Interesting Islam

 

3: Charity and Lawful Earnings:


NOTE: Some Muslims say that Zakaah is not the third, but fourth, pillar of Islam. This may be correct. Therefore, keep in mind that although I refer to it as the third pillar, it could actually be the fourth pillar. And the fourth pillar – which is Sawm: Fasting – could be the third pillar instead.

What is the difference between Zakaah and Sadaqah?

He is not a believer who eats to his fill while his neighbour remains hungry by his side.” (Hadeeth)

There is often confusion, even among some Muslims, in the two terms Zakaah and Sadaqah.

Zakaah, in brief, is the third pillar of Islam and is giving 2.5 percent of yearly earnings to the poor, and specific other people, as charity. It is obligatory.It is also one of the practical pillars of showing obedience to Allah.

Sadaqah is any voluntary act of giving, done out of compassion or love. It can be any amount.

Who Pays Zakaah?

Any Muslim whether male or female, who is sane, has reached puberty, has met expenses and had that wealth for a whole year (fixed income) and is free from debt has to pay Zakaah.

The wealth/income includes the following:

+ Businesses/savings

+ Gold/Silver/Precious Stones

+ Land owned by people (i.e. Landowners)

+ Livestock/Animals

+ Additional Property (for example, holiday homes)

If a person possesses any of the above, then they are obligated to pay Zakaah.

Who is Zakaah Given to?

Zakaah can be given to:

- The Poor

- People who have converted to Islam and need financial help

- The needy who do not ask

- Those employed to collect Zakaah, but do not have time to earn for themselves

- To People who have a lot of debts to pay off

- To Travellers with difficulties

- To people who have experienced a calamity, such as a burglary etc.

- To people who don’t have time to earn as they are involved in spreading the message of Islam da’wah

- To Prisoners of war and Slaves

People tend to give Zakaah to victims of international disasters, such as Tsunami’s or Earthquakes, but they must remember that Charity always starts from the home So first and foremost, Zakaah should be given to the family and friends, then Secondly to members of the Community, and then on a National Scale, before progressing to the International picture.

Muslim Agencies:

There are plenty of Muslim Agencies helping victims around the world. These include: Islamic Relief (IR) , Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT) and Muslim Aid. 

No Boasting…

Zakaah should be given from the heart and should not be publicised to enhance or create a positive reputation. The reward earned by giving to Charity is simply cancelled out by boasting about it. As the Quran says:

O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury – like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. They are in parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it (just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have earned. And Allah guideth not those who reject faith.”

(2:264)

Why is Zakaah so Important?

The main reason for giving Zakaah is that it bridges the gap between the rich and the poor.

It also purifies the heart from greed or miserliness and cleanses the mind, body and morality. It purifies a person’s wealth by developing their character in order to remove selfishness and helps them feel good and righteous about their wealth.

Some Muslim Scholars say that ‘Zakaah means sweetening’ as it sweetens bitter people and brings about an awareness and unity of the Ummah: Worldwide Muslim Community.

The receiver also benefits from Zakaah because their heart is purified from any bitterness, hatred or jealousy that may arise due to the financial difference between them and others.

Again, as with every other pillar, the unity of the Ummah: Worldwide Muslim Community, is expressed and reiterated in this Pillar. Every Muslim, whether a King or a peasant, has to pay Zakaah. The reason that Zakaah is only 2.5 percent is so that the people are not placed with too heavy a burden. Imagine if every human being paid 2.5 percent of his or her earnings. Poverty may not be complete history, but it would certainly be less common than it is today.




Islamic Teachings on Wealth:

According to Islam, wealth is anything valuable or transferable (can be bought or sold).

There are two types of wealth: 1) Physical: anything from clothes to actual money, and 2) Other: skills such as cooking or writing used to make money are also wealth.

Wealth can also be seen at different levels:

+ Personal Wealth: physical, spiritual possessions

+ Community’s Wealth: A community can be made of many skilled people

+ National Wealth: Government money or skills etc.

Wealth as a Blessing and a Curse Wealth can be a blessing if it is used for the right purposes and can be a reward for good deeds. It is only pure, however, if Zakaah is given and the wealth is not abused.

However, wealth can also be a curse because if the poor do not get money, there is ill feeling towards the rich so wealth automatically becomes a Curse. Also, if it is used for the wrong purposes and causes friction in families through jealousy, arrogance and paranoia, it becomes a Curse.

Personal Wealth as an Amaanah

Every person has wealth, whether they recognise it or not. Our bodies, our minds, our skills are our wealth. They are what we have a right over and what we can use to gain what we need. However, we also tend to abuse our bodies a lot of the time. This includes self-harm, over-eating junk food, and even dieting, because we are depriving our body of what it needs.

You body has a right over you. Your eyes have a right over you.” (Hadeeth)

Muslims believe that creation belongs to the Creator. Humans belong to Allah. Our bodies belong to Allah. Therefore, whatever we have is actually a possession given to us in trust. The Arabic word for trust is Amaanah. Our bodies are an Amaanah,i.e. possession given in trust.

Man’s life is a property of God. Life has been bestowed on us as an amaanah. It is therefore incumbent to utilise and guard this trust. Among the rights incumbent on us in respect of our lives are: 1) The protection of it’s health and strength, 2) The guarding of its’ peace.” (Ashraf Ali Thanwi in his book ‘Hayatul Muslimeen’)

If our bodies and lives are possessions given in trust, we have a certain amount of responsibility over them. We are Khalifah. We are the guardians of ourselves and our wealth and surroundings. We are responsible in the safeguarding of our planet and our people. Whether we come from the West or the East, this world belongs to all of us. This world is our wealth. If I live in the United Kingdom, every leaf in the Middle East still belongs to me. If I live in Afghanistan, the soil of America also belongs to me. This brings about an equality of every living being, whether rich or poor.

But, (trying to add a bit of humour!) as Uncle Ben said in Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility” and as the Prophet Muhammad (s) said in a Hadeeth, “Every shepherd is responsible for his flock,” the world may belong to us, but it is only ours as long as we look after it.

If we do not look after ourselves and our world, which is all an amaanah, then we are proving ourselves to be untrustworthy. Imagine if a friend asked you to look after a most precious possession while he/she went on holiday, and you broke it, or sold it on e-bay, were you proving yourself to be trustworthy friend? No. Will he/she appreciate the fact that you pretty much ruined what he/she had given you in trust? No way.

People in whom there is no trustworthiness, in him there is, so to speak, no faith.” (Hadeeth)

Lawful Earnings

Allah only accepts Zakaah, if the wealth on which it is paid is earned by Lawful Means. The word for approved, permitted or correct is Halal. Muslims must earn money by Halal means. The importance of Lawful Earnings is stressed in the following ahadeeth:

The seeking of halal earning is the next fardh (duty) after the fardh Salaah.” (Hadeeth)

An honest and righteous trader will be with the Ambiyaa, Siddiqueen and Shuhadah on the day of Judgement.” (Hadeeth). Note: Ambiyaa means Prophets, Siddiqueen means Truthful ones, and Shuhadaa means martyrs.

Lawful means includes money that is earned by one’s own hard work or inheritance. Unlawful earnings are those earned by Gambling, the Lottery, fraud and deceit or burglary etc.

As the following hadeeth show, unlawful earnings are severely discouraged in Islam:

God is pure and only expects pure things.”

The flesh gathered on a body by means of unclean income deserves to be thrown into the fire.”

He who cheats is not one of us. Deceit and fraud are things that lead one to Hell.” (Hadeeth)

Compassion and Justice – in Financial matters

A borrower is urged to pay off their debt as soon as possible. This emphasises the justice in Islam. Many times, a person loans others money when they are in dire need of it. If that person dies, then the one who loaned the money finds themselves in a very difficult position. Therefore, paying off a debt as soon as possible is very important.

If a person is killed in the path of Allah, then all his sins are forgiven as a result of martyrdom but if he owes anyone anything, even martyrdom will not secure his release from it.” (Hadeeth)

An example often given is of Hajj: pilgrimage to Makkah and the fifth pillar of Islam. Many Muslims believe that it is essential for a Muslim to pay off his/her debt before going on Hajj, as Hajj is the chance to have every sin forgiven, and to metaphorically be reborn as a pure being.

However, the creditor should also be compassionate and whenever possible, forgive any debt. The Prophet Muhammad (s) said: “Show kindness and kindness will be given to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

God will protect him from the agonies of Judgement day who allows respite to a poor and indigent servant of his in the payment of debt or writes off the debt all together.”

Justice is given with Compassion. Justice is an integral part of Islamic faith. The creditor should be compassionate, whereas those in debt should pay back what they owe.