THE IMPORTANCE OF ZAKAAH

Shaikh Jamal

Hadhrat ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar narrated that he heard Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) say:

“Islam is built upon five [foundations]: The testimony that none is worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salaah (Prayers), the giving of the Zakaah (obligatory Charity), the performance of Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Makkah al Mukarramah) and the observing of Sawm (Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

In the famous Hadeeth of the Angel Jibraeel coming to the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) to ask him questions in order to teach the people about the religion, he asked the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), “What is Islam?” The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) answered “Islaam is that you testify that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, that you establish Salaah, that you give the Zakaah, that you observe Sawm, and that you perform Hajj if you have the means to do so” (Muslim)

This is what Islam is built upon. These are the foundations of one’s Islam. If these foundations or pillars are strong, Allah-willing, the rest of one’s faith and religion will also be sound, correct and strong. However if these pillars are weak or not sound, it is not surprising that there may be some problems further on down the line. In fact, one should expect that there will be some problems or weaknesses in the person’s submission to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and his faith.

The most important is the “Shahaadatain”, the testifying that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. Hopefully, every Muslim is aware of how important that pillar is and does his best to make sure that he understands and fulfils his testimony to the best of his ability.

In most people’s minds, obviously, second in importance comes Salaah. In fact, a number of scholars are of the opinion that the one who does not offers Salaah becomes a disbeliever.

What comes next? Everyone is well familiar with Ramadhaan since we observe Sawm together and everyone prepares for its arrival. Similarly, Hajj is something that is well-known and some people prepare their lives or save for a number of years in order to complete the pilgrimage to Makkah al Mukarramah.

But what comes most alongside prayer in the Quraan? It is not the Sawm of Ramadhaan or the Hajj. Instead, it is the payment of Zakaah. Some of the Muslims have a tendency to overlook this important pillar, perhaps because it is not done by the community all at once or because there is no celebration after its payment.

But look how Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) describes it. Note the following verse of the Quraan where Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) orders Sahaabah (the Companions of Prophet, SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) to fight the Mushrikeen wherever we can:

“Then when the sacred months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and offer Salaah and give Zakaah, then leave their way free. Verily Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful” (at-Tawbah, 5)

In this verse, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) orders Sahaabah to fight them until when? Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) explicitly states that they will be left free from fighting only after they repent, establish Salaah and pay Zakaah.

Shortly afterwards in the same Soorah, following the same line of discussion, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says:

“But if they repent, offer Salaah and give the Zakaah, then they are your brethren in religion” (at-Tawbah, 11)

In these two verses one can catch a glimpse of the importance of Zakaah in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s sight. The disbelievers will become our brethren in the religion — that is, they will truly be part of this religion — when they repent, offer Salaah and give the Zakaah.

In fact, if someone believes in Zakaah yet he refuses to pay it, he can be fought. This is exactly what happened during the time of the Sahaabah. After the death of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) some of the tribes apostatised and others refused to pay the Zakaah. Hadhrat Abu Bakr, the first Khalifah, fought them and declared:

“By Allah, I will fight anyone who distinguishes between Salaah and Zakaah. Zakaah is the compulsory right to be taken from the property. By Allah! If they refuse to pay me even a she-kid which they used to pay at the time of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), I would fight them for withholding it”.

Therefore, Zakaah is a very serious matter. It, truly, is something essential to this religion of ours. It is one of its pillars. If we do not tend to it or if we are negligent of it, then we are being negligent with respect to one of the foundations of our faith. Indeed, in the opinion of a small number of scholars, this is the only other act — other than Salaah — that if one does not perform it due to laziness or such, then he is a disbeliever.

What kind of result do you expect from such negligence? Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has made it clear that there is a great punishment for such an act. The following verse of the Quraan is first and foremost a reference to those who do not pay the Zakaah on their wealth:

“And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (wealth) think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them. The things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do”. (Aale-’Imraan, 180)

The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) described the punishment that will come to those who do not pay the proper Zakaah on their wealth. In one Hadeeth in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadhrat Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

“[On the Day of Resurrection] camels will come to their owner in the best state of health they have ever had (in the world) and if he had not paid their Zakaah on them, they would tread him with their feet, and similarly, sheep will come to their owner in the best state of health they ever had in this world and, if he had not paid their Zakaah, would tread him with their hooves and would butt him with their horns... I do not want anyone of you to come to me on the Day of Resurrection carrying over his neck a sheep that will be bleating. Then he says, “O Muhammad (please intercede for me)”. I will say, “I cant help you for I conveyed Allah’s message to you.”

Yes, the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) conveyed Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s message to us. He stressed that the Zakaah is one of the pillars of Islam. He also clearly warned of the consequences of not paying such Zakaah. Note the following Hadeeth from Sahih al-Bukhari:

“Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay Zakaah of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous snake with two poisonous glands. It will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, “I am your wealth, I am your treasure”.

After stating that, the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) then recited the above verse from Soorah Aale-’Imraan.

In another verse, Allah also says:
“[There are] those who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - announce unto them a painful torment. On the Day when that wealth will be heated in the fire of hell and it will brand their foreheads, flanks and backs. [It will be said to them], “This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard”. (at-Tawbah, 34-35)

In fact, Muslims who do not pay their Zakaah are not only harming themselves but they can actually harm the entire Muslim Ummah. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

“A people do not keep from giving the Zakaah on their wealth except that they will be kept from having rain from the sky. If it were not for the animals, it would not rain at all”. (Ibne Maajah)

But how many Muslims today know the conditions and rules of Zakaah? How many of us have taken the time to study the fiqh of Zakaah or enquired from those scholars who know? How many of us even know if we are required to give Zakaah? This is knowledge that each and every one of us must seek and desire. In fact, if you have any wealth this is all part of the knowledge that one is required to have and is responsible for. We should never be satisfied being ignorant of such an important matter — something related to the foundation of our faith.

For example, many brothers and sisters own businesses. Do they know about the Zakaah on their inventory?

What about our wealth? Many of us may think that we do not have much money so we do not have to pay Zakaah. But in order to say that about ourselves, we must at least learn what is the minimum amount or “Nisaab” that requires us to pay Zakaah. How many of us actually know what that “Nisaab” is? Wouldn’t it be sad if we did not know what that “Nisaab” is? That means, that we would not even know if we are required to fulfil one of the pillars of our faith?

What about that money that you may have laying around for a year’s time — sometimes even in an old bank account that you may not pay much attention to. Do you even keep track or are you conscious of whether you have the “Nisaab” amount? This requires some Taqwaa (Piety) and checking on your part. If the money in your possession for a year’s time — you have sitting around, money in accounts not yet closed, money in accounts here and overseas perhaps — if added together exceed the amount of the “Nisaab”, you must pay.

What about your wife’s jewellery? How many of you have even considered whether or not it is obligatory to pay Zakaah on your wife’s gold and silver? The important point I wish to highlight here is whether or not you ever took the time to investigate that issue.

This is all information that you must seek. Unfortunately many times, it is not a matter of ignorance but it is a matter of negligence. The information about Zakaah is available and easily accessible — if you truly want to know it. But you must first realise that you are responsible for getting that knowledge about this pillar of Islam and foundation of your faith.

Some people actually give some money and then say, “I am not sure if I am supposed to pay or how much. If I am, that should cover it, otherwise it is a Sadaqah from me”. This is like going to the Masjid at Zuhr time and offer two, four or six Rak’aat and then saying, “I am not sure how much Salaah I was supposed to offer. If I offered more then it will be Naafilah (supererogatory) from me”. The clear intention that the money he is paying is being paid to fulfil his obligation and the pillar of Zakaah. Furthermore, perhaps it is the case that you actually did not give enough as Zakaah.

Some people actually give Sadaqah or voluntary charity and have never considered if they are supposed to give Zakaah. This is a grave error. In fact, one must fulfil the obligatory acts before one performs the voluntary acts. It is the obligatory acts that are the most beloved to Allah. A Hadeeth Qudsi states, “My servant does not get close to me by anything more beloved to me than acts that I have made obligatory upon him”. (al-Bukhari)

This is a mistake that many people make. First one must fulfil the obligatory duties. These are the most important acts and that is why Allah has made them obligatory upon us.

Finally, there comes the question of whom to give the zakah to. Many people actually do pay zakah but, in fact, they give it to people - or to organisations and institutions - that do not fit the requirements for those who may be given zakah. Allaah has made it very clear to whom it may be given to:

”Alms are only for the poor, and needy and those employed to collect the funds, and those who hearts have been inclined (towards Islaam) and to free the captives, and to those in debt, and for Allaah’s cause (those fighting in the way of Allaah) and for the wayfarer, a duty imposed by Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise” (at-Tawbah, 60)

Dear brothers, this is a very important matter. It relates to one of the pillars of Islam. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) describes the taking of Zakaah in the following manner:

“Take (O Muhammad) alms from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it.” (at-Tawbah, 103)

Zakaah should purify us of stinginess. It should help meet the needs of our poor brothers. It should make us realise that all the wealth we possess is from Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and that we must use it in the proper manner.

As I said before, it is one of the foundations of Islam. If the foundation is weak, then that weak foundation will have ramifications for other aspects of our lives.

Today, how many Muslims in the world honestly, sincerely and properly pay Zakaah to purify their wealth and to help their Muslim brethren. Since we are missing, lacking or very weak in that foundation, is it any surprise that:

So many Muslims are starving and in need today.

So much Muslim wealth is wasted on luxury.

So much Muslim wealth is spent on forbidden items.

So little Muslim wealth is spent in the path of Allaah.

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) was ordered to fight the people until they make the Shahaadah, established Salaah and paid Zakaah. Hadhrat Abu Bakr continued that teaching after him. What does that mean for us today? Does that mean if they were alive today, we would be from those who would be fighting alongside them or would we be from those whom they would be fighting?

Let us make sure that we pay the Zakaah and fulfil all of the other pillars of Islam correctly and sincerely for Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s sake, so that our Islam as a whole will be strong and Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) will be pleased with us.