Charity towards man, in the widest sense of the word, is the cornerstone
of the Islamic society and a constant theme in the Quranic teachings. There
are two kinds of charities in Islam: the obligatory and the voluntary. The
obligatory charity is called Zakat while the voluntary charity is called
Sadaqah.
The
concept of Zakat was not totally new to Islam; similar alms giving had
been enjoined upon the Israelites and the Christians as well. In Islam,
the Zakat takes the form of a prescribed contribution based on a person's
wealth and income. The rate of contribution varies with the kind of property
owned but, on an average, works out to two and one half percent of the
total value. The proceeds of Zakat are supposed to be devoted towards:
- relieving poverty
and distress
- helping those in debt
- providing comfort and convenience for travelers
- providing stipends for scholarships
- providing ransom for prisoners of war
- propagation of Islam
- meeting the expenses for the collection of Zakat
- other things beneficial for the society
Zakat, therefore,
is a duty enjoined by God in the interest of the society as a whole. While
on one hand these charitable contributions provide for the needs of the
society, on the other hand the act of giving in the name of God purifies
the heart of the contributor from selfishness and greed
