Zakat holds a high and prominent position in Islam, being one of its fundamental pillars and major religious observances. This is evident in the famous Hadith of Ibn 'Umar:
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"Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying Zakat, performing pilgrimage to the House, and fasting Ramadan."
Zakat is mentioned thirty times in the Holy Quran, twenty-seven of which are paired with prayer. This emphasizes its equivalent importance to prayer and ensures people do not neglect or undervalue it. Allah Almighty says:
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﴿And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincerely obedient to Him, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give Zakat. And that is the correct religion.﴾ [Al-Bayyinah: 5]
Zakat constitutes a major economic pillar of Islam. It forms an inexhaustible financial resource throughout the years and a successful means of achieving social solidarity and obligatory mutual support among its members. It is also one of Allah's mercies bestowed upon His believing servants.
A society that fulfills Zakat is a society blessed by Allah Almighty and encompassed by His mercy. Allah Almighty says:
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﴿The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.﴾ [At-Tawbah: 71]
Due to its great importance, Allah has promised those who pay Zakat great success and reward in this world and the hereafter, as mentioned in Surah Al-Mu'minun and Al-Dhariyat. He has also warned those who withhold it with the severest of punishments, as stated in Surah At-Tawbah.
Zakat is a form of worship ordained by Allah, which has significant social effects, including compassion, mercy, love, affection, brotherhood, cooperation, and harmony among members of the Muslim community.
When a Muslim voluntarily pays Zakat from their wealth, they feel that they are contributing to building society and working to bring happiness to its members because they have helped ensure its stability. They recognize that society benefits from their existence.
Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked:
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"O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is most beloved to Allah? And what deeds are most beloved to Allah?"
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied:
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"The most beloved of people to Allah Almighty are those who are most beneficial to people. And the most beloved deeds to Allah Almighty are a joy that you bring to a Muslim, or relieving him of a distress, or paying off a debt on his behalf, or warding off hunger from him."
Through Zakat, Allah has addressed many aspects of society. The orphan who has no family or wealth, the poor person who cannot find enough for themselves or their family, and the debtor burdened by debts – all of them await charity from the wealth Allah has bestowed upon the rich. Allah Almighty says:
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﴿And in their properties was a share for the beggar and the deprived.﴾ [Al-Dhariyat: 19]