Zakat is the purification of
properties. It is the one pillar of Islam and the second pillar of Islam because
Allah placed Zakat next to Prayer. It is the most important part of the wealth
and Muslims must pay this Zakat annually to help of poor people of the society.
It is compulsory on a free Muslim whether major or minor, sans or insane.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“Keep up prayer and pay Zakat”.
The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi Wa sallam) said:
“Islam is founded on five pillars of Islam-
1-There is no deity but Allah and Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His
servant and messenger, and to bear witness to this formula,
2-To keep up prayers,
3-To pay Zakat
4-To fast and
5-To make Pilgrimage”.
The punishment of those who do not pay Zakat has been mentioned in this ayat of
Quran.
“Give good news of grievous punishment to those who hoard up gold and silver and
do not spend in the way of Allah”.
To spend means here to pay the compulsory duty of Zakat.
Hazrat Abu Zarr said while passing by that way said:
Give good news to those who heard up wealth that such firm impressions will be
put on their backs which will come out after piercing their sides, that such
firm impressions will be put on their forehead that it will come out of their
back of the head.
Abu Zarr said:
I came to the prophet who was then seated in the shade of the Ka’bah. He said to
me: By the Lord of Ka’bah, they are unbond. I asked: Who are they? He said:
Those who increase their wealth and not those who spend in this way, in their
fronts, in their backs, in their right sides, in their left sides, but their
numbers are few. Those who have got camels, cattle, sheep and goats and who do
not pay Zakat will meet with these animals in huge forms on the Resurrection
Day. They will attack them with their horns and will tread upon them by their
hoofs. If one party go away, another party will come. This will continue till
the people are brought for Judgment.
This punishment has been described by Sahi Bakhari and Muslims. So the details
of Zakat should be learnt.
Zakat of Gold and Silver:
There is very harshly punish for those who do not pay Zakat in theirs life.
Zakat of Silver is one fortieth of pure silver if not less than 52 ½ tolas and
Gold not less than 7 ½ tolas. This is the Nisab fixed for which Zakat is due.
This proportion will continue in case of the value of Gold and Silver or of
things made of them if they are in possession for full one year. For ornaments
of Gold and Silver which are for use, there is no Zakat according to Imam Abu
Hanifa. It is due on money on loan after the loan is paid.