The New Nation - Internet Edition

Ameer Hamzah

Zakat aims at poverty alleviation. It is the compulsory religious obligation for the Muslims. It is one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat is a tax at a fixed rate in proportion to the worth of property (in cash and in kinds), collected from the well-to-do of the society and distributed among the poor Muslims. It is not a mercy but the right of the poor in the wealth of the rich. Every rich Muslim is bound to pay Zakat as per prescribed rate and is liable to punishment both here and in the Hereaffter. Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA), the first Caliph declared war on those Muslims who refused to pay Zakat It indicates that the state has power to make laws with provisions to imprison, penalaise and confiscate the properties of the defaulters. The state can otherwise force the rich Muslims to pay Zakat

Prophet Muhammad (SM) appointed officials to collect it from the well-to-do and spent for the rehabilitation of the poor.

Bangladesh is a land of 150 million people of which 40 percent live under or on the poverty line. There are areas like Rangpur and Kurigram where there are no works at all at least three months a year. At that time, they pass days together without food. It has been gathered that every year a good number of people saunter in the capital city in search of work. The government may take up income generating projects in the rural Bangladesh with the zakat-money. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 crore of taka could be collected from the wealth of the rich men and it will be taka 50,000 crore in five years taken to be enough to remove poverty from a large area of Bangladesh. There are Islamic scholars and experts capable of devising good planning in this regard. There is no need of asking for IMF, ADB and WB advice. Rather the help of IDB may be taken.

The Prophet (SM) did not like poverty. He said, "It tends man to forget Allah and His Atributes." At the same time, he denounced luxurious life because it too induced a man to forget his Lord. Zakat is compulsory for the members of the Christianity also. The text of the related verse is: And hath made me blessed wherever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and poor-tax as long as I am alive,"-19/31. Child Jesus told it to the queries of the neighbours as to how did Hazrat Marium (AS) become mother when she was not yet married. The verse clearly states that Zakat and prayer are enjoined on every Christian. There is no way to sidetrack.

Verses on Zakat are 2/43, 110, 215, 272, 3/180, 4/37, 9/34, 60, 14/31, 17/26, 29, 24/56, 25/67, 42/38, 57/7,11,18, 63/10, 73/20, 92/8-10, 17-21, 59/9. Text of some of them is:

"Establish worship, pay the poor-tax and bow your heads with those who bow (in worship)", -2/43 "Establish worship and pay the poor-due", -2/110

"Allah does not love such as proud and boastful,"-4/36 " (And) who hoard their wealth and enjoin avarice on others and hide that which Allah bestowed upon them of His Bounty,"-4/37

"Those who give alms, both men and women, and lend goodly loan, it will be doubled for them and theirs will be a rich reward,"-57/18 "And chain not your hand with your neck nor be over-generous, lest you sit down rebuked, stripped off,"-17/29

It is the state that will collect Zakat from the rich Muslims, as did the Prophet However, the Muslims may pay it by themselves in a non-Muslim state or in the Muslim state where the government has not made such law as keeping provision. Zakat is collected at the rate of 2.50 per hundred. It is calculated on the wealth in cash, in gold ornaments, crops, profit out of trading, rent collected from houses, shops etc. The Prophet (SM) appointed Hazrat Muaz bin Jabal (RA) Governor of Yemen. On the eve of his departure, the Prophet asked him, " What will you do first after taking over the assignment?" Muaz said, "I shall first call the people to embrace Islam." "If they embrace Islam, what will you do then?" inquired the Prophet "I shall ask them to establish worship,' replied the newly appointed governor. The Prophet again asked him, "If they do it, what will you do next?" Muaz said, "Then I shall call them to pay Zakat" "Well," said the Prophet, "But ensure that no force is applied to collect Zakat beyond the rate and none's property is over calculated."

Eight classes of people are entitled to Zakat They are poor, needy, collectors of Zakat, neo-Muslims, to free the captives, debtors, defenders of religion and way-farer-(Ref: 9/60).

Zakat can be paid throughout the year. However, the month of Ramadan is the likeliest month to the Muslims. Allah has given utmost importance on Zakat because in it lies the right of the poor- (Ref: 51/19). Allah has described in verses no. 9/35 and 3/180 the nature of punishment in the Hereafter. The text of verses are: That which (wealth) they (rich) hoard will be their collar (of fire) on the Day of Resurrection",-3/180.

"On that day when it will be heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads and their flanks and their backs will be branded therewith (and it will be said unto them): here it is that which ye hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what ye used to hoard,"-9/35.

However, payment of Zakat does not relieve a rich Muslim from his responsibility towards fellow brothers nor does it release the state from its eventual responsibility towards the poor. The mater could be understood from the The following verses.

"They ask thee (O Muhammad), what they shall spend. Say: That which you spend for good (must go) to parents and near kindred and orphans and the needy and the way farer,"-2/215

"Transfer not the property, to the weak in understanding, which Allah hath given to you as means of livelihood; but feed and clothe them from it and speak kind (words) to them,"-4/5

Te first one relates to the individual responsibility while the second verse reminds the state of its responsibility to the poor.