ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The System of Zakat zakat tax is a tenet in Islam that is applicable to wheat, barley, dates, raisins, gold, silver, cattle, goats and sheep, camels; and is mandatory for every major Muslim at prescribed rate. The meaning of the word zakat is purity and cleanliness and the Shari`ah too has used the word in the same sense. The purpose is that the person pays this tax to cleanse his or her assets.

When the zakat is not paid, the holdings of a person are deemed unclean. After payment of the zakat they affects of a person are clean and even the mind will be free of miserliness, avarice and undue love for wealth. Therefore, the Holy Qur’an said: خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا. “Take alms out of their property, you would cleanse them and purify them thereby.

(9/103)” The basic purpose of zakat is providing help to the poor and needy that none in the society remains helpless. Therefore, zakat has eight uses. Out of the eight, seven are applicable to individuals and one pertains to the collective requirement of the society.

The Holy Qur’an says: إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ.

“Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and the officials (appointed) over them, and those whose hearts are made to incline (to truth) and the (ransoming of) captives and those in debts and in the way of Allah and the wayfarer; an ordinance from Allah; and Allah is knowing, Wise. (9/60)” zakat can bridge the economic imbalances to a greater extent. The reason is that a substantial amount of wealth goes from the hands of the affluent for the benefit of the poor.

Although it does not reduce the difference between the rich and the poor very much, but certainly it does make appreciable difference in the living standards of the poor. One of the main purposes of the zakat is that the wealth does not stagnate in the hands of a few and a part of it percolates to the poor and needy. Therefore, the Holy Qur’an describes the purpose of alms in these words: كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ.

“…so that it may not be a thing taken by turns among the rich of you.

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