Giving charity or Zakat was ordained on Muslims with its details in the second year of Hijra, but the concept of Zakat itself was introduced during Makkah time. Allah (SW) said in Surat (Al An’am; The Cattle), a Makki Surah: {And give (to the poor) what is rightfully due on the day of its harvest} 6:141.
Definition
Charity (Zakat) in Arabic language means “growth”[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][1] and it also means “purity, righteousness and blessings.”[2] In the Islamic definition, it is: “Obligated right in specified money for a specified group at a specified time.”[3]
Importance of Zakat
Charity (Zakat) is one of the main five pillars of Islam.[4] Allah (SW) ordered Muslims to give charity (Zakat) in the Holy Quran: {However, (duly) establish the Prayer, and give the Zakat-Charity} 2:110. Since Allah (SW) is the true owner of wealth and all that exists, He (SW) decides where and how the money is to be distributed and to whom.
How Does Zakat work?
The details of giving Zakat could be studied in the books of (Fiqh) Islamic Jurisprudence but I will only give some basic highlights in simple terms of how Zakat works:
The conditions for Zakat are the following:
[1] Lisan Al Arab by Ibn Manthoor
[2] Al Mujam Al Waseet
[3] Kasf Al Qina’ a’n Matn El Iqna’ by Mansur Al Bahooti
[4] Refer to Hadith by Bukhari: “Islam is built on five…” 4514
By Sh. Kifah Mustapha[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]