The
Letter and Spirit of Zakat
- Shakeel Ahmad,
shakeeluae@gamil.com
Part-1:
The Letter of Zakat (Zakah)
Zakat
is compulsory after the personal wealth crosses a threshold, we know
this. Zakat is to be given away throughout the year, as soon as the
wealth has crossed the threshold of time. We know this as well. Zakat
is to be given only to the poor and destitute individuals, we know
this! Hardly do we know anything if we use ONLY in this sentence! A
reference to Surah Tauba (Surah # 9)'s Ayat number 60 in Quran makes
sufficiently clear the eight areas in which zakat money should be spent.
Well,
we know this. Sure, we do. Zakat purifies our wealth ... we know this,
alhamdolillah. Zakat means "to purify" and also "growth". Well, it's
not a new information for us. Really?
Watch the Video (2 parts): Explanation of Quranic Surah on Zakat (9:60), by Maulana Maududi R.A.
Zakat
can be used in a bait-al-maal to render all kinds of service to the
masses. This may benefit the poor mostly, but some benefits may
actually accrue to the rich as well. To the rich as well? Vow! When
Allah commands in the above Quran (9:60) to spend zakat money on the
wayfarer (Travellers who find themselves in difficult circumstances),
it is widely believed that He makes no difference between a poor
wayfarer and a rich wayfarer (may be rich in his native place, but is
currently without nisab).
The
literal meaning of zakat is widely understood and consensus is
available on many uses despite differences on some of the points. If
logic is applied to the reason why Allah made zakat a mandatory feature
of a Muslim’s life, most of us believe this could be for taking care of
the poor. What if I say it could have been to eradicate poverty? If it
was not meant to eradicate poverty but just to feed the poor, thus
maintaining the poor in the same conditions as they are, it may be
considered by the Munafiqeen as an unfair act of Allah
(na’ooz-o-billah), and the claim of Allah that He is the Most Fair and
the Most Merciful would be challenged easily.
Are
we getting any indebted persons rid of the debt burden? May be at
individual levels, there are some isolated cases, but are there any
concerted efforts? Every now and then, we hear cases of people taking
loans from local sharks and Shylocks to get their daughters married off
or to get their sons admitted into colleges, or to get looted by
clinics and hospitals. We are commanded to use zakah money to pay off
the debt of the helpless ones, rather than exploit them.
Well, what about
the meaning "growth"? Is zakat helping the community towards this end?
Can we start thinking in this direction?
Are
we using it for any form of Jihad? Well, today, fighting against
enemies of Islam means Jihad-an-nafs (fighting against our own ego),
the struggle to strengthen our inner selves or conscience - to purify,
commit, motivate ourselves to perform better than others, generate
resources and build capabilities that can prepare us for any war
imposed on us.
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Part-2: The
Spirit of Zakat (Zakah)
Shall
we confine ourselves to the letters of zakah (words alone) or shall we
also delve into the hikmah (wisdom/ larger objective, as in Quran,
2:269, 2:164, and 16:12, etc.) behind those words (and allow ijtehad to
guide Muslims through changing times)? Are we ready to think
out-of-the-box and act wisely, making use of the excellent tools (like
the brain) that Almighty has equipped us with? How long shall we
continue to waste such precious gifts from Allah that were given with a
purpose - to be exploited by this preferred race (Quran, 2:47, 2:122,
45:16)? What use is knowledge that is not exploited to benefit
ourselves? Are we not afraid of Allah’s punishment for those who behave
like the deaf, dumb and the blind [Quran, 7:179]?
No
sane person would contest the fact that zakat money is commanded by
Allah to be used for Jihad-fee-sabilillah (striving in the way Allah).
If we consider Jihad as "fighting for the cause of Allah", that is to
spread (or establish) Islam and removing the obstacles in the way of
doing so. As each one of us know that today it is not the mere
obstacles that hamper any such effort but there is a strategic plan to
nip any such thoughts in the bud itself and proactively engage Muslims
in acts that do not leave them with any time or energy to even think in
this direction. When it comes to a fight, the enemies of Islam have
proved beyond any doubt that they have far superior technological
prowess. In order to win any war, Muslims will need to be better
equipped. If Jihad means "fighting for the cause of Allah", preparing
for such a fight and equipping ourselves for such a fight also means
"fighting for the cause of Allah", as commanded in Quran, 8:60.
This
means that we will need to match the enemies in all aspects, i.e., (1)
in our faith (may come through Jihad an-Nafs and Jihad as-Shaytan), (2)
education and knowledge, (3) application of knowledge (technology) and
(4) economy, otherwise how can we "make ready" what is needed for Qital
(the final form of Jihad: encountering the enemy when needed). All
expenses in building these capabilities would be "fighting for the
cause of Allah", as expenses incurred on preparations. First two are
primary areas, of course, and the last two are derivatives of the first
two. As of today, we may be superior to our enemies in just one aspect,
the first one. In all the other three areas, we are nowhere close to
our enemies and any talk of winning a fight against them must be
wishful thinking, and no more.
Even
Allah's support to Momineen seems to be conditional. In Quran (65:8),
Allah promises a 10:1 support to Momineen (one believer will be enough
for ten non-believers). In the very next ayah (65:66), Allah says one
Momin (believer) would be able to take on only two kuffar
(non-believers)! Why? Allah puts forward the reason as well. He says
momins are not prepared, yet; that's why! Allah urges us to improve
ourselves in comparison with the non-believers, in all aspects of life.
And all such improvements are rooted deep into our education and
training. The real Jihad is to become better, spiritually, morally,
physically, economically, technologically, and so on. Let's train
ourselves to be better than ten non-believers, and then, Allah will
definitely be with us.
Therefore, when Yusuf Al Qaradawi extends
the meaning of Jihad-fee-sabilillah to include other forms of Jihad
like the intellectual and educational forms which serve "to preserve
Islamic identity", he cannot be disputed. But, "preserving Islamic
identity" is not proactive whereas Jihad has to be proactive. And
Jihad-fee-sabilillah in such an extension will then mean "striving
towards educational and socio-economic empowerment of Muslims", the
vision we should work for. Thus spending zakat money on any project or
endeavour that helps fulfill this vision is simply spending on
Jihad-fee-sabilillah, or at least on preparing for
Jihad-fee-sabilillah.
Conclusion:
Agreed
that priority should go to fuqara and masakeen while distributing zakat
money, and I do not discourage Muslims to take care of their poor
relatives and neighbours, but in order to achieve a much greater
objective of empowering the Muslim masses, they must allocate a good
part of their zakat money to projects that could bring long term
benefits to the society.
Let's
allow our hearts to feel the urgency of pushing ourselves into action.
Let's allow our eyes to see a bright future aligned with our vision.
Let's allow our minds to be used to translate these feelings into
plans. Let's allow our hands and feet to implement these plans into
result-oriented actions. Let's all our senses help us monitor, follow
up and improve upon continuously. It is high time we broke out of the
slumber that has plunged us into stagnancy and allow our senses to be
exploited to the full so that we can revert to the dynamism of the
golden Islamic era. Let's compete with each other in a race to do good
deeds, as commanded by Allah (5:48, 23:61).
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