Uncover the Benefits of Paying Zakat & Its Impact

System of Islam

Benefit of Paying Zakat and Harms of not Paying

Mawlana Farman Ali Attari

Benefits of giving zakat

Payment of zakat brings economic, social, moral and religious benefits. Consider out some of its benefits below:

(1) Completion of Faith:

The most valuable asset for a Muslim is his faith. Many reasons and deeds for the completion of faith have been taught in Aḥādīth, and payment of zakat is one of these reasons. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said, “The fulfillment of your Islam is that you pay zakat on your wealth.”^[1] He also stated, "Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger must pay zakat on his wealth."^[2]

(2) Cause of the descent of mercy:

If a wise person is asked whether he would like to receive the pious deeds of all creation, or that a special mercy of Allah Almighty descend upon him, he will surely prefer a special mercy of Allah Almighty. Indeed, how fortunate are those who make themselves entitled to the mercy of Allah by paying zakat every year. It is stated in Surah Al-Araf verse no. 156: and My mercy encompasses everything, so soon I shall decree My mercy for those who are righteous and give zakat,[3]

(3) Means of success:

One of the blessings of the one who gives zakat is that one of the signs of success of the believers mentioned in in the noble Quran is the giving of zakat. In Juzˈ 18, Surah al-Muˈminūn, verse 4, it is stated: those who pay the zakat.[4]

(4) Means of pleasing the heart of a Muslim:

Paying zakat fulfils the need of the poor Muslim and gives joy to his heart. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said: "In the court of Allah, the best thing action after fulfilment of the obligations is to please a Muslim."^[5] He also stated: "The best of actions is to please a believer, whether by clothing him or fulfilling his need."^[6]

(5) Establishment of brotherhood:

Generally, rich people look at the poor with disdain and contempt on the basis of wealth and wealth. However, in the case of giving Zakat, an atmosphere of love and unity is established between them and strong brotherhood is maintained between them, which promotes Islamic society. If we remain united and loving, we can deal with the biggest challenges. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: "All Muslims are like an edifice, one part of which gives strength to the other."^[7] He further stated: "The similitude of friendship and mercy and compassion among the Muslims is like the body, when a part of the body is in pain, the entire body shares in fever and sleeplessness."^[8]

(6) Receiving supplications

One of the benefits of zakat is that the prayers of the poor, and needy are received. It is apparent that when we help someone in trouble, his heart will be filled with joy and he will also supplicate for us from his heart and the prayers of such people are accepted. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: "Allah's help and sustenance reach you because of the [blessings of the] weak."^[9] The meaning of this Hadith is that with the blessing of the presence of weak people among you, you are given tangible and spiritual sustenance and you are helped against your outward and internal enemies.^[10]

Worldly and other-worldly harms of not paying zakat:

If a person is lazy in acting upon the ruling  of Islamic law and does not pay zakat on his wealth, he may face many harms in this world and in the Hereafter. Some of the disadvantages of not paying zakat are:

(1) By not paying zakat, the person is deprived of the virtues and benefits that are obtained in the form of paying zakat.

(2) By avoiding the divine command, the one who does not pay zakat is guilty of disobeying Allah Almighty and his Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

(3) By not paying zakat, a person is deprived of the blessings of virtues such as generosity, benevolence to Muslims, etc., due to becoming embroiled in bad traits such as love of wealth and miserliness.

4) The wealth upon which zakat is not paid is destroyed due to burning, theft, wind, earthquake, flood or any calamity. Big businessmen and factory owners suddenly go bankrupt and are ruined under debt. This destruction may have been caused by not paying zakat on wealth. However, we should not have bad opinion about someone that their business was destroyed due to not paying zakat.

(5) The misfortune of not giving zakat can cause individual loss as well as collective loss. Today, we are suffering from various types of collective problems, such as inflation, unemployment, disease, heat intensity, water shortage, etc. It is possible that all of this is the consequence of not paying zakat, as the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Whichever people do not pay zakat, Allah will plunge them into famine.”^[11] On another occasion, he said: "When people stop paying zakat, Allah Almighty withholds the rain, and if there were no cattle on earth, not a drop of water would fall from the sky."^[12]

6)The one who does not give zakat not only has to face difficulties in the world, but even after death, he will have to suffer recompense in the form of painful punishment. The reviver of Islam, the Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, describing the scene of the punishments mentioned in the noble Quran and Hadith for those who do not pay zakat, says:

In summary, on the Day of Resurrection, the gold and silver upon which zakat is not given, will be heated  in the Fire of Hell and their foreheads, sides and backs will be branded with it. Hot rocks of Hell will be placed on their breasts, which will break their chests and come out between their shoulders. These rocks will also be put on their shoulder bones, and they will break their bones and come out of their chests, break their backs and come out of their sides, break their necks and come out of their foreheads. On the Day of Resurrection, the wealth upon which zakat is not given will appear as an old bloodthirsty serpent which will run after the person. He will stop it with his hand, and it will chew his hand. Then it will wrap itself around his neck like a noose. It will take his mouth in its mouth and chew it, “I am your wealth, I am your treasure.” Then it will chew his entire body. والعِیاذ باللہ ربُّ العٰلمین.^[13]

Note: Amongst the general public, people are of the view that zakat should be paid in the month of Ramadan because just as the reward of other good deeds increases in this month, the reward of spending money in the way of Allah Almighty also increases. There is no doubt about this, but it is not necessary that zakat is to be paid only in the month of Ramadan. In facts, the person on whom zakat is obligatory should know the Islamic month and date upon which zakat is obligatory on him. If the person does not know, then remember, the person upon whom zakat is obligatory must also necessarily learn the necessary rules related to zakat. If he does not learn them, he will be sinful. Let it not be that we end up disobeying Allah and His Messenger          صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by delaying the payment of zakat while waiting for more reward. May Allah grant us the felicity of acting upon this command and benefit us by its blessings.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ