Photo: Messenger
Just as Islam has given importance to Namaz or Salat, Zakat has also been given importance. Prayers and Zakat are mentioned in 32 places in the Holy Quran. And in 27 places, prayer, and zakat are mentioned together. The Holy Qur'an has also warned about the consequences if the able-bodied person does not pay Zakat. The Zakat system has been introduced in Islam mainly to create an egalitarian society.
The order to pay zakat has been issued with the aim that wealth should not remain in the hands of the rich in the society so that a society without economic discrimination is established so that the mentality of some living on the fifth floor and others on the tree floor is not created. If wealth accumulates in the hands of a few people, then the number of poor people will increase, and social and economic inequality and instability will increase. As a result, an unbalanced situation will be created in the society. That is why Zakat has been imposed on the rich. It is not a favor or favor of the rich; Rather, it is the rights that the poor deserve from the rich.
The purpose of Zakat is to foster a spirit of support and bring economic prosperity; Alleviating poverty and reducing inequality among people. If we analyze only the three mentioned aspects without discussing other elements of zakat, we can see that zakat is a very beneficial system for society. Education is an essential aspect of a prosperous society. The more educated the society, the more the development and progress of the society. We would all agree that higher education requires money.
Many people in our society are not able to provide higher education for their children only financially. In this situation, if the rich people according to the Islamic law give the prescribed portion of their money as zakat to these poor people in the society, then those people can educate and develop their children. In the future, these educated people will be a blessing and benefactor for the society. They are never a burden to society. They can contribute to the development of the country and society, which would not have been possible if they were uneducated. Not only that, but because they are educated, a sense of humanity is born in them, they can spread peace in society by preventing people from lawlessness, injustice, and criminality in the society. In this way, society becomes welfare by collecting Zakat.
Just as the sector of giving zakat is specific, so is its distribution system. Since the main purpose of zakat is to create an egalitarian society without discrimination by eliminating the poverty of the poor and needy, zakat should not be given randomly. If given, it will only be a public display. Zakat should be given in such a way that the recipient's poverty is removed, and he can be self-sufficient; So that next time he doesn't have to turn to others for help again. For this, Zakat money should be targeted and distributed to a handful of people who are eligible to receive Zakat in their own or nearby areas, instead of giving it to hundreds, thousands of people. Then it will be fruitful and effective.
The main objective of Zakat should be to permanently remove the poverty of the receiver and make him self-reliant. For example, if the Zakat recipient can drive a rickshaw, he can be bought a rickshaw; If she knows how to sew, she can buy a sewing machine, and someone can be made a tea shop; Those who want to start a small business can be provided with the required small business. That is, if the self-employment of the recipient can be arranged with the money of Zakat, then the poverty of the society will be eradicated and sustainable development will be accelerated.
Zakat plays an immense role in economic development. The economic system of Islam is not for the accumulation and storage of wealth but for its distribution and movement. Collection of Zakat results in wealth circulation. Zakat appears to reduce wealth but increases it. If Zakat is used properly, it is possible to create a significant and positive situation in the socio-economic environment of the country.
There have been many studies in this regard which shed light on the socio-economic impact. Poverty is one of the main causes of unrest in the world today. The surprising thing is that it is not the lack of resources, but the lack of resources in the hands of some people in the country that is one of the main causes of poverty. By establishing an economy based on zakat, it is possible to alleviate poverty and establish peace in the world.
The unemployed poor need Zakat's money the most. It also needs to be realised that the few commodities they are able to buy as a result of such aid only help them to survive. If no additional steps are taken for them, they will not be able to rise above the poverty line. On the other hand, many of the working poor are unable to move forward from their current positions for various reasons. Special assistance is required for these people so that they can increase their income through professional production.
They should be provided with the necessary materials, help in selling the products, and provide necessary capital. Planned and proper utilisation of Zakat money will play a positive role in solving the mentioned problem. Studies in some countries have shown that between 3 and 4 percent of the Gross Domestic Income (GDP) is transferred from the rich to the poor every year in those countries through Zakat.
Zakat has a traditional connection with the month of Ramadan. Since zakat is given as a lunar year and in our country, zakat is usually collected in the month of Ramadan in the hope of greater welfare. Therefore, in the context of Bangladesh, for poverty alleviation and social welfare, proper planning and proper implementation of zakat collection and distribution is very necessary.
As one of the basic foundations of Islam, who should collect zakat, what items should be zakat, how to calculate zakat correctly, how to collect zakat in certain sectors, and how zakat recipients should receive zakat, zakat givers and zakat recipients as well as all Muslims. For both men and women, Fard or Akanta is essential. At the same time, it is the sacred responsibility of the Imams, Muslims, Muballigs, and Ulamae to inform, be aware, and warn everyone about the dire consequences of not paying Zakat or paying it 'publicly'.
Recently, Islamic banks in different countries of the world have set an example by collecting Zakat money in a planned way to solve the unbearable poverty and unemployment in society. In addition to the zakat of their funds, Islamic banks have established a 'Zakat Foundation' with the zakat given to their customers. The funds are being used for three broad purposes: cash assistance, education and training, and employment and rehabilitation. Similarly, if the wealthy people of an area take the initiative to rehabilitate the poor people by forming a Zakat fund, the economic development of rural Bengal will be easier.
Otherwise, zakat should be deposited in the government zakat fund, and from there the necessary effective role of public welfare will be possible for the economic development of the poor people. In addition to the government's practical initiatives, necessary legislation, and the effective role and far-reaching plans, if all those who are 'Saheb Nisab' in this country inhabited by 170 million people are voluntarily motivated to spend the money of Zakat in a planned manner, the wheel of fortune of the poor people in the country will turn; The revenue fund of the government will also be richer and the scope of economic activities will be wider. This requires goodwill and proper planning.
Therefore, to increase the revenue of the state and to change the fate of the people, to introduce Islamic economics education on zakat at all levels of the educational system, highlighting the importance of a Zakat-based economic system to people of all walks of life; in all Muslim countries, Zakat collection can be done officially.
The economic balance between the rich and the poor is maintained through Zakat. In the wealth distribution system in Islam, the rich give a portion of their wealth as zakat, thereby increasing the wealth of the poor and eliminating economic inequality. Zakat-based financial system in the Prophet's ideal state of Madinah, during the rule of Khulafay Rashedin, alleviated economic inequality and poverty and made the Muslim Ummah a prosperous and advanced nation in the contemporary world.
Thus, if a list of the needy is prepared with the money of the Zakat Fund and 20 families are selected on a priority basis, each family is provided with an employment earning within five thousand rupees, and a van or a medium boat is bought for the family headed by a strong man. An old man, is given a small tea shop, and a family headed by a widow is bought a good sewing machine - if it is properly and properly used, they can earn a daily living. In this way, if 20 families can be made self-supporting every year, then like in Madinah, no one could be found to take zakat at the end of Rashedin in Khulafay, so maybe after 20 years, no one would be found to take zakat in that neighbourhood either. This will require collective social commitment.
Finally, we can say that Zakat plays a significant role in socio-economic development. The Zakat system strengthens the economic condition of the society. It is a good system to reduce the disparity between the rich and the poor. Social peace and order cannot be safeguarded without the provision of equality and equity. Society is stable only when poverty and unemployment are eliminated; crime comes down. Therefore, it is a fact that Zakat plays an immense role in economic development and the elimination of inequality in society.
The Writer is a Researcher, PhD, University of Rajshahi and Lecturer, Rajshahi Cantonment Public School & College. He could be reached at [email protected].
Messenger/Disha
