Book of Zakat
Linguistically, zakat denotes growth and purification—an increase coupled with cleansing.
In the Sacred Law it is a mandatory right due on specific kinds of wealth—namely grazing livestock, agricultural produce, the two precious metals (gold and silver), and trade goods—paid to a particular group, the eight categories named in Sūrah al-Tawbah, at a particular time, the completion of one lunar year.
It is termed zakat because the linguistic meaning is realised in it: it causes wealth to grow, purifies it, and purifies its owner.
Zakat is one of the pillars of the religion. Its obligation is established by the Qur’an, the Sunnah, consensus, and sound analogy also affirms it.
Its obligation has conditions. The most important is Islam; it is not required of a non-Muslim, though he will still be addressed concerning it in the Hereafter and punished for neglecting it.
The second condition is possession of the niṣāb (the minimum taxable amount); its measure will be detailed, if Allah wills.
The third is the passing of a full year, except for what comes out of the earth, for its “year” is its harvest, as will be explained.
Zakat stands among the beauties of Islam, a religion that promotes equality, mercy, mutual sympathy and cooperation, cuts off every evil that threatens virtue, security and prosperity, and provides all that is needed for success in this world and the next.
Allah has made it a purification for its payer from the fault of miserliness, a material and spiritual increase rescuing wealth from deficiency, an equaliser among His servants in the riches He has granted them, and a means by which the wealthy aid their poor brothers who lack the money to sustain themselves and lack the strength to earn it. It realises peace—for peace cannot stand while a hungry class gazes at wealth from which it is barred—reconciles hearts, and unites the community when the affluent give the needy their rightful share. Through this noble obligation it becomes clear
that Islam is the religion of social justice: it guarantees the incapacitated poor a livelihood and sustenance, while granting the rich the freedom to own property in return for their effort and labour.
This is the straight path by which the universe is built up and both religious and worldly affairs are set right.
Neither an extreme communism nor a tight-fisted capitalism. And Allah has warned against withholding