ZAKAT

wrkmmn

Peace taro hiroshi
You are right, my articles only scratch the surface of any issue I talk about. My articles are only an invitation to read Quran, not to fully clarify anything; that requires the whole Quran and God's mercy.

I posted
Zakat=(purifying dues) portion of God?s gifts to be given as charity.
Sadaqat= (charity) done with Zakat and more.

the translation is what is in between parenthesis, and the rest is but a color of the rainbow deriving from the light. when I posted this words I knew that they do not embrace the whole rainbow of colors that derives from their pure light.

it seems that you think that Zakat means charity.

ZAKAT is not SADAQAT, though there seem to be nothing wrong to give all ZAKAT as SADAQAD. And, not all that we spend of ZAKAT will be on SADAQAD.

For example
1Contributing with building materials, money, food for the workers, etc, to build a mosque, could be done with ZAKAT. We could say that we are spending that SAKAT on God, for we would be spending those gifts on building a house devoted only to the worship of God.
2Buying weapons or giving the ones we have to fight the enemies of God, or providing supplies for the brothers/sisters in the front-line, can be done with ZAKAT. In this case we would be spending the gifts in the path of god.
Although the two previous examples give an idea of the spending of ZAKAT, none of the two cases could be considered charity.

If Zakat means charity in verse 2177 above, why does the Quran distinguish between the act of giving money (Al-MALA) and the act of giving Zakat (AL-ZAKAT)?

Giving money is not the whole meaning of the word charity, and money is not the only blessing bestowed on us by Allah of which we have to pay the SAKAT. there is people in this world that does not know money, yet they do charity; And, if they were to become Muslims, they would have to pay SAKAT, even though many of them would die without knowing a bill or a coin.

Wordreference CAHARITY=gifts of money or things to aid the poor, ill, or helpless.
ZAKAT= purifying dues= the whole idea behind the word can only be given to you by the Most Merciful.

May God increase our knowledge and give us wisdom.

HP_TECH

I agree with most of what you say except for your denial of al-afwa as surplus and excess.
Allah clearly states that He would never ask people for their wealth because that would surely bring out their hatred. Allah is All-Knowing, He knows that there are poor families that live pay-check to paycheck how can they pay their zakah?

What you are advocating is not reasonable.

Zakah is 1/5 or 20% of the excess you have after paying off all your responsibilities and obligations i.e. rent, bills, groceries for family one is maintaining and etc.

Does it make sense for a family that barely makes their rent every month to take 20% out of their paycheck??

I have written a post which sheds some light on the issue I raised check it out on your free time
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=12267.msg384401#msg384401

wrkmmn

Peace

Peace
More verses.

Literal word by word
6141And He who brings into being gardens, trellises and different to trellises; and the date-palm, and the grains, varied His food, and the olive tree, and the pomegranate; resembling and different to resembling. Eat of His fruit when fruiting, and provide/pay His due day His harvest. And not you shall waste; verily, He does not like the wasteful-ones!

This article is more about showing some evidence of how much is demanded of ZAKAT than of how to spend the ZAKAT. I seek refuge in God from being of the ignorant, and from trying to clarify anything. My articles are but an exhortation to the believing brothers to base their understanding in evidence from God?s books, and to reject all the conjecture of the perverted sectarians.

Peace HP_tech
How do you know when there is excess on the harvest?
how do you know when you have excess money?
For the people Where I live, money is never enough.

According to you, the widow and children, living under a bridge freezing on the winter, have to wait until you have money left from paying your warm and comfortable apartment, your food, clothing, your car, so that they can get at least a hot bowl of soup and a blanket. How do you reason?

So, if you have a piece of bread, and your brother besides you has none, you will not share only because you think that it is not even enough for you. how do you judge?

Allah clearly states that He would never ask people for their wealth

where do you get that Idea? What God says in Quran is that if God were to ask for all that we have, all of us, except for a few, will turn away. An Idea that it is also very clear in the Message sent with P. jesus.

Zakah is 1/5 or 20% of the excess you have after paying off all your responsibilities and obligations i.e. rent, bills, groceries for family one is maintaining and etc.

Show your evidence if you are truthful.

Does it make sense for a family that barely makes their rent every month to take 20% out of their paycheck??

Where I live the government get 15% of your paycheck, and nobody complains, and they get very little back, and the gov. is not giving it to them.

Why would a believer complain about sharing 20% of what he/she gets from His/her lord, with the ones that received less, in exchange for heaven. A believer's decisions are not based according to His/her likes and dislikes, but according to what God demands.

May God increase our knowledge and give us wisdom.

HP_TECH

Peace HP_tech

Peace wrkmmn

How do you know when there is excess on the harvest?

Why do you ask such a question?
People in those days as well as today have always been able to calculate their expenditures, especially those in the agricultural business.
I am sorry for having to state it in these terms but your question is void of common sense.
People know how much they are going to spend, need or utilize, and how much their family will consume and how much can be used to sell and so forth.
This is not a foreign concept whatsoever brother....

how do you know when you have excess money?

Same concept as above brother

You don't know how much money you spend on rent and bills and groceries every month? -
I am sure every working adult has a "budget"
I could however understand why a child or student, whose never had to work or balance his budget would ask such questions.

According to you, the widow and children, living under a bridge freezing on the winter, have to wait until you have money left from paying your warm and comfortable apartment, your food, clothing, your car, so that they can get at least a hot bowl of soup and a blanket. How do you reason?

That is not according to me. It is your poor understanding brother.
Perhaps this example will clarify for you if Allah so wills.
A man is the sole income earner for his family of 5.
He has 3 daughters and a wife who is either a part-time student or sit-at-home mom.
He earns $2000 per month.
Let's say his only bills are
rent $1500 and
electricity/water/etc $200
2000-(1500+200) = 2000-1700 = 300
He has $300 left to spend on groceries for his family and other basic necessities as toiletries, clothes and etc.

Should this man take 20% out of his earning?
According to you this man should take 20% of $2,000 which is $400 OUT of his paycheck leaving him only $1600 left for paying bills, rent and etcetera.

Should he forget his primary duty as a husband and father, starve his daughters or forgo paying electricity and water because of your poor understanding? Should he make his wife and children homeless, or starve or go without electricity and water?
How do you reason?

Please reason brother

So, if you have a piece of bread, and your brother besides you has none, you will not share only because you think that it is not even enough for you. how do you judge?

A piece of bread is not an earning. A bit disappointing on your part to bring such a naive scenario and then ask me "How do you judge?"
I am not the disbeliever, so do not use such parts of ayaas (37154...) as a rendition to ME. Do not wrong yourself brother, I am a believer, Allah has bestowed upon me knowledge and I will if He so wills use it to enjoin on my people righteousness and forbid wrongdoing.
What you are proposing is harmful. As in the example above. Allah's Book holds nothing harmful. You need to revisit this whole topic and look at the bigger picture, as I have and consider every possibility conceivable to your mind.

Allah clearly states that He would never ask people for their wealth

where do you get that Idea?

What God says in Quran is that if God were to ask for all that we have, all of us, except for a few, will turn away. An Idea that it is also very clear in the Message sent with P. jesus.Show your evidence if you are truthful.

Quran 4736-37

Literal word for word

4736 Only the life (of) the world (is) play and amusement. And if you believe and fear (Allah) He will give you your rewards and not will ask you (for) your wealth.
4737 If He were to ask you for it and press you, you will withhold and He will bring forth your hatred.

Wealth in 4736 is indicative of abundance mim-waw-lam.

Why would a believer complain about sharing 20% of what he/she gets from His/her lord, with the ones that received less, in exchange for heaven. A believer's decisions are not based according to His/her likes and dislikes, but according to what God demands.

Don't you understand finances brother?
Remember the example above?
You are a middle income earner and I am a low income earner and let us assume we live in the same state or county. The cost of living for the both of us should be relatively the same i.e. rent, bills, groceries, toiletries and etc.
20% out of the your earnings may not affect your ability to cover the cost of living for you and your family.
But 20% directly out of my earnings may seriously affect my ability to cover the cost of living for me and my family, because my earning is not as high as yours. It is not equitable then to demand a fixed percentage from every man's earnings. That is why Allah asks for al-afwa, the surplus.

Man_of_Faith

My government already takes about 30% right off from what I earn which in part goes to social help and it helps poor people. The government pays money to people who cannot support themselves and their families.

On top of that I have to pay a tax on every item or service I fund, 25%, and easily all that I pay each month will fill my charity quota, so any extra I pay to charity is due to my kind character and I have no reason to feel bad if I do not. What I feel bad about is that I work my rear end off to pay excessive wages to politicians and other positions of power while they drive around in expensive BMWs or Audis et cetera that I and other people allowed them to purchase due to our hours at work. I also feel bad about big corporations that evade taxes in my country making me have to pay more as they could potentially have lowered the taxes if everyone did pay their share.

The charity system of the past is already implemented in today's modern societies in the form of taxes. That is forced charity but nevertheless I do contribute to society. If I give more this is a show of my charitable character, but I have already given my share each month to the community.

Be well
Amenuel

Man_of_Faith

Zakat means purification or betterment. It basically says contribute to (overall) betterment which is implying that you do your best to improve the surroundings around you including yourself. Obviously paying your taxes and giving voluntary charity is included in the term since this is to the benefit of poor and helpless people.

Taro is correct and 'sadaq' is the word for charity in Arabic as well as other Semitic ancient languages and also borrowed into languages like Farsi (Persian). The word basically means to be goodly, of fine praiseworthy character and thus true and when you pay 'sadaq' the word basically means you pay goodness (charity) linguistically. It could also be seen as gift and the word is also used to say you pay a "dowry", because this was not a price of the bride in the original meaning but the sadaq was a gift (goodness) to the bride which came into a capitalistic sense where greedy fathers would not allow their daughters to marry unless they brought an expensive "gift" which is no longer a gift if it is no longer due to someone's goodness but a request.

There is also a misconception that the word means true but this is what (haqq) that stands for, e.g. al-haqq (&#1602. Al-haqq is the word for true and genuine. Like I wrote above, 'sadaq' means someone of goodly character, who obviously is a true person but not by word's definition.

This alone obviously leads to many interpretation errors in Quran, but this is just the tip of an iceberg. Many errors emerge by flimsy lexical definitions as a result of conjectures of people in the past who made Quran as according to themselves and their view of the world while they did actually only understand what they read in a very limited manner which caused them to fall into guesswork of what Quran actually said. In many cases they plainly fabricated definitions in order to verify their doctrine in Arabic such as salat and zakat and made very imaginative translation methods in order to make passages conform to their doctrinal musts. Actually salat has nothing to do with any contact prayer at all.

Be well
Amenuel

wrkmmn

Why do you ask such a question?
I see that you did not understand my questions. Only those in whose heart God has put righteousness know when it is enough. See the world around you, we are leaving it bare, and all because of greed.
I am only sharing the evidence of what has been shown to me, and I can't speak against it just because I dislike it. Post your evidence if you are truthful, for maybe Shaitan is blinding me from the truth, but if you can't; then , Peace hp-tech

literal word by word
4735 Then, not you shall weaken, and you shall call to the peace/ submission(islam), and you the ones that overcome/ rise/ honored. And * God with you, and will not He decrease you your deeds/ work.
4736 ? and not He is asking you your property/ possessions/ camels/ livestock/ wealth.
4737 if He were asking her(it) of you thus He stripping you bare/ scraping you off/ bare footing you/ pressuring you you shall be stingy/ niggardly and He be bringing out/ exposing your inclinations/ malice/ hatred.
4738 behold, you, those that you are calling, * you shall spend in path * God. Then, among you who he is being stingy, and whoever he is being stingy, then verily that he is being stingy with his soul/ himself; and * God The Rich, and you the poor?

Believing brothers analyze these verses, and may Allah show you the deepest meaning behind the words. For now let?s just take one idea.

God says in verses 4736-37 that He is not asking for everything people owns, leaving them dispossessed. Therefore, it seems to ratify the Idea that ZAKAT is a share from what people get, and not from what they already have/own. It is the same Idea as in the Torah. Paying every year from what people already have seems to be no more than a property tax that those who invent lies about God made seem God?s ordained. Now, there seems to be nothing wrong with paying property taxes to a government, as long as the people receive for it services back, such as schools, roads, etc. What it is wrong is to deduct it from ZAKAT; as God says in the Gospel, to Cesar what?s of Cesar, and To God what?s of God.

Examples of pay for what you get not from what you already have
A man has a herd of sheep. The man does not have to give 20% of the sheep every year, but only 20% of the new born lambs that survive to the day of sale.
A woman owns a house. she does not have to pay 20% of what she paid for it, or what some liar says the house is worth, every year, but if she sells it, and gets a profit, then she has to Pay 20% of the profit.

One of the ideas behind Zakat seems to be the purification of the wealth received. After paying the demanded share, the rest is good to enjoy as the possessor of it pleases, though God advises not to give it to waste.

Believing brothers/ sisters, I know is not easy, much worse when one has a big family, and one is on the lowest levels of income as an immigrant. God made me see the truth of ZAKAT many year back, but I disliked it, and I listened to the shaitans that are preaching lies, and so I disobeyed my Lord. But, I had been praying to my lord for years to give me strength and to be patient with me, and to affirm the truth in my heart, so I could not deny it anymore. Thus, since last year I began reducing more my expenses, which were already among the lowest in this land compared to those who at least have a job, so that I can pay Zakat. I think, may Allah forgive me if I am wrong, that a person does not have to pay the full/ whole Zakat if he is already sharing a house/apartment, living with all his family in one room, having only enough money for cooking fuel, basic food, house supplies, and replacing shoes or clothes with holes. Nonetheless, living in such situation would not qualify such person for receiving charity, and still he/she has to try to be charitable with those less fortunate. Think of the nomads of the deserts, they do not know such luxuries, many not even shoes, or what a stable income/ paycheck is, they live day by day; yet, they have to pay zakat. However, there are thousands of different case scenarios, so use your reason, and pray The Merciful to show you the best path.

Mattew 631-34 So do not worry, saying, ?What shall we eat?? or ?What shall we drink?? or ?What shall we wear?? 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

May God increase our knowledge and give us wisdom.

HP_TECH

I see that you did not understand my questions. Only those in whose heart God has put righteousness know when it is enough. See the world around you, we are leaving it bare, and all because of greed.
I am only sharing the evidence of what has been shown to me, and I can't speak against it just because I dislike it. Post your evidence if you are truthful, for maybe Shaitan is blinding me from the truth, but if you can't; then , Peace hp-tech

You need to pray that Allah make you merciful and kind towards your brothers, if you are a Muslimin and stern and firm towards the disbelievers.
I am no denier or rejecter of the Signs of my Lord.
Here is my previous post, did you get a chance to look at it?

ZAKAT IS "PURIFICATION" THROUGH Sadaqat. Perhaps the zakat is a combination of both. I need further studying.
Think about a plant/growth and photosynthesis when you think of zakat. A plant takes and gives in order to grow strong.
Plants take in sunlight, water from rain, nutrient from the soil, carbon dioxide from the air to produce oxygen, sugar and fruits in return.
We too our provided from Allah nourishment from reading Quran, performing salat, glorifying Allah, and the fruits He provides us with, in order to grow we must give back the due amount from this provisions inviting others to reason and to the dini, sharing our knowledge about what we are guided to and sharing the fruits we have been given.

We should take from what our Lord bestows us of His provision and give off in due amount.
If a plant retains too much water it will undergo a hypotonic state and eventually die. Similarly if a person is greedy and keeps too much resources to themselves they will not develop "spiritually" and die.
If a plant expels too much water it will undergo a hypertonic state dry out and die. Similarly if a person gives off too much they will be left blameworthy.

http//alevelnotes.com/content_images/Turgor_pressure_on_plant_cells_diagram.svg

We have to find that isotonic balance of giving to growth Just like each plant has a distinct isotonic balance according to its environment and conditions we too should give according to our means.

http//images.wisegeek.com/photosynthesis.jpg

We should have a calculated account of our monthly expenditures( or for however often you get paid ). Taking into account your harvest/salary subtract the estimated monthly expenses. Whatever is left is for spending towards the cause of Allah. That is your excess.
Some say you should take this excess and 1/5 of it or 20% is for Allah. I have practiced the same method and it has worked for me.
Remember if you are saving for a particular necessary thing then I would include in your expenses.

I think this method allows you to establish a well balanced spending pattern and monitoring.

The 1/5 is taken from 841

WaiAAlamoo annama ghanimtum min shay-in faanna lillahi khumusahu walilrrasooli walithee alqurba waalyatama waalmasakeeni waibni alssabeeli in kuntum amantum biAllahi wama anzalna AAala AAabdina yawma alfurqani yawma iltaqa aljamAAani waAllahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun

And know that what ghanimtum from anything, then that, for Allah (is) one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for the near relatives, and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if you believe in Allah, and (in) what We sent down to Our slave (on the) day (of) the criterion, (the) day (when) met the two forces. And Allah (is) on every thing All-Powerful.

Either way you take it, it makes sense. If it is from a salary, then the excess is the ghanam

If it is an unexpected acquisition like a gift of $500 then the whole amount is ghanam

From each excess or acquisition outside of salary 1/5 is for Allah

We are described in Quran as growths/plants
A healthy plant takes and gives in balance
A healthy person takes and gives in balance

wrkmmn

Peace Hp-tech

Peace to all believing brothers, over whom God has bestowed his mercy, closing their ears to conjecturers
Fear God, for if God wills, even if you give to your plant your soul, will dry and die, and will be thrown into the fire.
More verses, by the mercy of God;
Parts taken from Interpretation of M. Assad.

From what shall be spent?
2254 ? Spend out of what We have granted you as sustenance ere there come a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship, and no intercession?
2267 ? Spend on others out of the good things which you may have acquired, and out of that which We bring forth for you from the earth; and choose not for your spending the bad things which you yourselves would not accept without averting your eyes in disdain. And know that God is self-sufficient, ever to be praised.
(83) ? (believers) spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance
(2360) and who give whatever they give with their hearts trembling at the thought that unto their Sustainer they must return.

Do believers have to spend only in times of excess/abundance/plenty?
3134 who spend in time of plenty and in time of hardship, and hold in check their anger, and pardon their fellow-men because God loves the doers of good;
768 and who give food - however great be their own want of it - unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive.
9012) And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? (14)?the feeding, upon a day of hunger, (15) of an orphan near of kin, (16) or of a needy lying in the dust.

Why give/spend?
These verses, God willing, will also help to expand the Idea/meaning of paying Zakat (purifying dues).
917 Consider the soul, and how it is formed in accordance with what it is meant to be 8 and how it is imbued with evil as well as good! 9 Successful is he who purifies it.
2271 If you do deeds of charity openly, it is well; but if you give to the needy in secret, it will be even better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds?
9103accept that of their possessions which is offered for the sake of God, so that ?cause them to grow in purity?
18 he that spends his possessions so that he might grow in purity.

Mark 12 41Now Jesus sat opposite to the treasury?and many who were rich put in much. 42then, one poor widow came and put two mites?43So he called his disciples and said to them, ? as suredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put more than all those?44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had?

The people in the previous narrative were paying their Zakat. The prophet did not say to the woman that she was too poor to pay Zakat. Since the ways of God never change, there is something to learn from that story. Believing brothers, if you have to fast a day so that you can feed a hungry-one lying in the dust, it will be better for you.

Believing brothers 2268Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty and bids you to be niggardly, whereas God promises you His forgiveness and bounty; and God is infinite, all-knowing.
Example
Two neighbors, both with many children, went hunting. After a few days, one returns with a deer, and the other empty-handed. Is it right, if the one, who received a deer as mercy of God, says to his empty-handed neighbor ?this is only enough for my family?? No, if he is a believer, he is required/ obligated to share 1/5 =20% of the meat, and if he shares more of it, it will be better for him.

82 Believers are only they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them,; and who in their Sustainer place their trust.

8420 So what is the matter with them that they do not believe?
8421 And when the Qur?an is read over them, they do not prostrate.
8422 No, those who have rejected are in denial.

2269 (God) grants wisdom unto whom He wills and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted wealth abundant. But none bears this in mind save those who are endowed with insight.

May God increase our knowledge and give us wisdom.

HP_TECH