Zakat– Its Concept and Purpose in Islam – Part 2

In part I of this article, we had examined the prevailing opinions of both religious and secular Muslims, as well as the prevailing system of Zakat in some so-called Muslim countries. We had concluded that the concept and practice of Zakat has been reduced to a lifeless ritual by means of which the rich believe they can gain entry into Heaven in the Hereafter. On the other hand, our Muhammad ( pbuh ) acted to establish the Deen of Allah in Medina by implementing the system of Salaah and Zakat as spelled out in the Quran. In this part we will look closely at this system of Zakat.

If Zakat is one of the pillars of the Deen, it stands to reason that this pillar must stand on a firm foundation. That firm foundation is comprised of each Muslim's unshakable conviction, 100% commitment, utter sincerity, and complete dedication to the belief that the Allah-owned resources on the planet must be made available to all creatures and human beings for their sustenance, nourishment, and growth.

The Arabic word Zakat, with its root Z -K -W means growth and development. A tree is nourished and grows in the presence of Allah-owned resources such as the soil, the rain, the sun, and the air

Reference: 56:63-72 & 80:24-31

Any interference in the flow of any of these resources will retard the growth and development of the tree. Similarly, any individual, group, government, or system which disrupts the natural flow of Allah-owned resources on the planet to all human beings creates an imbalance in society: the rich & poor, the master & slave, the owner & worker. In the West, this awareness is dawning in respect to plants, animal and insect species which are becoming extinct due to this imbalance in nature caused by the actions of human beings.

However, the global economic imbalance continues to grow unchecked because human beings have refused, in their greed, to believe in the basic economic principle of Zakat : unrestricted flow of resources to all human beings (41:10, 50:11, 55:10, 56:73, 79:33, and 80:32).

The capitalist New World Order of the West actively seeks to control the natural resources of weaker nations under the guise of “global economic security.” Using the United Nations as a tool, the weak are intimidated into submission either through economic sanctions or military force. Allama Iqbal beautifully captured this mentality of the powerful when he said: “Hai wo sultan ghair ki kheti pe ho jiski nazar.” (The master is one who always has an eye on others' lands.) 

Muslims, too, have abandoned the Quranic Zakat , which is Allah's assured challenge to this naked exploitation of the weak by the strong. Unlike other religions, Islam is a Deen , a system of life, a constitutionally-run, collective life that encompasses the social, economic, political, judicial, and military aspects of a community. The leaders of this community are not priests, or scholars, or the rich, or the strong: they are the most upright who commit to upholding the laws of Allah in the land, “ Amr bil ma'aroof ” (enjoining what is right) and “ Nahya ‘anil munkar ” (forbidding what is wrong). They make sure the Quran, the Constitution of Allah, is en acted i.e. put into action.

What then, is the position of the Quran on the Economic World Order that should prevail, in other words, Zakat ? The Quran emphasizes the importance of economics in human life. While describing the life of Heaven, the Quran says there will be no hunger and no misery there. 

"At present (with the kind of life you are leading) you do not have to worry about your food or clothing.” (20:118) 

Too, the Quran teaches us to work for the good of this life, as well as the hereafter (2:201, 7:156), in contrast to the mindset of those who consider economic prosperity in this life to be an end in itself. According to the Quran, such people live at the animal level:  

“The essential aspect of Allah's association, help and support is that as a result of their Eiman and righteous deeds, He will bestow on them a blissful heavenly life the freshness of which will never fade. However for people who deny truth and think that life means only physical existence in this world, there is no difference between their lives and that of animals. Like the animals they eat, drink and enjoy life (and then die). The result of this concept of life is nothing but death and destruction (of human dignity).” (47:12) 

Taqwaa (righteous works) includes the use of economic prosperity to achieve a higher and nobler goal (10:63-64, 16:30). Economic prosperity is a means, not an end; it is a source for life, not the end of life; it is a prerequisite for growth and development in life, not the final goal of life. Since economic prosperity is so essential to human growth and development, Allah has addressed the issue of Zakat in great depth in the Quran.

To begin with, Allah says He is Rahman and Rahim :

“ There is no living being on the face of the earth for whom means of nurture have not been provided by Allah Almighty [*1]. Life is not static but passes through evolutionary stages. It pauses for a while at a particular stage until it acquires the capacity to reach a higher plane to which it is entrusted for further development. The sustenance received at each stage should meet the requirements of that stage. All this is clearly indicated in the book containing Allah's Laws (6/99, 55/29).” (11:6) 

“ (Tell those who have any such uncertainty to just look at the universe). How many living beings are there (on the earth), which store their food or carry it on their backs? Every one of them gets its sustenance as per the universal Divine Law of nourishment (11:6). Accordingly, if you also establish such a system in your society (and stop individual plunder or hoarding), you will also get nourishment like this (6:152). This is because He hears all and is aware of everyone's needs. No one is outside His view. (It is your own unjust system which has created such economic imbalances and disorders).” (29:60)

Also see verses (6:152) and (17:31)

Allah Almighty, of course, does not personally feed anyone: 

And when they are told, " They also raise strange objections. (For instance) They object when they are told to keep open and accessible for the needy, the means of nourishment that the Almighty has provided to them. Those who deny the Divine Directives of Rabubiyat tell those who have faith in them, that if Allah Almighty had willed that wealth should be distributed in a way that no one remains hungry in the world, then why did He not arrange it so by Himself? Why is He asking human beings to establish a system in which everyone adequately gets the necessities of life.

Who should tell them that by saying so they are committing a big mistake. (God establishes His system in human society by human hands only. The purpose is that human beings should use their ability to choose properly, so that their personalities also develop. Otherwise it was not at all difficult for Him (God) to have made mankind devoid of free will, just like the other things in the universe which are bound to exist by the Laws of God. By saying that had God wanted so He should have done this Himself, man is denying himself the dignity of the freedom of choice and is trying to run away from his responsibility. This is his gross error of judgement (6:149; 16:35; 43:20)." (36:47)

Allah Almighty fulfills this promise by creating the resources for the nourishment and growth of all moving creatures. No one, therefore, has the right to own or control the Allah-given natural resources or to restrict their flow to humanity at large (107:7, 17:20). Otherwise, this is tantamount to belying the Deen of Allah Almighty (107:1-6). Any association or partnership with Allah in this respect is Shirk , an unforgivable sin in the sight of God. Allah Almighty says:  

“ Say to them: "Bring those witnesses from amongst you who can testify to your assertion that Allah Almighty had forbidden these things to you". If the witnesses come-forth ask them to produce Allah's authority for what they say. If they do not produce such authority you should not accept their evidence. You should not follow the base desire of those people who declare Our laws to be false, and do not believe in the hereafter. They, in fact, set up peers to Allah Almighty. ” 6:151 

Secondly, Allah is clearly the real owner of the resources He has created. The following verses in the Quran leave no doubt about this: 

· The earth and all its resources belong to Allah. It is such an obvious fact that no one can deny it (6:12, 10:31, 29:61 &63, 31:25, 34:24, 39:10 &38, 43:9).

· Allah is the inheritor of the earth (19:40).

· The earth has been created for the benefit of all (55:10).

· It has been created to provide nourishment for all (56:73).

· To Him belongs all that is in heavens and the earth, “La hu ma fissamawati fil ardh” (2:116, 2:255, 4:171, 5:40, 14:2, 16:52, 20:6, 22:64).

· “Lillahi ma fissamawati fil ardh” (2:284, 3:109, 3:129, 4:131,132, 5:40, 10:55, 10:67, 14:2, 16:52, 20:6, 21:19, 34:1, 42:4, 42:53, 53:21).

“ The fundamental purpose of this order is to provide nurture to all humanity. Those who confine the means of nurture to themselves should not imagine that this is good for them. Those who covetously withhold what Allah Almighty has given them shall find that when the Niz'am-e-Rabubiyyat is established, these very things would become halter around their necks. They should know that everything in the universe belongs to Allah Almighty and none has the right to claim its ownership ” (3:180) 

As Owner, then, Allah has given us these resources as a trust which we are required to disburse according to His Will (the system of Zakat ), which is, to make available to all living creatures according to their needs, without any hindrance or control, the sustenance and provisions of life.

It was Muhammad ( pbuh ) unshakable conviction, his utter commitment, and total obedience to this system of Zakat that led to the establishment of the basic infrastructure of a universal, welfare-based economic system in Medina, and which reached its pinnacle during Khalifa ‘Umar's (R) time when, it is said, hardly anyone was in need of charity. The Muhammad ( pbuh ) lived his life true to this principle: he was not an owner of anything, no land, no possessions; he was merely an enforcer of the Will of Allah – he established the system of Zakat .

Shirk – Associating Other Owners Besides Allah to the Ownership of the Earth. Since Allah owns the Earth and its resources, then no one else can be an owner. A simple example illustrates this well: 

I wish to buy a piece of land. The seller and I sign the papers, and legally, I become the new owner. But if we carry this process back far enough, a point will come where this mutual deal will come to an end. Someone must have acquired that land illegally at first without any mutual agreement. Now, in legal jargon, any illegally acquired property, no matter how many times it is bought and sold thereafter, remains illegal. So, how can I say that “I” am the “legal” owner of that land? In my own defense I may claim that I acquired the land “legally,” or that it is not my responsibility to worry about someone else's very first illegal acquisition of that land, or that I bought it from halal earned income, so I “own” it. But it does not change the reality — I am involved in a deal which was Shirk to begin with. And, as long as I believe in “my ownership,” I am involved in Shirk .  

Brothers and sisters! It is not difficult to understand this kind of Shirk if our hearts and minds are open and sincere. According to the Quran, Muslim believers are required to enter into a contract with Allah in which they must sell their life and wealth to Him in exchange for Jannah : 

“On the other hand, there are believers who have entered into a transaction with Allah, through the instrumentality of the Divine Order, Who purchases their very persons and their worldly possessions in return for the abiding blissful life of Jannat. They shall fight in the cause of Allah Almighty and slay and be slain and on the part of Allah Almighty the promise of Jannat is binding. Similar promises were also made in the Torah and the Bible and are reiterated here in the Quran. Who is better than Allah Almighty in fulfilling promises. O believers! rejoice then on the bargain effected which is a great achievement". 9:111 

But, if we cling to the attitude that we own our life and wealth (in violation of the above ayah) then how can we practice and establish Zakat ? First, this Shirk (having two owners, Allah and us) has to be slowly and gradually eliminated before the tree of Zakat can take firm root in a land rooted in Tauheed (with Allah only being the owner of everything including our lives) and not in Shirk (in which others are also owners along with Allah). That is where Sadaqaa or charity comes in.