The first thing to note is that Allaah does not prescribe anything that is not for the best reasons and does not achieve the best interests. Allaah is the All-Knowing, Who encompasses all things by His knowledge, and He is the All-Wise Who does not prescribe anything except for a reason. Still, with regard to the specific reasons behind the prescription of zakaah, the scholars have mentioned many reasons for it, including the following:
# 1. Perfection of One's Islaam This is because zakaah is one of the pillars of Islam. If a person fulfils it, his Islam is complete. Undoubtedly this is an important aim for every Muslim, and every believing Muslim will strive to perfect his faith.
#2. Sincerity of Faith Zakaah is indicative of a persons sincerity of faith, because wealth is dear to people, and something that is loved will not be given up except for something that is equally or more loved, or rather for something that is more loved. Hence it is called sadaqah, because it is indicative of the sincerity (sidq) of a persons desire to please Allaah.
#3. Cleanses the character of the Giver In that way, he is saved from being a miser and is included among the generous, because if he accustoms himself to giving, whether it is giving knowledge or giving wealth or using his position to help others, that giving will become a characteristic for him and will be part of his nature, until he gets upset if there is a day when he does not give. Like the hunter who gets used to hunting, if one day he does not hunt, you will find him feeling anxious.
Similarly the one who has gotten used to, being generous will feel anxious if he does not give some of his wealth or use his position to help others one day. #4. It gladdens the heart If a person gives something, especially wealth, he feels a sense of joy. This is something that is tried and tested, but it is subject to the condition that he gives gladly and willingly, not grudgingly.
Ibn al-Qayyim (RAH) said in Zaad al-Maaad that giving and generosity are means of gladdening the heart, but no one benefits from that except the one who gives gladly and willingly, and gives the wealth from his heart before he gives it from his hand. As for the one who gives from his hand but his heart is still attached to the wealth, his heart, he will never benefit from that giving.
#5. In the ranks of the true believers & A means to Paradise The Rasul (sallaallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself (of good)." (Ahmad)
Just as you love to be given money with which you can meet your needs, you should also love to give it to your brother, thereby you will perfect your faith. Zakaah is also one of the means of entering Paradise, because Paradise is for the one who "speaks good words, spreads (the greeting of) salaam, feeds the hungry and prays at night when the people are asleep." And all of us are striving to enter Paradise.
(To be Continued)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited