|
Charity
is optional and taxes can be used by the state for any purpose,
but Zakah has to be spent under fixed headings like helping the
poor, the needy, payment of salaries to its collectors, to free
captives and debtors, for travellers in need, to win over
hearts and for the cause of Allah (9:60). Zakah is an act for
Ibadah. Ibadah is an Arabic term which means worship and
obedience. It includes all activities of
life.
Zakah
provides us with the opportunity of sharing our excess wealth
with those less fortunate than ourselves. In fact we and our
wealth belong to Allah. He is the real owner and we are merely
the trustees of his wealth. We do our duty as trustees if we
pay Zakah as an obligatory part of Ibadah.
We
learned earlier that Islam is a complete code of life which
includes among other things, the economic side of life. Islam
has its own economic principles. Zakah is one of the basic
principles of the Islamic economy based on social welfare and
fair distribution of wealth. In addition to the compulsory
payment of Zakah. Muslims are encouraged in the Qur'an to make
voluntary contributions to help the poor and needy, and for
other social welfare purposes. This voluntary contribution is
called Sadaqah (Charity). Through the payment of Zakah, the
rich share their wealth with the poor and thus the process of
concentration of wealth is checked and fair distribution
ensured.
Sawm (Fasting) - is the fourth pillar of
Islam. Is another act of Ibadah. All adult Muslims should fast
from dawn to sunset everyday of Ramadan, the ninth month of the
Islamic calendar. This means abstaining from eating, drinking,
smoking and conjugal relations during the hours of fasting.
Travellers and sick can defer fasting during Ramadan and make
up for it later.
It is a
self training to make oneself inwardly stronger and closer to
Allah. It creates a realisation inside a person, a power that
stops him disobeying his Allah even when nobody is watching.
During a fast one refrains from things lawful to himself or
herself; therefore, one can certainly refrain from those things
unlawful to man. Fasting teaches us to control the love of
comfort. It also helps us to keep our sexual desires within
control. Hunger, comfort and sex are three factors which must
be kept under control to behave as Allah's servants. It helps
us to remain truly obedient to Allah's
commands.
Fasting
is beneficial to health but ill people or pregnant women can
refrain but must make the number of fasts up later in the
year.
Sawm
develops self control and helps us to overcome selfishness,
greed, laziness and other faults. It is an annual training
program to refresh us from carrying out our duties towards
Allah - the creator and sustainer. Sawm gives us the feeling of
hunger and thirst. We experience for ourselves what it is like
to have an empty stomach. This develops our feeling for the
poor and hungry people.
That is why the Qur'an says:
"O you who believe - Fasting is prescribed for you
as it was prescribed for those before you that you are expected
to be truly obedient." (2:183)
A truly
obedient Muslim is called a Muttaqi and his truly obedience or
piety - developed through Sawm - is known as Taqwa in Islam.
Taqwa keeps a person away from sin. The month of Ramadan is a
month of forgiveness, mercy and means of avoiding that
punishment of Hell. The duty of fasting is only for Allah's
sake and there is a very pleasing and attractive reward for
this in the life after death.
The
following acts will break the fast:
|