How To Know The Religion of Truth (6/9)
Abdul Rahman Bin Hammad Al-Omar
The Zakat (obligatory charity)
The third pillar of Islam: paying the poor due:
Allah ordained every Muslim who possesses a certain amount of property to pay annually the Zakat (poor due), of his possessions to the poor or to the other categories mentioned in the Qur’an.
The minimum amount of gold liable to payment of Zakat is 20 miskals of gold (i.e. a miskal is a weight equal to 4.68 grams) and the minimum amount of silver is 200 dirhams (a dirham is a weight that equals 3.12 grams) or an *****alent sum of current money to this amount.
There is also a minimum amount for goods of commerce liable to payment of Zakat. As for cereals and grains, its minimum amount is 300 Saa’ (a Saa’ is a cubic measure used by Arabs.) The minimum amount for real estates prepared for sale should be estimated in accordance with its value, but if the real estate is prepared for lease, the estimation should be in accordance with its rent.
The annual amount of Zakat fixed on gold, silver and goods of commerce is 2.5%. As for cereals, grains and fruits, the fixed amount of Zakat is 10% of the crop, if the crop is the yield of an easily irrigated land (ie: a land irrigated by rivers, spring or rain), but if the land is irrigated with difficulty by man-made means such as pumps or other lifting apparatus, the amount of Zakat becomes only 5%. Zakat of grains, fruits and crops is due at the harvest time. In case of a land that yields two or three harvests annually, one should pay the Zakat for each harvest independently.
The amount of Zakat due on camels, cows and sheep is explained in books dealing with this subject.
Zakat is enjoined by the Qur’an:
“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat as-Salat) and give Zakat, and that is the right Religion.” (Surah Al- Baiyyinah, 98:5).
In fact the Zakat has a wonderful social role. It soothes the poor's feelings, satisfies their needs, and strengthens the bonds of mutual love among the poor and the rich.
Zakat is not the only means that Islam has used to maintain social solidarity and co-operation among Muslims, but Islam imposes also on the rich to support the poor at times of famines. Islam prohibits the Muslim from being sated with food while his neighbor is hungry. Islam enjoined also Zakat- Al-Fitr (Fitr-Fast-Due) on all Muslims and has made it a duty on every one of them to distribute a Saa’ (a cubic measure) of elementary substances for himself and a similar Saa’ for each one of those whom he supports, including his servants. The whole amount should be distributed among the poor, before the prayer of feast day. Islam imposed also expiatory gifts on the Muslim who commits perjury (that is to feed ten poor people or clothe them or to fast three days, if he is unable to feed or clothe the poor). The Muslim is commanded to perform his vows, and practice voluntary charity. Allah promised to give the best rewards for those who expend their money for His sake. Their rewards will not only be multiplied to tenfold, but to 700 folds, or even to a boundless number.
Fasting The Month Of Ramadan
The fourth pillar of Islam is to fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijiri calendar. Before the dawn of the first day of Ramadan, a Muslim intends to fast this month, and abstains every day from drinking, eating, or practicing *** till sunset. He performs fast till the end of the month of Ramadan, fulfilling by that the commandment of Allah, and seeking His pleasure.
Fasting has innumerable benefits. When a man refrains himself from lust, abstains from eating and drinking for the sake of Allah, he does this only for one purpose; that is to obey Allah, worship Him and imbue his heart with God's fear.
Fasting has also innumerable hygienic, economic and social benefits which are perceived only by those who perform it with strong belief and sincere faith. The Qur’an states:
“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the Fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fast) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasting) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar; Allah is the Most Great] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him…” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 185)
According to the rules of the Qur’an and Prophetic Traditions, it is permissible for a sick man, a man travelling on a journey, a menstruating woman, or a confined woman not to fast, but to make up for what they missed.
Foster-mothers and pregnant women are also permitted not to fast if fasting will harm them or their babies, but they should compensate this fully by fasting for equal number of days. If a man drinks or eats absentmindedly while fasting, he should spit out whatever stills in his mouth as soon as he remembers that he is fasting. In this case his fast is not broken. This is a privilege with which the Muslim nation has been endowed: “Allah forgives sins committed by mistake, forgetfulness, or by compulsion.”
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