The Religious Purposes of the System of Zakat

Abstract

This research is an attempt to understand the purposes of Zakat (charity tax) based on the extrapolation of the various detailed provisions. To think deeply and reflect on the Shari’a texts contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah concerning the subject of Zakat, that delve on the diverse benefits and desired outcomes set forth by the Islamic religion and imposed as a right to the poor and a duty for the rich to partake their money. The prevailing superficial understanding of most people, due to the atrophy of public understanding of Sharia and its objectives and its shrinking application in public life,  led to bridging the function of Zakat as being an individual optional worship, may be paid or not. This understanding and this behavior has resulted in the fact that the system of Zakat lost its vitality, and its function abridged within the reality of Muslims. If the worshipful objective is the basis of the legislation of Zakat, we can find other Sharia texts that support this objective and serve it. This research is divided into five topics:
- Topic 1: The worshipful objective of Zakat
- Topic 2: The educational objective of Zakat
- Topic 3: The social objective of Zakat
- Topic 4: The developmental objective of Zakat
- Topic 5: The advocational objective of Zakat