The
wealthy are obliged to pay Zakaat. This too, like Salaat, is a fundamental
of Islam. Numerous Qur’aanic aayaat command the payment of Zakaat
and extol the virtues of Zakaat while warning of the dire punishment for
refraining from paying Zakaat. There are numerous such aayaat which mention
Zakaat along with Salaat. It is simple to locate these verses in the Qur’aan
Shareef. Here only ahadith pertaining to Zakaat will be narrated.
1. Hadhrat Abu Darda (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Zakaat is the Bridge of Islam…” (Tibrani,
Ausat)
Those who do not pay Zakaat are therefore comparable to those who are
stranded, having no bridge to cross. The great rank and fundamental importance
of Zakaat are apparent from this hadith.
2. Hadhrat Jaabir (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“The one who pays Zakaat on his wealth, has purified his wealth.”
(Tibrani,
Ausat, Ibn Khuzaimah)
Impurities which have accumulated in one’s wealth are eliminated
by Zakaat, hence the wealth is purified. It should be clear that wealth,
the Zakaat of which has not been paid, is shorn of barkat.
3. Hadhrat Ibn Umar (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Whoever among you believe in Allah and His Rasool, must pay Zakaat
on his wealth.” (Tibrani,
Kabeer)
This illustrates that Imaan is weakened by not paying Zakaat.
4. Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Mauwiyah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“There are three deeds; whoever practices them will taste the sweetness
of Imaan. (These are) Render ibaadat unto only Allah believing that none
besides Allah is worthy of ibaadat; pay Zakaat on wealth wholeheartedly….”
In this hadith Zakaat is coupled along with Tauheed. This brings out the
significance and elevated ranks of the institution of Zakaat. The effect
of paying Zakaat wholeheartedly as stated in the hadith is increase in
experiencing the pleasure or sweetness of Imaan.
5. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Whoever owned gold and silver (i.e. wealth), but did nit pay Zakaat
thereon, will be punished with his gold and silver on that Day, the duration
of which will be fifty thousand years (the Day of Qiyaamah). His gold
and silver will be made into sheets and heated in Jahannum. His sides,
forehead and back will then be branded with the heated sheets of gold
mand silver. When the sheets cool, they will again be heated and he will
thus be punished continuously.” (Bukhari,
Muslim)
6. Hadhrat Ali (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasuullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) said:
“In the wealth of rich Muslims the amount which is sufficient for
the poor among the Muslims has been made obligatory. The hardships of
the poor regarding food and garments are because of the deeds of the wealthy
(i.e. their refusal to pay proper Zakaat). Beware! Allah Ta’ala
will demand a stern reckoning from them and mete out a painful punishment.”
(Tibrani,
Ausat, Sagheer)
In another hadith which further explains the above hadith, it is said
that the poor on the Day of Qiyaamah will complain to Allah Ta’ala
that the wealthy did not discharge ‘our’ (the poor’s)
rights which Allah Ta’ala had ordained as obligatory. Allah Ta’ala
will then reply.
“I take oath My Grandeur and Might that I will grant you proximity
to Me and remove them (the wealthy) far from me.” (Tibrani,
Sagheer, Ausat)
7. Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (radiallahu anhu) narrates:
“We have been commanded to establish Salaat and Zakaat. Whoever
does not pay Zakaat, his Salaat too is not accepted.” (Tibrani,
Isbahaani)
In another narration, Hadhrat Ibn Mas’ood (radiallahu anhu) narrates:
He who establishes Salaat (performs it regularly) but does not pay Zakaat,
is not a true Muslim. His good deeds do not benefit him. (Isbahani)
This should not be understood to mean that such people (those who fail
in Zakaat) should not perform Salaat. Neglect of Salaat is a sin apart
from failure to pay Zakaat. The hadith merely means that one should not
be neglectful in the discharge of such an important and fundamental ibaadat
as Zakaat. Like being steadfast in Salaat so too, should one be steadfast
in Zakaat.
8. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“On the Day of Qiyaama, the wealth of one who did not pay Zakaat
will be converted into a monstrous and deadly poisonous serpent which
will be strung around the neck of this person. The serpent will bite at
the jaws of this person an exclaim: “I am your wealth; I am your
treasure. (Bukhari,
Nisaai)
In affirmation of this claim, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
recited the following Qur’aanic aayat:
WA
LAA YAHSABANN ALLAZEENA YABKHALOONA BIMA AATAAHUM-ULLAHO MIN FAZLIHEE
HOWA KHAIRALLAHUM, BAL HOWA SHARRULLAHUM, SAYUTAWWAQOONA MAA BAKHILOO
BIHEE YAOMAL QIYAMAH, WA LILLAH-E-MEERA’S-US-SAMAAWAATE WALARAZE,
WALLAHO BIMA TAAMALOONA KHABEER.
This aayat refers to the wealth being made into garland which will be
hung around the neck of the one who did not pay Zakaat.
9. Ammarah Bin Haram (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Besides ‘Laa ila ha illallah’, Allah Ta’ala has
decreed another four things compulsory. If he fulfils three, it will not
fully benefit him as long as he does not discharge all four. These four
are: Salaat, Zakaat, Fasting in Ramadhan and Hajj of Baitullah Shareef.” (Ahmad)
From this hadith we learn that for salvation it is essential that all
four compulsory acts be practised. If one performs Salaat, fasts and performs
Hajj, but does not pay Zakaat, it will not be sufficient for salavation
(i.e. to be saved totally from the punishment of the Fire).
10. Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“The one who fails to pay Zakaat will enter the Fire on the Day
of Qiyaamah.” (Tibraani,
Sagheer)
11. Hadhrat Ibn Umar (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Salaat is a conspicuous act observable to all, hence it is rendered
while Zakaat is inconspicuous (being hidden), hence it is devoured (i.e.
withheld from the poor). Such people are hypocrites.” (Bazzaaz)
This hadith means that some people perform Salaat, not for the sake of
Allah Ta’ala, but because people will hold them in contempt. Such
people do not pay Zakaat because they know that people are not aware of
their failure to render this obligation. Such is the attitude of the Munafiqeen.
12. Hadhrat Bareedah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Allah Ta’ala afflicts famine on a community which does not
pay Zakaat.”
In another similar narration it is said that Allah Ta’ala with holds
rain from such people (Tibrani,
Hakim, Baihaqi)
13. Hadhrat Aishah (radiallahu anha) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Zakat will destroy the wealth in which it is.” (Bazzaaz,
Baihaqi)
The meaning of wealth in which there is Zakaat, is such wealth on which
Zakaat is obligatory, but from which Zakaat has not been taken out. As
a consequence of not paying Zakaat, one’s wealth is steadily depleted
by way of Allah Ta’ala removing the barakat from the wealth.
14. Hadhrat Umar (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Wealth is generally lost on the land and the sea because Zakaat
has not been paid on it.” (Tibrani,
Ausat)
This does not mean that wealth is lost or destroyed only because Zakaat
has not been paid on it. If wealth is lost inspite of Zakaat having been
paid, it should not be regarded as a loss since the reward for it will
be obtained in the Aakhirah. Such loss is occasioned by the Wisdom of
Allah Ta’ala and is in the interests of its owner. But, wealth lost
as a result of not paying Zakaat is a punishment. There is no reward for
sustaining such loss.
15. Hadhrat Asmaa Bint Yazeed (radiallahu anhu) narrates that she and
her aunt visited Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). They were wearing
some gold jewellery at the time. When Rasulullah (sallallahu alahi wasallam)
enquired from them if they had paid Zakaat on the gold, they replied in
the negative. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“What! Have you not fear that Allah Ta’ala will put on your
jewels of fire? Pay its Zakaat.” (Ahmad)
The following facts are clear from the aforegoing narrations:
· Zakaat is Fardh.
·
The significance of Zakaat is very great.
·
Failure to pay Zakaat results in calamity and misfortune setting over
one. The calamity here on earth is depletion of wealth, elimination of
barkat, famine, etc. The calamity in the Aakhirah for not paying Zakaat
is the Fire of Jahannum.
·
One who does not pay Zakaat is comparable to a Munaafiq.
·
Zakaat has a resemblance to Haqooqul Ibaad (i.e. rights of people). Thus,
it is an emphased ibadat.
WEALTH
ON WHICH ZAKAAT IS PAYABLE
Gold
and silver, be these in whatever form; in the form of cash, notes, jewellery,
utensils (although it is haraam to use utensils of gold and silver), etc.
Stock-in-trade, i.e. goods purchased with the intention of reselling.
Livestock:
Far-produce on Ushri lands.
Among the causes of the hardship of Muslims is also poverty. Zakaat is
an adequate remedy for the alleviation of poverty. If Muslims abstain
from extravagance and pay their Zakaat in full, there will not remain
a single destitute person among the Muslims. The statements of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) are ample testimony for this claim.
Like all acts of ibaadat, there are numerous masaa-il (rules) pertaining
to Zakaat. The knowledge of such rules has to be acquired from the Ulama
or from reliable books on the subject.