Zakat stands as a remarkable system within Islamic society, functioning with compassion to foster sustainable development and economic prosperity for the Muslim community. It aims to create a society grounded in freedom, equity, and social justice, fostering social well-being, piety, and increased faith. Emphasizing this fundamental tenet of Islam becomes crucial, as it forms a cornerstone of the Islamic social order.

Obligation

Zakat is the amount that rich Muslims who acquire certain wealth known as nisab to the people who are needy and poor. It is a religious obligation which is affirmed by Quran and Sunnah:

In Surah Tawbah verse 103 Allah orders the believers:

After the revelation of this verse, our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH sent Muaz bin Jabal instructing.

“You are going to lead people of the scriptures. Invite them to accept shahadah; there is no God but Allah and I am His Messenger. If they affirm and agree, tell them that Allah has obligated 5 prayers upon them each day and night. If they accept that, convey to them He has also obligated zakah upon their wealth that will be taken from the rich and given to the needy. If they accept that, abstain from laying hands upon their goods and fear the cry of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between Allah and it.” –Ibn Rajab 1996

How clearly our Prophet PBUH instructs the importance of Zakat and orders Muaz bin Jabal to implement it on the people right after they say the Shahadah.

Objectives of Zakat

Being the fourth pillar of Islam, it helps to achieve numerous roles in Islamic society and in the life of Muslims. Below are some of the objectives.

Poverty is eliminated

Zakat is an astounding preventive mechanism against poverty. It is a unique measure of abolishing poverty by making rich people dutiful of this social obligation. This perfect system is best used as part of a long-term poverty alleviation strategy. It frees the recipients from poverty and improves their living standards.

Purification of Soul

Zakat is a superb medium in which the soul of the giver is purified from sins and impurities like the love of wealth and greed. Humans have an inborn love for excessive wealth as mentioned in Surah Maryam, verse 9-24:

Thus it is a means of purifying rich people from greed, hatred, and selfishness and saves them from ego-centricity and self-indulgence.

Sincerity of Faith

The sincerity of a believer’s faith is understood through practicing the fourth pillar of Islam—the level of piety and righteousness of a Muslim increase when he gives out zakat.

One notable fact is that the zakat is also called sadaqah, derived from the word sidq meaning truth. It shows the truthfulness of the giver is assessed by his proper calculation of assets in the view of observing this religious duty.

Zakat helps redistribute wealth in communities to prevent the accumulation of wealth in a few hands. It not only ensures social justice but also makes resources available to the poor.