As
many Muslims pay their Zakat during the blessed month of Ramadan due to the
increased rewards in doing so, we are serialising the chapters on Zakat that
detail its rules from the book Funds
in the Khilafah State by Sheikh Abdul Qadeem Zalloom (rh).
Zakat
The
Sadaqat which represents revenue for the Bait ul-Mal is the Zakat. Sadaqah when
mentioned generally means Zakat, and Zakat when mentioned generally means
Sadaqah. Zakat linguistically means the increase, and it also means the
purification. It is present in the Shar'a with both meanings because giving
Zakat is a cause of blessing for wealth due to the Hadith: "The property of a person ('Abd) does not decrease because of
Sadaqah" or reward increases because of it. It also
purifies the soul from stinginess and it is a purification of sins.
It
is defined in the Shar'a as a determined right due from certain types of
wealth. It is one of the worships ('Ibadat) and a basic element (Rukn) of Islam
like prayer, fasting and Hajj. Zakat is obliged upon Muslims only and is not
taken from others. Its obligation is established by the Book and Sunnah. Allah (swt)
says:
"Give the Zakat" [Al-Muzzammil: 20]
The
Prophet (saw)
sent Mu'az to Yemen and said to him:
"Inform them that Allah
obliged Sadaqah upon their wealth that is taken from their rich and given to
their poor." Harsh punishments are promised to those
who prevent and withhold the Zakat.
Abu
Hurayra narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: "No owner
of gold or silver who fails to give its due right except that he will have
sheets of fire made for him on the Day of Judgement. They will be heated in the
Hellfire then used to burn his sides, forehead and back. Whenever they cool,
they are reheated to him in a Day which is 50,000 years long, until it is
judged between the people and he is shown his path, either to Paradise or to
the Fire." It
was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what of the camels?' He said: "No owner of camels who fails to give
their due right and of their right is their milk the day they reach water,
except that on the Day of Judgment a level plain will be extended for camels as
most plentiful without one young camel been lost. They will trample him with
their feet and bite him with their mouths. As soon as the first one passes him
the last one will return in a Day which is 50,000 years long, until it is judged
between the people and he is shown his path, either to Paradise or to the
Fire." It was
said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what of the cows and sheep?' He said: "No owner of cows or sheep who fails to give their due right,
except that on the Day of judgment a level plain will be extended for the cows
and sheep, without anyone of them being lost whether a rebellious one, or of
broken horn or of scanty hair on head. They will butt him with their horns and
trample him with their cloven hoofs. As soon as the first one passes by the
last one will return in a Day which is 50,000 years long, until it is judged
between the people. Then he will be shown his path, either to Paradise or the
Fire." (narrated
by the five except At-Tirmidhi)
The
Zakat is a personal duty (Fard 'Ayn) on every Muslim who possesses the minimum
amount (Nisab) in excess of his debts for the duration of a year. Whenever it
becomes obligatory upon the wealth of a Muslim, it cannot be abolished. Its
collection is independent of the State's needs or the Ummah's interests unlike
the tax funds, which might be collected from the Ummah only in cases where
there are no funds in the Bait ul-Mal to meet the State's needs and the Ummah's
interests. Rather it is the right of the eight categories that the State must
deliver to the Bait ul-Mal whenever it becomes due, whether there is a need for
it or not. Zakat is not of the rights of the Bait ul-Mal nor is it a
beneficiary from it. It is a right of the eight categories specified by Allah (swt)
in the Ayah:
"Verily the Sadaqah is only for..."
[At-Tauba: 60]
The
Bait ul-Mal is only a place of sanctuary for it, such that the Imam will spend
from it to those specified by the Ayah according to his view and Ijtihad.
Zakat
is obliged upon the man, woman, child and insane person due to the general form
of the sound Ahadith that oblige Zakat without restriction.
Amru
bin Shu'aib narrated from his father from his grandfather he said: "The Prophet (saw) preached to the people and said:
'Verily, whoever has charge over an orphan with wealth then let him invest it.
He should not leave it to be eaten by Sadaqah.'"
From Anas (in a Marfu' narration): "Trade in the orphans'
wealth (so that) Zakat does not consume it."
Qasim
bin Muhammad said: "Aisha used to invest our wealth, as we were orphans, and give Zakat
from it." Malik bin Anas considered that there was
Zakat on the lunatic's wealth, as did Az-Zuhri. From ibn Shihab: "That he (saw) was asked about the lunatic's
wealth, is there Zakat upon it? He (saw) said: 'Yes.'"
Zakat
is obliged on the following properties:
1.
Livestock including camels, cows and
sheep,
2.
Crops and fruits,
3.
Currency,
4.
Trading goods and merchandise.
Zakat
is obliged on these properties if they reach the Nisab for the duration of one
year except for crops and fruits whose Zakat is due the moment they are
harvested.
Or,
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