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Charity towards man, in the widest sense
of the word, is the cornerstone of the Islamic society and a constant theme in
the Quranic teachings. There are two kinds of charities in Islam: the obligatory
and the voluntary. The obligatory charity is called Zakat while the voluntary
charity is called Sadaqah.
The concept of Zakat was not totally new to Islam; similar alms giving had been
enjoined upon the Israelites and the Christians as well. In Islam, the Zakat
takes the form of a prescribed contribution based on a person's wealth and
income. The rate of contribution varies with the kind of property owned but, on
an average, works out to two and one half percent of the total value. The
proceeds of Zakat are supposed to be devoted towards:
- relieving poverty and distress
- helping those in
debt
- providing comfort
and convenience for travelers
- providing
stipends for scholarships
- providing ransom
for prisoners of war
- propagation of
Islam
- meeting the
expenses for the collection of Zakat
- other things
beneficial for the society
Zakat, therefore, is a duty enjoined by God in the interest of the society as a
whole. While on one hand these charitable contributions provide for the needs of
the society, on the other hand the act of giving in the name of God purifies the
heart of the contributor from selfishness and greed |
