In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Zakat

Zakat is a fundamental pillar of Islam.  It is important to remind wealthy Muslims of the significance of this Pillar, which requires them to give out a portion of their wealth to Allah.

Zakat is an important pillar that is ordained by Allah.  It is a way of purifying one’s wealth and also to secure it.  It is an obligation which has to be performed by all Muslims.

It has been mentioned 82 times in the Quran.  The reason why Zakat is obligatory is given in both the Quran and the hadith.  It is said that it started in the early days of Islam in Mecca.  But during that time the amount of wealth to be given out was not limited.  People just gave out Zakat as they wished.  A large number of scholars agreed that a regulation was made as to how much one should give out for Zakat.

This regulation is called Nisab.  The Quran however clearly states the authority given to the Prophet by Allah, in order to collect Zakat from his people.

Sura Tawba V.103-105 states: of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them, and pray on their behalf, verily their prayers are a source of security for them: and Allah is one who heareth and knoweth.  Know they not that Allah doth accept repentance from this votaries and receives their gifts of charity, and that Allah is verily he, the oft-returning, most merciful? And say: work (righteousness) soon will Allah observe your work and this messenger, and the believers.  Soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden and what is open.

Then will he show you the truth of all that they did.

Zakat is again mentioned in Sura Nur V.56: So establish regular prayer and give Zakat and obey the messenger.  That ye may receive mercy.

In the hadith the Prophet (SAWs) revealed that those followers of Allah who pray five times, keep the fast in the month of Ramadan, give out Zakat, and avoid any thing Allah pro-hibits, will have the gates of heaven opened for them when they die.

The Prophet also stressed that Zakat should be given out so that one’s wealth can be purified and secured.

Give out alms to get away from sickness is stated in the hadith.  So therefore, it is necessary for us to give out alms make supplications so that we can be saved from evil and santa.

Those entitled to Zakat would definitely be the heedy.  Sura Tanba v.60 states: Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds): for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth): for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah: and for the way farer: (Thus it is) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of know ledge and wisdom.

So many scholars are convinced that the need for Zakat is to assist the poor man’s problems.

Consequently, Zakat should not be sent to distant places while those needy and close to you are suffering.  Some even say that the Zakat should not be taken or sent more than 80 kms away from one’s residence, except the needy are not in your area.

In many Muslim countries, you have what are called Zakat houses, and they are places where Zakats are taken to. The officers in charge of these houses would then distribute the gifts to the poor and the needy.

The Gambia being a small country, people tend to know each other.  Consequently, it is very easy for the wealthy, the well to do, to identify the needy and the poor and give them their Zakat.

All Muslims should pay Zakat, taking into consideration that whatever you have is from Allah, and he is capable of taking it from you at anytime and in anyway.

Sura Tauba v.34-35.. And there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah:

anounce into them a most grievous chastisementy.  On the day when it will be heated in the fire of hell, and with it will be Branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, this is the (treasure) which ye hoarded for your selves taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then the (treasures) ye hoarded. 

The Almighty wants Zakat to be  given out when healthy and strong as stated in Sura Munafiqun v.10. And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, O my Lord!  Why didst thou not give me respite for a little while?  I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good “But to no avail will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come and Allah is well acquainted with (all) that ye do.”