FRIDAY SERMON: ZAKĀH — A Comprehensive Islamic System of Spiritual Purification, Social Welfare and Economic Justice
In the Light of the Qur’ān and Sunnah
Muhammad Younis Bhat (Zahid)
Islam is not merely a collection of rituals; it is a complete way of life that regulates belief, worship, character, society, and economy. Among the acts of worship, Zakāh holds a unique position because it purifies the soul, sanctifies wealth, and establishes social balance.
In the Qur’ān, Zakāh has repeatedly been mentioned alongside Ṣalāh, which clearly indicates that a person’s relationship with Allah is incomplete without prayer, and his relationship with society is incomplete without Zakāh.
Allah says:
“Establish prayer and give Zakāh and bow with those who bow.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:43)
THE POSITION OF ZAKĀH AMONG THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Islam is built upon five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishment of prayer, giving Zakāh, fasting Ramaḍān, and pilgrimage to the House.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 8, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 16)
This Hadith proves that Zakāh is not a charitable option — it is a fundamental pillar of Islam.
THE TRUE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF ZAKĀH
Linguistic meanings:
Purification
Growth
Blessing
Shar‘ī definition:
Giving a fixed portion of specified wealth to eligible recipients for the sake of Allah.
Zakāh does not decrease wealth — it purifies and increases it.
Allah says:
“Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:276)
THE WISDOM BEHIND THE OBLIGATION OF ZAKĀH
Allah says:
“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to grow.”
(Al-Tawbah 9:103)
Spiritual benefits
Purification of the heart from greed
Development of gratitude
Strengthening of faith
Moral and social benefits
Compassion for the poor
Brotherhood and unity
Elimination of class conflict
Economic benefits
Circulation of wealth
Reduction of poverty
Financial stability of the Ummah
SEVERE WARNING FOR NOT PAYING ZAKĀH
Allah says:
“Those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah — give them tidings of a painful punishment…”
(Al-Tawbah 9:34–35)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The wealth of the one who does not pay Zakāh will be made into a bald-headed serpent and placed around his neck on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1403)
UPON WHOM IS ZAKĀH OBLIGATORY? PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING
Zakāh is obligatory upon a Muslim who:
- Is sane and adult
- Owns wealth equal to or above Niṣāb
- Completes one lunar year over that wealth
In today’s context this includes:
Business owners
Salaried individuals with savings
Women possessing gold
Many people are liable but unaware.
NIṢĀB OF ZAKĀH COMPLETE EXPLANATION
Gold → 87.48 grams
Silver → 612.36 grams
Cash → Equivalent to silver Niṣāb
Business stock → Market value
This reflects Islam’s practical economic system.
MISSED ZAKĀH OF PREVIOUS YEARS — THE RULING
Repentance alone is not sufficient.
Because Zakāh is:
The right of Allah
The right of the poor
Therefore one must:
✔ Calculate past Zakāh
✔ Pay it completely
✔ Make sincere repentance
THE EIGHT CATEGORIES OF ZAKĀH RECIPIENTS MODERN APPLICATION
(Al-Tawbah 9:60)
In today’s society this includes:
Widows
Orphans
Students who cannot afford education
Debtors
Stranded travelers
Poor but self-respecting families
Zakāh is not limited to beggars.
ZAKĀH AND THE INDIAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT
If Zakāh is properly organized:
Interest-based dependency can end
Poor girls can be married
Small businesses can be funded
Educational institutions can become self-reliant
Zakāh can transform the condition of the Muslim community.
RAMADAN AND ZAKĀ THE REAL RULING
Zakāh is not restricted to Ramaḍān.
It becomes obligatory when the Zakāh year completes.
Ramaḍān is chosen only because of increased reward.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZAKĀH AND ṢADAQAH
Zakāh:
Obligatory
Fixed amount
Systematic
Ṣadaqah:
Voluntary
Flexible
Individual charity
Zakāh is an economic system — not just charity.
PUBLIC AWARENESS A PRACTICAL REFORMATIVE PROGRAM
For real revival:
- Zakāh education in every mosque
- Annual Zakāh workshops for traders
- Awareness programs for women
- Establishment of organized Zakāh committees
- Training people to calculate Zakāh
Zakāh must move from theory to implementation.
ZAKĀH — A MEANS OF DA‘WAH
When the poor receive their rightful share:
Love replaces hatred
Unity replaces division
Faith becomes stronger
Zakāh becomes a silent but powerful form of Da‘wah.
A COLLECTIVE CALL FOR REVIVAL
Today every Muslim must resolve:
I will learn Zakāh rulings
I will calculate correctly
I will pay on time
I will spread awareness
Only then will poverty decrease and the Ummah regain strength.
Most importantly:
to transform the receiver into a giver
تربیتی Dimension – Developing Givers, Not Receivers
One of the most neglected aspects today is child development.
In many institutions, we unknowingly train children to become dependent.
Early and repeated exposure to receiving charity creates:
inferiority complex
lack of motivation
dependency mindset
Whereas the Prophetic teaching is:
“The upper hand is better than the lower hand.”
Children must be trained to:
become self-reliant
honour hard work
love giving
Practical Steps
Let them give charity from their pocket money
Engage them in welfare activities
Teach dignity of labour
Share stories of self-respect
So they grow with the vision:
“We will give Zakāt — we will not live on it.”
The Real Mission
Zakāt is not to create permanent recipients.
Its mission is:
to turn today’s needy into tomorrow’s Zakāt payer.
Collective Responsibility
A proper Zakāt system can:
remove unemployment
support widows
educate the poor
build economic independence
Zakāt and a Dignified Society
Zakāt does not produce beggars.
It produces self-reliant human beings.
Our Present Failure
Today Zakāt has become:
ritualistic
unplanned
non-developmental
non-reformative
That is why poverty persists.
The Way Forward
Zakāt must be revived as:
worship
system
movement
تربیتی mission
If implemented in its true spirit, Zakāt can bring:
economic revolution
social dignity
a self-reliant Ummah
A society where:
the giving hands are many and the receiving hands are few.
CONCLUDING SUPPLICATION
O Allah, make us among those who establish prayer and give Zakāh.
O Allah, purify our wealth and our hearts.
Āmīn.
And Allah knows best
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