Zakat - Giving charity

Lena

God tells us repeatedly in Quran that charity is an attribute of believers. For example the following verses
"..and from our provisions to them, they give to charity" Quran 23
"Righteous are those who ......and give the obligatory charity (zakat)..." Quran 2177
....and a Paradise.....it awaits the righteous who give to charity during the good times as well as the bad times
God loves the charitable Quran 3134

Having studied the politics of aid and the detrimental effects indiscriminate charity can have on people - such as creating a dependency culture, entrenching the powerful and the powerless in their social roles, undermining initiative and forcing people who accept aid to do what "we think is best for them" I would like to have a better understanding of Quranic charity, especially taking into account the following well known proverb

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Andrew Carnegie (who gave more to charity than perhaps any other person in history) said ?indiscriminate charity is one of the most serious obstacles to the improvement of the human race. It is dangerous not just because it has the potential to promote the idiotic (and ultimately self-abasing) idea of entitlement. It is dangerous, too, because it tends to create dependency, reduce initiative, and sometimes breed resentment.

While reading and thinking about zakat I also came across the following by Micheal Masterson

My Ten Commandments of Non-Destructive Charity
Charity is a double-edged sword, and must be exercised with caution. To keep that sword from unintentionally doing damage, I now make sure that 10 rules are followed

The donor must be certain the money is being requested to satisfy a need rather than a want.
He must be able to see some productive result from his giving.
He must not simply hand over 100 percent of the money that is needed.
The recipient must make a formal, written application for the money.
He must state, in explicit terms, how he will use it and how it will have a positive effect on him as well as others.
The recipient must faithfully and scrupulously honor the terms of his contract, and cannot apply for further assistance until all his obligations have been met.
After receiving aid, the recipient must formally and convincingly thank the donor.
The charitable action should be a matter of public record. Charity that is private ? contrary to what some say ? is the worst kind. Neither the donor nor the recipient can opt to be anonymous.
In giving money (or other help), the donor should assume responsibility for the recipient?s actions related to the gift. It is primarily the giver?s job to make sure the recipient uses it as it was intended.
Throughout the entire process, the recipient must treat the donor with the utmost respect.
If your idea of charity is writing a check to Unicef once a year or volunteering for a soup kitchen from time to time, you may find these Ten Commandments disturbing ? perhaps even outrageous.
If you feel that way, it is because you have never thought much about what it means to help out your fellow man.

What do others think about the above?
My understanding is there are two types of charity in Quran, obligatory and informal? What is the difference?
Is the obligatory zakat the same as tax in western countries that enables some redistribution of wealth through universal health care, schooling etc

Appreciate everyone's comments and your reasons why you think that way, especially with reference to Quran.

good_logic

God talks about " Those close to you" like family and friends.

You know, sometimes, their needs and they know yours. The charity starts there. If everyone took care of those close to them, there will be less problems.
Of course we should care about all humans. The righteous are those who try and help everyone, if they are able to?
Charity can be - Advice, Time, Money , food,... Whatever one can help with?

What ever you can spare, over what you need, is charity. I am not sure there is a specific figure. Others may help with that if they can point it in the word of GOD.

Tax is what " others" take , Humans have imposed that rule.

GOD leaves it to us- freedom of choice. Like all the other rules and commands. He wants us to submit and follow HIS rules because we want to.
May the Creator guide us to do better.
Peace

Mr_Q

Just a note/something to consider. I dont see Zakat being about charity, it's about developing your character, virtue, morals, soul and purifying yourself. Its to grow in your relationship with God.

Charity is different and mandatory for believers and the details about that are in the Quran and are not associated with zakat, IMO.

You made some good points and brought up some good issues about dependency and the effects charity or hand outs can have on people as well.

loxbox13

Charity is called KHEYR and not ZAKAT

Zakat = the whole economic system based on TAX
Kheir = Charity giving
Nafakat = Investement , that is why it says, Allah will multiply your deed, the more you invest, the more you create jobs, the more you multiply your benefice

The quran is a worldly book, it's purpose is how to succed in this life, therefore , you will succeed in the hearafter

nurmuhammed

Charity is called KHEYR and not ZAKAT

Zakat = the whole economic system based on TAX
Kheir = Charity giving
Nafakat = Investement , that is why it says, Allah will multiply your deed, the more you invest, the more you create jobs, the more you multiply your benefice

The quran is a worldly book, it's purpose is how to succed in this life, therefore , you will succeed in the hearafter

hey man,
what about sadaqa then ? is it not a charity ....

Bigmo

What Does The Bible Say About Tithes And Offerings?

Tithes and Offerings Sermon

So what does the Bible have to say about tithes and offerings? Malachi 38 says "Yet ye have robbed me... In tithes and offerings." So perhaps we should tithe to our local church but we also need to give offerings of alms to the poor. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught about "when thou doest alms" in Matthew 63. When you fast. When you pray. So Jesus Christ expected us to give alms to the poor in addition to our tithes.

So it's obvious Jesus wants us to give alms. I can tell the story about gentile Cornelius. He was a Roman centurion. He was apparently reading the Old Testament of the Bible and trying to do what it said. The Bible says he was a "devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway." Acts 102. He was finding all of this in the Old Testament of the Bible,

And there is a lot in the Old Testament of the Bible about giving alms to the poor. The virtuous woman of Proverbs "stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." Proverbs 3120. Proverbs 2827 says "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse." We know that Job gave much to the poor and needy, and throughout the Old Testament we see that the righteous were ones who helped the poor and needy.

Back to the New Testament, in 3 John we see that Gaius was one who the Apostle John wished would "prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2. And Gaius was apparently a man who showed "charity" to "the brethren, and to strangers." So this man's ministry of almsgiving was commended by the Apostle John.

Jesus talked about a hypocritical Jew who bragged in prayer about his tithing and fasting twice a week. But Jesus said he was proud and his prayer was "with himself." Luke 1811. This man walked away unjustified while a publican, who smote himself on his breast and said "God be merciful to me a sinner" went away justified. Luke 1813. So a lot of people who tithe today will likely still end up in hell, while those who generously give to the poor and needy, and read and meditate on their King James version Bible day and night and try their best to do everything it says, will be the ones going to heaven. This Pharisee was apparently just giving tithes but robbing God of offerings of almsgivings to the poor.

And Jesus talked about the sheep and goat nations in Matthew 2531-46. Jesus will one day divide all the people of the world into two groups, The one, the sheep, go to heaven and the goats go to hell. The sheep are those who have given food, drink and clothing (almsgiving) to the poor and needy Christians while the goats are those who didn't.

Many Christians today, like the hypocritical Pharisees, give 10% to their local church, which they should, while giving little if anything to poor and needy people. I think Jesus would be more happy with you if, like Zacchaeus in the Bible (Luke 191-10), you would give 50% of your income to the poor and needy over and above your tithes as he did. This was the ONLY rich man that Jesus Christ commended. The other rich man Jesus encountered he told to sell everything he had and give it all to the poor and that then he would have riches in heaven.

The Bible promises that those who help the poor are laying up treasures for themselves in heaven. Luke 1233. The great old Christian book, Pilgrim's Progress, also promotes giving to the poor rather than tithing. The Bible says the lost Pharisees tithed, attended synagogue, and praised the Lord but were still "of their father the devil." Jesus Christ told them "Give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you." Luke 1141. So apparently there is an inward cleansing and with almsgiving.

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you," the Bible says in James 51. And this is talking about the last days we're living in. The ONLY way for the rich of the last days to get to heaven is to be willing to help the poor and needy when asked. "Charge them that are rich in this world that they be...ready to distribute, willing to communicate." 1 Timothy 617-19. Also I don't believe the Bible teaches that all Jews will end up in heaven just because they're Jews. The rich man from the rich man and Lazarus story who lifted up his eyes in hell, being in torments, was obviously a Jew. Luke 1619-31. This story also shows that there is a literal, burning hell and that we aren't instantly burned up in it as some teach..

John Wesley preached a famous sermon, "The Use of Money," in which he said that we should make all the money we can but then save all we can by practicing the self denial that Jesus Christ requires of his disciples. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 923. Then Wesley said we are to give all we can, especially to the poor and needy. "But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you," Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 1141.

You know that as disciples of Jesus Christ EVERYTHING we have is to be at his disposal, not just 10%. One Pharisee bragged that he tithed 10% of his income but his prayer never got off the ground. As disciples of Jesus Christ we MUST deny ourselves and take up our cross DAILY. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 1433. "And he (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 923.

http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?action=post;quote=298370;topic=9603877.0;last_msg=298370

Interesting angle.

loxbox13

hey man,
what about sadaqa then ? is it not a charity ....

Sadaka= CONFIRMATION, in some verses, Sadaka = CAUTION

sadaka has nothing to do with charity,