Sitting in an airplane window seat at 35,000 feet altitude, one gets to appreciate just how much undeveloped land and the many natural resources we are blessed with. Perhaps we take much for granted, like poultry that multiply in great numbers, one year old farm animals that reach weight levels over thousand pounds, fish that reproduces by the thousands, or just a hand full of vegetable seeds capable to sustain hundreds of people with fresh produce. Allah provides us with countless blessings, the odds are astounding for everyone to have a dignified life, to provide for their families, and to end poverty. Yet, poverty is on the rise, the gab between rich and poor is greater than ever, even here in the United States - the richest country in the world -, tens of millions are below poverty level. Is this what happens when we disobey God's commandment ordained by all of His messengers: to worship God, and give to the poor and needy?

"And keep up prayers and pay Zakat" (Quran 2:43).

Zakat means to purify and cleanse - to grow.

The word Zakat mentioned in the Quran in 82 verses, 82 times.  Allah said "giving purifies you and your wealth.  You will not reach to the height of piety unless you give.  Strive for Allah and His messenger with your life and wealth."

On saved cash, gold, and silver in position for over 1 year period, and over the minimum amounts (over 85 grams of gold, and or 595 grams of silver) at the rate of 2.5%.

Agriculture produce - If the production is over 653 kg (about 1300 pounds); it is 5% per gross harvest if the land is irrigated, and 10% from rain fed land.  If only the agriculture Zakah is implemented, there will be no starvation in the entire world!  

Zakat is a compulsory payment and is neither charity nor tax.  Allah says "Woe to every kind of scandal monger and backbiter who piles up the wealth and lays it by, thinking that his wealth would make him last for ever".

Jesus (peace be upon him) said "Every man's heart is where his wealth is, so put your wealth in the Heavens so that your heart could also be in Heaven".

Everyone should pay his share for the love of Allah and should look at the example of prophet Mohammed, prophet Abraham (peace be upon them), and other prophets, companions of the prophets, and men of Allah.

Muslims do not expect a "thank you" from recipients of Zakat or charity.  It is only to meet our obligations and to please Allah.  It is interesting when a Muslim is thanked for giving charity, often replies "thanks due to Allah".  It is also a tradition for Muslims to give to anyone who asks for help.  A famous story about having nothing to give, except for a date, which was split in half and offered as a charity, also giving a smile and good wishes as a form of charity, or the tradition of people who have limited means, nothing to give to the person asking for help, so they ask the person to wait, while they go from a back door to borrow some food from a neighbor.  These are the examples of compassion and sincerity, a way to help one another and bring people out of poverty.

Jesus (peace be upon him) asked Satan, what type of person he likes, he replied that he likes a person who also does good deeds but he is greedy / miser, and does not give charity, because of this deed will overcome all deeds and will enter Hell.  Satan also said he dislikes a person who does few good deeds but always giving charity and this deed will make him enter Paradise.

Ali (ra) said "protect your wealth with the help of Zakat, and faith with the help of Charity."  Charity will protect you in the grave.

Manner of giving: 

Give away all what is extra

Share with the needy without having extra.

Whatever little you may have, still give away to the needy

Alms of the law - 2.5 %, one will be punished if not paid.

Alms of the generous - Up to 50% of all which one has, like the example of Kalifa Omar bin Khattab (ra.), Perhaps one can appreciate even why so many non-Muslims in Europe and Latin America name their sons "Omar".  A kind of respect forwarded from one generation to the next.

Alms of the path - Seekers of God giveaway 97.5% and only keep 2.5%

Alms of the Truth:  Giveaway 100%, following the example of Khalifa Abu Baker (ra.), who brought all which he had.

... and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a commerce that will never fail: (35:29)

... and nothing do ye spend in the least (in His cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance. (34:39)

Zakat is due on every Muslim adult, sane and free.  No Zakat is due on infant, madman, slave, or Mokatib (one who writes tafseer and hadith), insolvent debtor, and non-Muslims.

Property exempted from Zakat include your car, your house of residence, gem stones, cloths, tools of profession, books (not for trading), and agriculture land, etc.

Alms are only for the poor, needy, officials who collect Zakat, those whose hearts are inclined to truth, for the ransoms of captives, for those in dept, the way farer, and in the way of Allah.

Extra wealth should be given to parents, relatives, orphans, needy, and way farer.

Zakat is due on account of dignity.  (Job), the apostle - peace be upon him – said: Alms is really thanksgiving for a benefit received from Allah.

By Zakat we learn:

To be good humans, believers, and Muslims.

That we can share our extra wealth.

We learn to be generous.

We learn to be kind.

We learn not to waste.

We learn to share.

It takes us away from greed.

We achieve high degree of piety.

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By MuslimBridges staff writers

This article is posted in the Weekly Bridge Publication: Features, Reflections, Stories should not be told, Film in a spoon, Book in a Spoon, Letters to Editor, YouTube Basket

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