The Virtues of Zakat in Islam: Why It Matters for Every Muslim

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The Virtues of Zakat in Islam ~ Hello readers! In several previous articles, I have explained important aspects of Zakat, such as its definition, Zakat for gold, silver, treasures, Zakat al-Fitr, and more. As Muslims, it is crucial for us to understand the importance of Zakat. Why? Because Zakat is one of the obligatory acts of worship for Muslims who meet specific conditions.

In this article, I will explain the virtues of Zakat in Islam.

Virtues of Zakat

The virtues of Zakat in Islam are as follows:

The Nature of the Heaven-Dwellers

Paying Zakat is a characteristic of those who will enter Paradise. People who pay Zakat will receive immense rewards from Allah. As Muslims, we know that one way Allah rewards a person is by granting them entry into Paradise.

This is explained in the Quran:

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ () آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ () كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ () وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ () وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ

Surely those who are righteous are in gardens (jannah) and in the springs, taking what is given to them by their Rabb. Indeed, they were in the world before that people who did good. They sleep very little at night, and at the end of the night they ask forgiveness (of Allah). And in their property, there is a right for the poor who ask and the poor who do not receive a share." (Adz-Dzariyat: 15-19)

Obtaining Allah's Grace

Paying Zakat is a ritual connected not just to physical actions like prayer and fasting, but also to sincerity and wealth. It is an act of devotion that only those with true faith can perform, and Allah will bestow mercy upon those who give Zakat.

This is reflected in the Quran:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

And those who believe, male and female, some of them (are) helping others. They command what is good, forbid what is evil, establish prayers, pay zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. They will be given mercy by Allah. (At-Taubah: 71)

Fertilizing Zakat

Paying Zakat causes the wealth of a person to grow. Contrary to what one might think, paying Zakat does not diminish wealth, but rather increases it, as Allah blesses the wealth of those who give.

This concept is confirmed in the Quran:

يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ

"Allah destroys usury and fertilizes alms (Zakat)." (Al-Baqarah: 276)

Shade from the Heat of the Last Day

Those who pay Zakat will receive protection and shade from the intense heat of the Day of Judgment. This is explained in a Hadith:

قالَ رسُولُ اللَّه صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللَّهُ في ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لا ظِلَّ إلَّا ظِلُّهُ: إِمامٌ عادِلٌ، وشابٌّ نَشَأَ فِي عِبَادَةِ اللَّه تَعالى، وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ فِيْ المَسَاجِدِ، وَرَجُلانِ تَحَابَّا في اللَّه: اجتَمَعا عَلَيهِ، وتَفَرَّقَا عَلَيهِ، وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ، وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي أَخافُ اللَّه، وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فأَخْفَاها، حتَّى لا تَعْلَمَ شِمالُهُ مَا تُنْفِقُ يَمِينهُ، وَرَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللَّه خالِيًا فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The seven groups that will be shaded by Allah under His shade on a day when there will be no shade except His: a just ruler, a young person who grows up in the worship of Allah, someone whose heart is attached to mosques, two people who love each other for the sake of Allah, a man invited by a woman of rank and beauty to commit sin, but he says, 'I fear Allah,' someone who gives charity in secret, so that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, and someone who remembers Allah in solitude and tears up."

Opening the Doors of Sustenance

Paying Zakat leads to the opening of sustenance and blessings. In other words, paying Zakat will not reduce one's wealth.

This is confirmed in the Hadith:

قالَ رسُولُ اللَّه صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ

"Alms (Zakat) will not reduce wealth."

Because Kindness Declines

Zakat is a means of blessings, and withholding Zakat prevents various types of goodness from flowing.

… وَمَا مَنَعُوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَّا مَنَعُوْا القَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَلَوْلَا الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوْا …

"No people withhold the Zakat of their wealth except that they are deprived of rain from the sky. If it were not for their livestock, they would not be blessed with rain…"

Eliminating Mistakes

Zakat has the power to erase sins and mistakes. As Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

قَالَ رسُولُ اللَّه صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ

"Charity can extinguish sins just as water extinguishes fire."

8. Zakat as a Protector on the Day of Judgment

Zakat will act as a protector on the Day of Judgment:

قَالَ رسُولُ اللَّه صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : كُلُّ امْرِئٍ فِى ظِلِّ صَدَقَتِهِ حَتَّى يُفْصَلَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

"Each person will be in the shade of his charity until the judgment is made among the people."

Preventing Allah's Wrath and Bad Death

Zakat can prevent Allah’s anger and protect from a bad death (su'ul khatimah):

قَالَ رسُولُ اللَّه صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَتُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ وَتَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السُّوءِ

"Indeed, charity can extinguish the wrath of the Lord and prevent a bad death."

Helping the Poor from Poverty

We can find an explanation of this in the hadith below:

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمِا : أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعَثَ مُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ – فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيْثَ – وَفِيْهِ : إِنَّ اللهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً فِيْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ وَتُرَدُّ إِلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhuma), it is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent Mu'adh to Yemen, and he mentioned the following hadith: "Indeed, Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay zakat from their wealth. Zakat is taken from the rich and given to the poor." This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Evidence of the Perpetrator's Faith

In the book Syarh Al-Mumti, it is explained that paying zakat serves as proof of the sincerity of a person's faith. Since wealth is dearly loved by the soul, one will only sacrifice what is beloved in hopes of gaining something even more beloved. This shows the honesty of the individual in seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Improving Morals

Ibn Qayyim, in his book Zadul Ma'ad, explains that zakat purifies the morals of the person who gives it and expands the heart. Those who pay zakat belong to the group of generous people and are excluded from the class of miserly individuals. A person who pays zakat willingly and generously will feel peace and spaciousness in their soul.

Safeguarding the Wealth of the Wicked

Zakat also safeguards wealth and protects it from the attention of the needy, as well as from the interference of unscrupulous individuals.

Pillars of Muslim Communities

As stated in the book Al-Fiqih Al-Islami wa Adilatuhu, zakat is a means of a Muslim fulfilling their social obligations to support the vital functions of the Islamic community. This includes giving zakat when needed, preparing troops, resisting enemy attacks, and helping the needy to make ends meet.

A Form of Gratitude for Wealth

Al-Qurafi, in his book Adz-Dzakhirah, explains that zakat is a way of expressing gratitude for the blessings of our possessions.

The Benefits of Paying Zakat

1. Paying zakat is one way to protect property from the potential envy of the poor and the weak.
2. Paying zakat strengthens social bonds between individuals.
3. Paying zakat helps poor people and those in need of material assistance.
4. Paying zakat contributes to the development of the economy within society.
5. Paying zakat is a form of gratitude to Allah for the wealth He has granted to those who give zakat, among many other benefits.

Conclusion

Dear readers, that concludes a brief explanation of the nineteen virtues of zakat in Islam. Do you understand? If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I think that’s all for this article. I hope it is useful. Amen!

See you again in the next article!