The basic tenets of Islam’s five Pillars are not arbitrary religious rights individually Islamic tradition individually collects. Believers accept that they are a perfect. Believers accept they are holistic interlocking of spiritual practices divinely designed to engage human beings; in all that they are, all that they should be and can once again be. Sort of sounds like an Army commercial, doesn’t it?
Zakat
Zakat is giving tithe. Well, actually it is giving but not a one-tenth part of something. The rate of the tithe is permanently fixed for all Muslims. The categories of the poor who may receive it are also permanently fixed. It consists of giving one fortieth (2.5%) of one’s wealth annually to the poor.
More may be given as charity. The Zakat serves as a social function. It also serves to detach Muslims from the world. In detaching Muslims from the world it brings spiritual growth and blessings. It is considered an act of compassion and sentiment towards others for the sake of Allah.
The principle
One of the principles of Islam is that all things belong to Allah. Humans hold wealth in trust for Allah. The word zakat means purification and growth. Muslim possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those Muslims in need. The analogy is to the pruning of plants. The cutting back balances and encourages new growth of Islam.
Mechanics
Zakat is levied on five categories of property: food grains; fruit; livestock; gold and silver; and movable goods. It is payable each year after one year’s possession. In the contemporary Muslim world zakat is an individual decision. That is true, except in countries where there is strict Sharia enforcement. Scholars collect and disburse the zakat among the Twelver Shīʿites. They act as representatives for the Hidden Imam.
What happens to the money?
Distribution of Zakat goes to 8 categories of people:
- Fakir who are Muslims having neither material possessions nor means of livelihood.
- Miskin who are those Muslims having insufficient means of livelihood to meet basic needs.
- Amil who are those Muslims collecting the zakat.
- Muallaf who are converts to Islam.
- Riqab who are those Muslims who want to free himself from bondage or the shackles of slavery.
- Gharmin who are those Muslims who are in debt (must borrow to meet basic, halal expenditure).
- Fisabillillah who are those Muslims who fight for the cause of Allah.
- Ibnus Sabil are Muslims unable to complete their journey.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss the Hajj, the pilgrimage. Islam is about submission not peace. It is about commitment of the body, soul and spirit. Each of the tenets has a place in the dogma of the religion and in construction of the rituals. Remember the basic tenets of Islam’s five Pillars are not arbitrary religious rights which Islamic tradition individually collects. They form a more complete whole.