Zakat

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam.It literally means "to purify"

Zakat  is the charity all the muslim need to give for the poor and needy.

"The believers, men and women are protectors of each other. They call to the good and forbid the wrong. they establish salat, pay zakat and obey Allah and his Messenger.On them Allah will pour His mercy,for Allah is powerful and wise" Quran(9:71)

Who Must give Zakat?

1.Any Muslim 2.Who owns certain amount of wealth called Nisab,or minimum.

3.has that wealth for a year,4.has met all his or her expenses 5.is free from debt and is 6. sane 7.past the age of maturity is required to give away 21\2 % of his or her wealth in zakat.

People eligible for Zakat:

1.Poor and needy. 2.destitute new muslims. 3.people in debt. 4.orphan and widows

"Be consistent in prayers and give zakat" is often mentioned in Quran. People who do not pray and do not give zakat have no right to call themselves muslims.

The Dangers of Avoiding Zakat.

Leaving off prayers and zakat are according to Quran are qualities of a mushriks, or people who deny Allah in favor of something else, whether that something else is an idol,a false idea or even their own whims and desires.

"Serious trouble is for those who join things with Allah,who never give zakat and who even deny afterlife" Quran(41:6-7)

The fate that awaits people who fail to pay zakat is a frightening one.

Allah said:

"And there are people who hide gold and silver to keep it and not to spend it in Allah's cause.Tell them about a painful punishment. On the day of when the fire of Hell will be heated with the wealth they hid,they will be burned on their forehead with a branding iron and on their sides and back.they will be told.'this is the treasure which you hid for yourselves. Now taste the worth of what you hid'!"

What is not always recognized is that it our own poor brothers and sisters who are being helped.we owe a duty of service to them because of the fact that Allah gave us more than them to look after. If we try to avoid Zakat we are committing a crime against the needy and are denying them there rights.

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