What Is The Importance Of Zakat To The Muslims?

There are five pillars of Islam and Zakat is one of them.The word "Zakat" has been derived from Zaka which means to grow, to increase, and to spread. It also means to remove impurities of an impure matter and material. But in its Islamic sense, the term carries the meaning to pay fixed amount on money, gold, silver and produce on which a period of one year has elapsed.

In importance, it is next to Salat. Thats why in many verses of QURAN, these two institutions have been mentioned together.Zakat has been described as wealth which is taken from the rich and returned to the poor. Zakat money is to be collected by the state. It is to be spent upon the poor and disabled for their maintenance, may be given to new converts of Islam who fail in financial distress due to their conversion, may be given to those who are in debts, may be given to those travelers who become short of funds while on their journey.

The main purpose of Zakat is to discourage accumulation of wealth by a group of society and also impair the tendency of uneven distribution of wealth in society.
Islam has made a system for helping poor people and what a beautiful method to maintain balance between luxury and poverty.

The third pillar: Zakat (poor due, charity tax)  Just as Allaah has created people with different colours, attitudes and levels of knowledge, so too their deeds and provision vary. He has made some of them rich and some poor, to test the rich as to whether they show gratitude, and to test the poor as to whether they are patient. Because the believers are a brotherhood, and brotherhood is based on compassion, kindness, love and mercy, Allah has enjoined upon the Muslims zakat which is taken from the rich and given to the poor. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily, your invocations are a source of security for them”[al-Tawbah 9:103]  Zakaah purifies and cleanses wealth, and purifies the soul from stinginess and miserliness. It strengthens the love between the rich and poor, takes away hatred, makes security prevail and brings happiness to the ummah happy.  Allah has made the payment of zakat obligatory upon everyone who owns the nisaab (minimum amount) for one year. The rate of zakat on gold, silver, other metals and trade goods is one quarter of ten percent. On agricultural produce and fruits the amount is one-tenth if it is irrigated (by artificial means), and one-half of one-tenth if it is not irrigated (by artificial means, i.e., it is watered by rainfall or other natural means). Concerning an’aam animals (i.e., sheep, goats, cattle and camels) the details are explained in the books of fiqh… Whoever pays zakat, Allah expiates his sins thereby, and blesses his wealth, and stores up for him a great reward. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “And perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give Zakaah, and whatever of good (deeds that Allah loves) you send forth for yourselves before you, you shall find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what you do”[al-Baqarah 2:110]  Withholding zakat brings disasters and evils upon the ummah. Allah has threatened those who withhold it with a painful torment on the Day of Resurrection. He says (interpretation of the meaning):  “O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the way of Allah (i.e. Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism). And those who hoard up gold and silver (Al Kanz: The money, the Zakaah of which has not been paid) and spend them not in the way of Allah, announce unto them a painful torment.  On the Day when that (Al Kanz: Money, gold and silver, the Zakaah of which has not been paid) will be heated in the fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them:) ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard’”  [al-Tawbah 9:34-35]  Concealing one’s zakat is better than paying it openly in front of people, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “If you disclose your Sadaqaat (almsgiving), it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Allah) will expiate you some of your sins. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do [al-Baqarah 2:271]  When a Muslim pays his zakat, it is not permissible for him to give it to anyone except those whom Allah mentions in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):  “As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the Fuqaraa’ (poor), and Al Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause (i.e. For Mujahidoon — those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise”[al-Tawbah 9:60]

The meaning of "Zakat" is "growth and purification". It is that growth which is the result of God's blessing. The giving of "Zakat" out of one's money causes its growth. It also causes one's inner and spiritual purification.

According to the Holy Quran, every Muslim who is able to pay "Zakat" must pay it. Paying Zakat is an economic duty in Islam. It is the most important obligation after "Namaz".
Who can and must pay "Zakat"?

Any one who among other things, is a Muslim, is an adult, has enough money whose value increases with time, must pay "Zakat" at the end of the year.
How much "Zakat" is to be paid?

2.5% of the total asset like profit giving bank accounts, govt. certificates insurance policies, etc. is "Zakat"

To whom "Zakat" is to be given?

"Zakat" is to be given to really poor people, debtors, travelers, and so on.

Advantages of "Zakat" System:
Firstly, Rich and well-to-do people help needy and poor and satisfy their needs.
Secondly, they provide help to hospitals, schools, libraries, and different institutions for the progress and welfare of needy people in different fields of life.

Thirdly, when most people participate in "Zakat" they have a common Islamic feeling of doing their duty together. This promotes national unity.

Fourthly, when we please God and do our religious economicduty honestly, He blessed us and increases our wealth.

"Zakat" can prove to be a real blessing if it is used for productive and constructive purposes to the permanent benefit of the poor. Then only will it encourage investment and savings. Distributing money among the poor and needy directly after taking them from the rich is not enough at all.

Let us make "Zakat" the basis of our economy. If we make use of this Islamic institution in an intelligent way, do away with the old feudal system and wipe out corrupting, the country can be changed into a true welfare state.

In Islamic law Zakat is that fixed money, which is supposed to be paid by every rich person at the end of the year. Zakat is paid on the money he earned the whole year. It's for the sake of ALLAH and it's supposed to pay by every rich person. In the reality if we look then your money decreased but in the long terms ALLAH increased that money many times .at the judgment day will get back his money and for the year that money will become clear good and clear for us.

In the Quran the word Zakat is used twenty times with the whole discussion. By understanding that context the whole meaning of Zakat becomes clearer to us and it shows how much Zakat is important in our life. Namaz or prayers shows the relationship of creator and creation whereas Zakat shows relationship of love, care and help between the whole communities. In other words Zakat is the rite of creation. By Zakat our community doesn't divide into group's .In fact it helps in solving many social problems. The basic purpose for establishing the whole system of Zakat by Islam is the remove the love for the money.

If you're paying Zakat it means there is feeling developed inside your heart that ALLAH is the creator of the whole world. The whole money we are getting is given by him .All the things we are getting are by the blessings if the GOD and the things we are getting there is some part of the poor people in it as well and ALLAH has fix some quantity in our money for those poor people as well.

The word Zakat means to purify. It purifies and protects our soul from miserliness, selfishness and greed, and purifies our wealth and our souls from the evils of this world. Zakat is not a charity but a compulsory payment by the rich to the state. It is the social claim, as a matter of right and not as charity on the wealth of the rich.

By paying poor due, the rich are in fact, paying back their debt to the poor and the society. If they fail to pay this social debt, they are doing a sin in the eyes of Allah and a crime against the law of land. Thus by paying poor due the rich are not doing any favour to the society or the poor but are doing their normal moral as well as a legal duty.

All wealth and riches belong to Allah. It is entrusted to us by Him, so that we may satisfy our needs and help our less fortunate brothers to satisfy their requirements. Thus the object of this poor due is to prove our faith in Allah the Master by sacrificing our material in obedience to His commands and His Pleasure.

It is great pillar of Islam. It has great importance in our life. The importance of Zakat will be cleared from the following discussion.

1: Test of faithfulness: It has a religious sanctity behind it. One who help the needy person from God's given wealth; it is his test of faithfulness

2: Obligatory on ummahs of all prophets: Zakat is a compulsory payment which was paid by the ummhas of all the prophet Salah and Zakat are two great pillars of Islam. Those who discard these pillars are false in their claim of Muslim.

3: Sign of believers: It never happened that any ummah believing in God was exempted from the obligation of Zakat.

4: Co-operation: Zakat is paid to the needy, poor, and deserver. The revenue collected from Zakat is spent for the welfare of the needy persons.

5: Eradication of social evils: The poor commit crimes like theft; Dacoit etc. due to low economic position. These social evils are eliminated to help the needy person.

6: Circulation of wealth: Zakat is an uncompromising enemy of hoarding. A Muslim has to pay Zakat on the hoarded money due to the fear of God. In this way the amount of money remains in circulation in the market.

Islam has five basic pillars and Zakat is one these pillars. Zakat is an amount which rich people give to poor people on yearly basis. The share of the amount is calculated on different basis. Zakat is compulsory for all those who have amount equal to approx 90 grams of gold or 624 grams of silver. Zakat is also payable to crops and cattle.

Zakat is paid to the poor and needy Muslims. Zakat can also be paid to Madrassa (an Islamic school) that are offering free education, to different charity organizations that are helping poor, to different hospitals that are offering free treatment for the persons.

The basic aim of zakat is to circulate the money. Circulation of money assures to minimize the poverty. Zakat is also said the scarification of wealth. The Zakat make the rest of the money safe and pure. The payer of Zakat will not loose its wealth. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said many Hadiths about Zakat. Through these Hadiths, we have come to know about the usage of Zakat. Holy Prophet also said that the person who have paid Zakat even they are eligible will lead to hell. That's why every Muslim tries to pay the Zakat.

If any thing has been stated in Kuran if we r true muslims so we should do what allah has commanded