{"id":112227,"date":"2018-06-04T12:00:56","date_gmt":"2018-06-04T11:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=112227"},"modified":"2018-05-31T17:51:41","modified_gmt":"2018-05-31T16:51:41","slug":"muslim-zakat-reigniting-the-fire-of-camaraderie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2018\/06\/muslim-zakat-reigniting-the-fire-of-camaraderie\/","title":{"rendered":"Muslim Zakat: Reigniting the Fire of Camaraderie"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBy no means shall you attain righteousness, unless you give of that which you love<\/em>.\u201d
\n— (Q 3:\u00a0 92)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

4 Jun 2018 – <\/em>The idea that helping others is part of a meaningful life has been around for thousands of years. For Muslims, charity is a central aspect of their faith and practice. In Islam, a culture of giving is interwoven into the fabric of its forms of worship. Helping the poor is a religious mandate. Governed by a worldview in which all things come from God and finally return to God, Muslims are taught to live as trustees of God\u2019s blessings. Islam is a complete way of life and one important facet is that there is a duty to serve those who are less privileged than us. The equitable division of the wealth of society and bounty of the earth between all people, regardless of their social station, through the instrument of charity, is seen not just as an act of piety but a cardinal \u00a0\u00a0obligation for Muslims .Ramadan is the focal point of philanthropy: during this month, Islam\u2019s obligation to give to the poor intensifies. Those who miss the daily fast, for example, must feed a poor person.<\/p>\n

Muslims are taught to live as trustees of God\u2019s blessings. Along with fasting and prayers charity is a cardinal act of piety. The Qur\u2019an provides both a spiritual framework for the possession of wealth, and practical guidelines for its dispensation. The Qur\u2019an enjoins that if we believe that \u00a0\u00a0all things ultimately belong to God, then it behoves on us to spend everything in accordance with the plan of God. Frugality with self and generosity with others underpins the Qur\u2019anic message of charity.<\/p>\n

Muslims give in the form of either Zakat, which is mandatory giving, or Sadaqa, which is voluntary and meant to go beyond the mere religious obligations. Zakat\u00a0<\/em>is more of a social contract between rich and poor societies where each individual shares a moral and duty-bound obligation to help one another. Zakat<\/em>\u00a0means purification and comes from the Arabic verb\u00a0zaka<\/em>, which also signifies \u201cto thrive,\u201d \u201cto be pure\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0and \u201cto be wholesome,\u201d .Muslims “purify” their wealth by giving a portion of it every year in charity. \u00a0\u00a0As the Qur\u2019an says: \u201cOf their goods, take Zakat, so that you might purify and sanctify them.\u201d (Q9:103).<\/p>\n

In the Islamic faith, five foundational goals\u2013known as\u00a0Maqasid al Sharia<\/em>\u00a0-include the protection of faith, progeny, life, wealth and intellect. According to the rules of the Qur\u2019an, all Muslims, on whom zakat is mandatory, must donate at least 2.5 percent of their assets\u00a0 each year for the benefit of the poor, destitute and others \u2013 classified as\u00a0mustahik<\/em>. \u00a0The 2.5% rate only applies to cash, gold and silver, and commercial items. There are other rates for farm and mining produce, and for animals.<\/p>\n

The spending of wealth for the sake of God purifies the heart of the love of material wealth and sharpens the impulses of benevolence. In a way, the man who spends of his wealth affirms the truth that nothing is dearer to him in life than the love of God and that he is fully prepared to sacrifice everything for His sake.<\/p>\n

The Qur\u2019an: emphasizes: \u201cAnd be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(Q2:110)<\/em> Zakat is a right that the poor have over us as for,<\/em> \u201cthose in whose wealth there is a recognised right for the needy and the poor\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(<\/em>Q 70:24-25).<\/p>\n

Zakat is levied on five categories of property\u2014food grains; fruit; camels, cattle, sheep, and goats; gold and silver; and movable goods\u2014and is payable each year after one year\u2019s possession. The beneficiaries of zakat are mentioned in the Quran: \u201c(Zakat) charity is only for the poor, and the needy and those employed to administer it and those whose hearts are made to incline (to truth), and (to free) the captives and those in debt, and in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer\u201d. (Q9:60).<\/p>\n

Deeply embedded in the Islamic concept of zakat are the notions of welfare, altruism and justice which can be seen as a way of harnessing human potential to resolve insurmountable challenges to human society. In other words, charity and altruism are rooted in the basic concern for the welfare of others, while Islam has added to it the notion of justice, which is seen as a way of building a just and equitable society. According to the Qur\u2019an, \u201cthe likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is as the likeness of a grain that sprouts seven spikes. In every spike there are 100 grains, and Allah multiplies for whom He will\u201d. (Q 2:261).<\/p>\n

When reading the Quran, the significance of zakat appears to be equal to prayer as an expression of faith. The two are often mentioned simultaneously in the symmetrical rhythm of the Holy Book’s verses.<\/p>\n

It is the human predilection for riches that the Quran cautions against, yet it acknowledges that spiritually immature souls may jeopardise their own moral standing by indulging in reckless acts of charity that leave them destitute. Some verses (including Q17:29 and 25:67) speak of maintaining a balance between extravagance and parsimony. This is in recognition of human nature, which has the dual impulses of compassion and an inherent love of wealth.\u00a0 In this way, Islam\u2019s legal teachings counsel temperance and prudence; whereas Islam\u2019s spiritual teachings urge selflessness and generosity.<\/p>\n

In the Islamic paradigm, charity is not restricted just to money or physical goods. It also covers\u00a0 the sharing and giving of knowledge, the ability to speak with humility, the willingness to provide hope in all forms of adversity, the ability to forgive, to give respect and dignity, in the simple understanding that what really ties me to a common humanity is compassion.<\/p>\n

A well known saying of the Prophet \u00a0\u00a0illustrates the importance of every part of a person\u2019s body performing a charity:<\/p>\n

\u201cA charity is due for every joint in each person on every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity; a good word is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.\u201d<\/em> (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our faith in God and human beings is shown in small acts of kindness, brotherhood or sisterhood and familiarity in our day-to-day lives. We don\u2019t have to go out and look for an opportunity to do this duty. It stands before us all the time, and we need only to do very well the work that we have been given. If we are mothers, we should be great mothers; if we are civil servants, we should serve people with great energy, honesty and courtesy.<\/p>\n

The real magic of giving lies in the way you give. It must not be with an eye on the returns, but because you want to give. Giving with motives attached not only nullifies one\u2019s own happiness but also burdens the receiver. After planting your seeds, you should expect absolutely nothing in return. It is nobler to follow the Biblical injunction. \u201cLet not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth<\/em>.\u201d Giving and receiving are one in truth. When you give to someone with no strings attached \u2013 whether it is a physical gift, a compliment or your time \u2013 you are as nourished as the receiver. The Qur\u2019an reiterates:<\/p>\n

\u201cThey feed with food -despite their own desire for it-<\/em>
\nthe indigent, and the orphan and the captive (saying):
\n\u2018We feed you purely for the sake of God.
\nWe desire no reward from you, nor thankfulness.\u2019\u201d
\n<\/em>(Q 8:9)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Kahlil Gibran emphasizes that we should give with our whole being, with our whole heart, a pouring out of our entire love \u2013 remember, half a seed cannot germinate. He writes in The Prophet<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cYou give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He further suggests:<\/p>\n

\u201cGive while the season of giving is here so that your coffer is not empty when you die.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

__________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em>Moin Qazi<\/em>, PhD Economics,\u00a0PhD English,<\/em> is a member of the <\/em>TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment<\/a><\/em> and author of the bestselling book, <\/em>Village Diary of a Heretic Banker. He has worked in the development finance sector for almost four decades in India and can be reached at moinqazi123@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

4 Jun 2018 – The idea that helping others is part of a meaningful life has been around for thousands of years. For Muslims, charity is a central aspect of their faith and practice. In Islam, a culture of giving is interwoven into the fabric of its forms of worship. Helping the poor is a religious mandate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":83401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transcend-members"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}