Differences of Zakah in Islam and Other Religions

[rug]

By Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:00

Zakah means to grow and to increase.
When it is said about a person, it means to improve, to become better.

Consequently zakah is blessing, growth, cleanliness, and betterment.

In Shari'ah the word zakah refers to the determined share of wealth prescribed by God to be distributed among deserving categories.

It is also used to mean the action of payment of this share.

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/research-studies/comparative-religion/462246-differences-of-zakah-in-islam-and-other-religions.html

[cbayer]

1. I'm not clear about what they mean when they talk about the "Islamic State".

Are they talking about the government? A particular mosque? If not the government or the religious leaders, who then decides on distribution?

[rug]

2. No, he's talking about an Islamic state, such as Saudi Arabia.

This is what I found interesting.

Ninthly, zakah is not merely temporary relief to the immediate needs of the poor and to attenuate his misery, leaving him in the long run to his poverty. Zakah aims at eliminating poverty and making the poor at least self sufficient, helping them with sufficient financial means to enable them to work and produce for their own sustenance, zakah is a periodical due repeated each year,

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With these characteristics of zakah that are so distinct from alms in other religions, we realize that zakah is an institution unique in its characteristics and features. It is different from taxes and other dues in as much as it is different from alms known in other religions.

He is saying that it is an obligation of each Muslim, not voluntary like alms. What is chilling is that he is also saying that if there is a theocratic Islamic state, the state will enforce that obligation.

[cbayer]

3. The ideology sounds noble, but the execution not so clear.

The statement about a theocratic Islamic state seems contradictory to the statements about who can and can not make decisions about the distribution of funds.