For Muslims around the world, the month of Ramadan is a time of deep reflection, sacrifice and joyous family gatherings. It’s also a time when Muslims give more Zakat than any time of the year.The giver is believed to be purified through the act of transferring wealth to the poor. Zakat is also a powerful source of good with untapped potential for contributing to sustainable development in communities.
Zakat is the mandatory giving of a particular proportion of one's wealth to charity. Zakat is a type of worship that is required for the purification of one’s wealth and soul. Zakat is one of the third pillars of Islam and does not refer to charitable gifts given to the poor out of kindness or generosity. Zakat is a systematic giving of 2.5% of one's wealth each year to benefit the unfortunate.
Zakat means to purify one’s soul and wealth. Being the third pillar of Islam Zakat is an obligation which must be performed by all Muslims. Zakat is the systematic giving of 2.5% of one’s wealth to those in need. Zakat is essentially an act of worship through which Muslims benefit themselves as well as others and establish social justice. Zakat can be paid at anytime of the year and this depends on the person’s individual financial circumstances. Different people become the owners of Nisab at different times of the year so the time of paying Zakat varies for each individual.
The exact meaning of the Arabic word Zakat is to grow in goodness, prosperity and the purification of soul and the wealth. The act of giving Zakat is purifying one’s wealth to gain God’s blessings for the wealth to grow in goodness. Khaira Ummah known as the vision of the best community, Zakat is the major economic contribution that brings the Muslim society towards prosperity, security, and social justice. It also reduces the difference between the rich and poor.
Islam is a religion that promotes love and peace. It encourages human beings to live in peace and harmony in the world. Islam emphasizes on giving Zakat to fulfill its motto of making the world a better place. Zakat is given to help the poor and needy. It is mandatory upon every adult Muslim of sound mind and means to give Zakat.
Zakat means blessing, purification, growth, and goodness because it purifies the wealth from which it is taken and protects it from misfortunes. Zakat is a determined portion taken from wealth and allocated to the poor, needy and other deserving people. It is mentioned in the Quran, (Surah Al-Taubah, No.9, Verse: 103): “Of their goods take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf, verily thy prayers are a source of security for them.”
There's nothing more, nothing better than to spend each day of life in the servitude of humanity and at some point of time, when we’ll look at ourselves in the mirror wel feel content at heart, knowing we have fulfilled our responsibilities towards the society and its people. The existence of countless starving, poor, hungry and destitute Muslims and non-Muslims in the world points to the need that we must stand up and put into practice one of the essential teachings of Islam which is charity.
The life that we are spending each day is no less than a gift. We should be even more grateful because life has blessed us with so much comfort and pleasure. We have got stability in life as well as family, love, support, care, and warmth to cherish but for an instant think about them who are not as fortunate as we are!
The concept of charitable giving in Quran involves compassion, social justice, sharing, and strengthening of the weak and protecting the most vulnerable in our society. This ethical principle of giving is to correct social ills, reflect the moral values associated with the use of wealth and it is an effort required for the welfare of individuals and communities. In Islam, there are two terms referring to giving money to the needy; Zakat and Sadaqa. From the Islamic context, charity begins by giving money and extends to all acts of kindness and goodness in life, only conducted for the sake of Allah and it is abundantly rewarded by Allah.
According to Islamic principle, all things belong to Allah and that wealth is held by human beings in trust. The word Zakat means 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified when we give a proportion for those in need and this act of giving balances and encourages new growth in our economy. Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat separately.
