Question

Zakat is an important pillar of Islam that denotes disbursing an excess of wealth to the needy. As the largest organized of religion in the world, this concept has the ability to greatly affect the levels of poverty in Islamic nations. However, the systems instituted to collect and distribute zakat are often flawed or inefficient. Zakat can be used to lessen the burden of poverty felt in these and other Muslim majority nations or even wholly eradicate the most dire effects of poverty felt by citizens. You are required to assess the importance of zakat collection and distribution in Islam to the eradication of extreme poverty.

Answer 1

As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, zakat is a religious obligation for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth. ... The payment and disputes on zakat have played a major role in the history of Islam, notably during the Ridda wars.

It is regarded as a type of worship and of self-purification. Zakat is the third Pillar of Islam. Zakat does not refer to charitable gifts given out of kindness or generosity, but to the systematic giving of 2.5% of one's wealth each year to benefit the poor.

Benefits of Zakat: Zakat has many benefits some of them are listed below:

• It brings a servant close to his Lord and increases his faith. This is the case with all of the acts of worship.

• Paying Zakat results in great reward from Allah Almighty. The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Whoever gives away charity the size of a date, which is earned lawfully, since Allah only accepts the good lawful things, Allah will indeed take it with His right Hand and cause it to grow for its owner, just as one of you raises up his colt, to the point that the charity will become like the size of a mountain.” [Al-Bukhari]

• Allah removes the (minor) sins by giving Zakat, as the Prophet (SAW) said: “Giving charity wipes away sins just as water extinguishes the fire.”

• It helps Muslims to follow the honorable path.

• It helps in purification of the heart.

• It helps in reducing the poverty from society.

• Most important benefit of Zakat is the purification of the halal money.

• It cleans one’s character from being a miser.

• It is proof of the truthfulness of the faith of he who gives Zakat.

• It makes one reach the rank of the perfect believer. The Prophet (SAW) said: “None of you truly believes until he loves his brother what he loves himself.” [Muslim]

• It makes an Islamic society a single family in which the rich helps the poor.

• Redemption from the intense heat on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Every man will be in the shade of his charity on the Day of Resurrection.” [Ahmad]

• Calculating Zakat helps to demolish poverty.

• While paying Zakat reduces the chances of deflation in the country or in a society.

• Zakat removes the grudges and deceased feelings found in the hearts of the poor and needy people.