Discuss the benefits of Zakāt and Ṣadaqah to the Community.
Explanation
- It purifies your wealth as Allah says in the Qur’an:
- It keeps one away from sin and saves the giver from the moral ill arising from the love and greed of wealth.
- Through Zakat, the poor are cared for; these include widows, orphans, the disabled, the needy and the destitute.
ZAKAT IS THE RIGHT OF THE POOR
Zakat is not considered a favor that is given to the poor by the rich. It is the right of the poor on the wealth of the rich. Allah says:
Zakat, therefore, is unlike charity that is given to the needy voluntarily. Withholding Zakat is considered depriving the poor of their due share. Thus one who pays Zakat actually “purifies” his wealth by separating from it the portion that belongs to the poor.
DO I HAVE TO GIVE ZAKAT?
Zakat is obligatory on one who has wealth that reaches or exceeds a certain level called the Nisab. Unlike tax, however, Zakat is an act of worship for which one receives reward from Allah. Ignoring to pay Zakat, on the other hand, is a major sin. According to the scholars, anyone who does not pay Zakat by denying its obligation is considered a disbeliever.
HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO GIVE?
If you are in possession of money, gold, silver, stocks or shares that amount to more than the value of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of Silver called nisab (at current market rates) then you are obliged to pay Zakat.
If you own this amount for a full lunar year then your Zakat is due at the last day of the 12 lunar months.
Sadaqah
Sadaqah, and Sadaqah Jariyah, are voluntary selfless acts carried out by anyone for the benefit of everyone.
The donations you make with the intention of Sadaqah give the most vulnerable of our society – orphans and widows – purpose and reason to live. To date, the Sadaqah contributions we have received have gone towards supporting thousands of families with monthly food supplies and providing thousands of our orphans with a sponsor. Your generosity in giving Sadaqah has even enabled our teams to help unsponsored children and their families by mending their homes, ensuring communities have access to necessary medical services including sight-restoration surgeries to enable independent living.
Sadaqah is a non-compulsory gesture that is made with pure intentions and can be made at any time of the year, regardless of special holidays or seasons. This applies to both Sadaqah and Sadaqah Jariyah. The important part of making a contribution is to give from the heart with no expectation for anything in return.