What are the benefits of zakat? What are the rules of zakat?
It should be recognized that society plays a large role in how the rich accumulate wealth. After all, can anyone accumulate any amount of wealth if he/she live in solitude? Therefore, in a certain way the person who pays the zakat is demonstrating his/her gratitude towards Allah and thus paying his/her debt of gratitude to the society.
Zakat brings blessings and increases the wealth and goods. It is stated in the Qur’an; “…If you are grateful [to Me], I shall most certainly give you more and more…”[1] and “…and whatever it be that you spend on others, He [always] replaces it…”[2] Zakat, in a way, is similar to pruning the trees. The person who pays zakat will see that a part of their wealth has lessened so they will work more in order to make it up and in this way, their wealth will grow.
Muslims are encouraged to utilize their money and turn it into an investment, because those who cannot utilize their money in this way will have to pay more zakat. In this way, zakat continually keeps the market alive by preventing people, so to speak, from keeping their money under the mattress and that ensures capital flowing through society.
Zakat distances the person from stinginess, and turns him/her into a giving and generous person. When wealthy Muslims give their zakat to those in need, they also gain the love and admiration of the people. In this way, an ideal and peaceful community will come about where everyone treats each other with love and respect, where everyone trusts one another, where jealousy has been removed, and where social solidarity is carried out in the best way possible.
As zakat cleanses the wealth of the prosperous from unlawful earnings, it also cleanses their heart from miserliness. Allah the Almighty states in the Qur’an: “[Hence, O Prophet,] accept that [part] of their possessions which is offered for the sake of God, so that you may cleanse them thereby and cause them to grow in purity, and pray for them…” [3]
Zakat is a system of social cooperation and aid. Zakat and other ways of helping others financially in the Islamic religion, removes the imbalances that can arise from the difference of wealth between the rich and the poor person and in this way it allows for the establishment of peace in the society.
Zakat is the bridge of Islam. It brings the rich and the poor closer to one another.
Our Prophet said, “Protect your wealth by giving zakat, cure your illnesses by giving charity, prepare yourself with prayer for coming disasters.”
[1] Ibrahim, 14: 7.
[2] Saba, 34: 39.
[3] Al-Tawba, 9: 103.
Source: Fiqh1 (According To The Shafi’i School Of Islamic Law), Erkam Publications
