From its benefits are the following:
- It strengthens the bonds of love between the rich and the poor, for it is from human nature that a person shows affinity to those who treat them well.
- It purifies and cleanses the soul and distances it from greed and avarice, as indicated in the Noble Qur’an when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:
“Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it.”[Surah at-Tawbah (9):103]
- It causes Muslims to grow accustomed to performing acts of generosity, hospitality and empathy towards those who are in need.
- It brings increase and blessings to one’s wealth, and Allah replaces it (the wealth given as charity with something better), as Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) said:
“And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” [Surah as-Saba´ (34):39]
In a Saheeh (authentic) hadeeth, the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
“O child of Adam! Spend in charity and We (Allah) will spend on you.”[1]
There are numerous other benefits that may be found in the legislation of Zakaah.
A severe warning has been issued to those who do not offer Zakaah out of greed as well as those who fall short in doing so.
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) said: “And those who hoard up gold and silver [al-kanz: the money, the Zakaah of which has not been paid], and spend it not in the Way of Allah, – announce unto them a painful torment. * On the Day when that (al-kanz: money, gold and silver, etc., the Zakaat of which has not been paid) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them): ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard’.” [Surah at-Tawbah (9):34-35]
Any type of wealth from which Zakaah has not been offered is regarded as hoarded up treasure (al-kanz) for which one will be punished on the Day of Judgement.
This has been indicated in the saheeh hadeeth in which the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
“No owner of gold or silver who does not offer its due right (Zakaah) except that in the Day of Judgement, plates of fire will be beaten out for him, and they will be heated in the Fire of Jahannam (Hell) and their flanks, foreheads, and their backs will be branded with them. Whenever they will cool, it will be done again to them, on a Day of which its length is fifty thousand years, until [Allah] judges between all [His] slaves. He will see his path, either to Jannah (Paradise), or to Jahannam.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Prophet then further mentioned (in the hadeeth) that one who owns camel, cattle, and sheep and does not offer the Zakaah due upon it will be punished through them on the Day of Judgement.
It has also been authentically reported of the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that he said:
“Whomever Allah has provided with wealth and does not offer the Zakaah due upon it, on the Day of Judgement it will be made into a baldheaded poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, ‘I am your wealth, I am your hoarded treasure!”
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) then recited Allah’s saying:
‘And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (Wealth) think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakaah). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection.’ [Surah Aali ‘Imraan (3):180]”[2]
[1] Narrated by as-Suyuti in ‘Al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer’. Declared saheeh by Al-Albani.
[2] Al-Bukhaari.
