In establishment of human society, the economic system has basic significance. Therefore, Allah has granted the best modes of economic system such as social system. If these codes are followed, then economic justice prevails and by shunning them, injustice is produced which becomes the source of many evils.
i. Literal meaning of Zakah:
Literal meaning of Zakah are to purify, to flourish, to grow.
ii. Explanatory meaning of Zakah:
In Islamic terms, Zakah means that financial worship which is obligatory on every economically entitled Muslim with the particular amount once in a year.
iii. Importance of Zakah in light of Quran:
In the economic system given by Allah, zakah has a remarkable significance. The importance of Zakah may be known by the fact that in Quran, mostly with commandment of offering salah, the order of giving Zakah is given too. If prayer is a physical worship then Zakah is a financial virtue. Due to this significance of Zakah system, Hazrat Abu Baker had Jihad against Zakah refuters even they were kalimah reciters and said that I would not let any degradation in the implementation of these two obligatory acts.
When a person spends a blessing like wealth according to the commandments of Allah, then Allah considering and valuing his wealth (spent in His way) takes as a loan upon Him and promises that he would return this loan of His slave by increasing it in reward many a times.
Allah says in Quran:
إنْ تُقْرِضُوا اللهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضْعِفُهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ شَكُورُ حَلِيمُ ( استان:17)
Translation: If you loan Allah a goodly Ioan, He will multiply it for you forgive you. And Allah is most Appreciative and Forbearing.
واقِيمُوا الصَّلوةَ وَأتُوا الزَّكوة (سورة البقره 43)
Translation: And establish prayer and give Zakah.
يمحق الله الربوا ويربي الصدقت (سورة البقره (278)
Translation: Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities.
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكوة فاعِلُونَ (سورة المؤمنون 4)
Translation: And they who are observant of Zakah.
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةٌ تُظهِرُهُمْ وَتُزكيهم بها ( سورة الحرب 103)
التوبه
Translation: Take, (O Muhammad), from their wealth charity by which you purify them and cause them increase
iv. Warning for non-payers of Zakah:
In Quranic verse for non-payers of Zakah, Allah says:
الله فَبَرهُم بِعَد اب اليم وَالذِينَ يَكْترُونَ الذَهَبَ وَالْفِضَةَ وَلَايُنفِقُونَهَا في سَبِيلِ الله قبة
(سورة التوبة : 34)
Translation: O you who have believe, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert (them) from the way of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah give them tidings of a painful punishment.
According to these verses, paying Zakah is the source of getting blessings in Akhirah and getting rid of the punishment of hellfire. There can be no other blessing greater than this one.
