ZAKAT
The Fallen Pillar of Islam
by Abdalhaqq Bewley
Establish the prayer and pay zakat and obey the Messenger
so that perhaps you may gain mercy.
Qur'an 24:54
(and 28 other similar references)
The men and women of the believers are friends of one another.
They command the right and forbid the wrong,
and establish the prayer and pay zakat,
and obey Allah and His Messenger.
They are the people Allah will have mercy on.
Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
Qur'an 9:72
Take sadaqa from their wealth
to purify and cleanse them
Qur'an 9:104
Collected sadaqa is for:
the poor,
the destitute,
those who collect it,
reconciling people's hearts,
freeing slaves,
those in debt,
spending in the way of Allah,
and travellers.
An obligation imposed by Allah.
Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Qur'an 9:60
"Islam is based on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, paying the zakat, the Hajj and the fast of Ramadan."
Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said, 'Call on them to testify that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in respect of that, then tell them that Allah has made the five prayers obligatory for them every night and day. If they obey you in respect of that, inform them that Allah has made it obligatory for zakat to be taken from their property and given to their poor.'"
Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and establish the prayer and pay the zakat. If they do that, their lives and property are protected from me except for the right of Islam; and their reckoning is up to Allah."