadith Number 7: The Reason for Zakat, Sustaining the Poor عَنِ الإِْمَامِ مُوْسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرِ الْكَاظِمِ : إِنَّمَا وُضِعَتْ الزَّكَاةُ قُوْتاً لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَتَوْفِيْراً لأَِمْوَالِهِمْ.
On the authority of Imam Musa ibn Jafar al-Kadhim (peace be upon him): “Zakat has only been enforced to ensure the sustenance of the poor and to secure the availability of their wealth.” Al-Kafi, Volume 3, Page 498, and Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 93, Page 18 Hadith Number 8: The Reason for Zakat, A Trial for the Wealthy عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ الصَّادِقِ: إِنَّمَا وُضِعَتْ الزَّكَاةُ إِخْتِبَاراً للأَغْنِيَاءِ وَمَعُوْنَةً لِلْفُقَرَاءِ.
وَلَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ أَدَّوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ مَا بَقِيَ مُسْلِمٌ فَقِيْراً مُحْتَاجاً، وَلاَسْتَغْنىَ بِمَا فَرَضَ اللٌّهُ، وَإِنَّ النَّاسَ مَا افْتَقَرُوا وَلاَ احْتَاجُوا وَلاَ جَاعُوا وَلاَ عَرَوا إِلاَّ بِذُنُوْبِ الأَغْنِيَاءِ.
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