WHAT IS ZAKAT?

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

IMPORTANCE OF ``ZAKAT``.

After salah, Zakat is the greatest pillar of is lam. Generally, since in the usual series of `Ibadat` fasting immediately follows Salah, people have come to understand that fasting is as next to Salah. But from the Holy `Quran`we learn that in Islam Zakat stands second in importance to Salah. These are the two great pillars on which rests the structure of Islam. If these are removed Islam cannot  survive.

Meaning of `Zakat`.

Zakat means purity and cleanliness. A portion set apart from your wealth for the needy and the poor is called Zakat. Because in this manner a mans wealth and along with it his own Nafs (self) becomes purified. The wealth of that person is impure who does not take out from the God-given wealth what is due to the poor and the needy. And along with his wealth his Nafs too is impure because it is filled with ungratefulness.

His heart is so narrow, he is selfish and so much a worshiper of wealth that it pains him to render what is due in return for the Divine favour of bestowing on him wealth in excess of his real requirements. Can it be expected from such a person that   he will ever do any good deed to please God and will make any sacrifice for the sake of his religion and faith? This is why the heart of such a person  is impure as also his wealth which he amasses in this manner.

`Zakat` is the test.

By making Zakat obligatory Allah has put every person to test. That person alone who willingly takes out what is due to God from that wealth which exceeds his requirements, and helps without the poor and needy, is useful for Allah and is worthy of being counted among the faithfuls. And that one whose heart is so narrow that he cannot make this much sacrifice for the Lord of the world, is of no use to Allah.

 He is absolutely unfit to be included in the community of the faithful. He is a rotten limb  which may better be severed from the body, otherwise it will impure the whole frame. This is why when after the demise of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) whim some tribes refused to give Zakat, Hadrat Abu BAKR Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)waged a war against them, as is done against unbelievers even though they used to say Salah and professed faith in Allah and His messenger. From this it is clear that without Zakat, Salah, fating and affirmation of faith are all useless.