Why does The Quran lay Equal Stress on Namaz and Zakat?
By S.
Arshad, New Age Islam
23 June
2022
Islam
Wants Muslims to Establish Financial Stability In Society
Main
Points:
1. Zakat is one
of the five pillars of Islam.
2. Zakat was
made obligatory in previous Abrahamic religions as well.
3. Namaz and
Zakat are equally stressed in many verses.
4. Zakat is the
right of the needy, the travellers and poor relatives.
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Tauheed, (faith in one God), Namaz (five
times prayers), Saum (fasting), Zakat (alms tax) and Hajj
(pilgrimage to Kaaba in Makkah, if affordable) are the five pillars or
fundamental traits of Islam. Among them, Zakat is a specific portion of a
Muslims wealth to be spent on the needy in the society. All the other
fundamental duties are directed towards pleasing God but Zakat is directed
towards the needy of the society. Islam envisions a society where equality is
achieved in all spheres of society, social, political and economic.
In order to
achieve financial and economic equality, Islam has mandated that the Muslims
should care for the economic and financial prosperity of the members of the
society he lives in. For that it has made paying of zakat to the needy and poor
so that the gap between the rich and the poor is not so wide as to facilitate
exploitation and starvation and give rise to crimes. Exploitation and depravity
result in social restlessness and paves way for rebellion and social and moral
crimes.
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This was
the objective behind zakat on which the Quran stresses so much that in many of
its verses, it mentions zakat together with Namaz. The equal stress on zakat and
Namaz demonstrates Quran's concern for the financial wellbeing of the
individuals of the society. Harmony, peace and development cannot happen in a
society where a section gets full meal and another section starves. The Quran
makes it clear that the wealthy have been made the guardians of the poor, the
needy and the downtrodden and so they need to take care of them. In some
verses, the Quran tells the rich and the resourceful that the needy and the
poor have a legitimate share in their wealth. Therefore, in many verses, the
Quran enjoins the Muslims to establish Namaz and pay zakat in the same vein.
"And
establish Namaz and pay zakat and bow in Namaz with those who bow."(Al Baqarah: 43)
The Quran
assures the believers that what they spend on the poor and the needy will not
go in vain but they will get their rewards in the Hereafter. God keeps account
of every penny spent on his slaves.
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In surah
Bani Israil, the Muslims are enjoined to give charity to those relatives who
are needy, the destitute and the traveller. (Verse no.8)
"And
establish Namaz and pay zakat and whatever you will send in advance you will
find it as a reward before Allah, indeed Allah sees what you do."(Baqarah: 110)
"Those
who believed and did good deeds and established Namaz and paid zakat for them
their reward is with their Lord, they will neither fear nor grieve."(Al Baqarah: 277)
In the
Makkan society, zakat was not practiced though it had been enjoined on the
earlier religious communities as well. The business of Riba was in
vogue. Islam made zakat mandatory and it contributed to the prosperity of the
Muslim society. However, after the prophet pbuh, some tribes around Madina said
they would renounce Islam if they were forced to pay zakat. It had created a
crisis but the first caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr dealt wih the situation with an
iron hand.
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Also
Read: The
Zakat Today Grossly Underplays the Qur’anic Emphasis on Zakat and Wealth
Sharing
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The Quran
says that the believers, men and women, are like friends to each other. A man
always cares for the wellbeing of his friends. He does not want his friends to
fall upon evil ways and so forbids him from doing evil deeds. Similarly, he
always guides him on to the right path. He likes for his friends what he likes
for himself. In the same way, he also takes care of the financial wellbeing of
his friends. He provides financial support to his friends to stand up on their
own feet. This is the role believers’ play in the society. The Quran says:
"And believing men and believing women are
friends of each other, they preach good and forbid evil and establish Namaz and
pay zakat and obey Allah and His prophet they are those on whom God will shower
mercy, indeed Allah is exalted in might and Wise." (Tawbah: 71)
"So establish Namaz and pay zakat and hold
on to Allah steadfastly, He is your Lord and the best Lord and the best
supporter."(Al
Hajj: 78)
"And establish Namaz and pay zakat and
obey the messenger so that you deserve mercy."(Nur::6)
"Guidance and good tidings is for the
believers who establish Namaz and pay zakat and believe in the Hereafter."(Al Naml:2-3)
"Those who establish prayer, pay alms tax
and have sure faith in the Hereafter."(Luqman: 4)
"(O wives of the messenger!) And establish
Namaz and pay zakat and obey Allah and His messenger."(Al Ahzab: 33)
"You will not achieve success in righteousness until you spend a
portion from your most precious possession and Allah knows what you
spend."(Al-e-Imran: 92)
Iman is not
complete until a Muslim pays zakat along with offering five times prayers.
Since zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, a Muslim cannot be a true
believer until he pays zakat.
"And those who establish Namaz and spend
from what provisions We have provided them are true believers."(Al Anfal: 3-4)
Zakat is
related to Huquq Ul Ibad (rights of the individuals of the society) and
in Islam, the believers cannot achieve salvation if they only fulfil their duty
towards God. Their piety and their prayers have no meaning if they do not
fulfil their duty towards their neighbours and relatives, and other creations
of God. The paying of zakat makes the society of the believers a well knit
family in which every member takes care of others and provides help and support
in need and in crisis. They preach one another piety, righteousness and moral values
and prevent them from the evil path.
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Also
Read: Muslim Zakat: Reigniting the Fire of Camaraderie
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Since zakat
has been made a fundamental pillar of Islam and a collective duty of the rich
and well to do, it needs to create an efficient system for channelising the
zakat money for a judicious distribution of the zakat money. In many Muslim
minority societies, the zakat money is distributed individually and so does not
contribute to the financial prosperity of the lower classes. If collected and channelised
in an organised manner the zakat money can bring about financial and economic
revolution in the society.
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S.
Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
Hindi
Article: Islam Stresses both on Namaz and Zakat इस्लाम में नमाज़ के साथ-साथ ज़कात पर भी ज़ोर दिया जाता है
Urdu Article: Islam Stresses both on Namaz and Zakat اسلام میں نماز کے
ساتھ ساتھ زکوۃ پر بھی بہت زور دیاگیاہے
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/quran-namaz-zakattauheed-saum/d/127301
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