2. Collecting Zakat from the Wealthy and Giving It to the Needy
The second prominent feature that distinguishes Zakat from other taxes imposed during the reign of kings and rulers—whether in personal governments or the present time under republics and national governments—is its legal structure. This structure was articulated by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in a miraculous and wise manner, recognized as a part of the comprehensive teachings of Islam. He stated: “It is taken from the wealthy among them and given to their poor.” In other words, “Zakat is taken from the wealthy Muslims and given to their needy.”
This original and legal framework for Zakat must remain steadfast until the Day of Judgment. Therefore, Zakat is collected from wealthy individuals who meet the conditions of its obligation; that is, those who possess a certain minimum amount of wealth specified in Hadiths. It is then spent in the areas that Allah Almighty has determined in the Quran: «إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلفُقَرَاءِ…» Translation: “The alms are for the poor…” These distributions are not left to the discretion and judgment of lawmakers, rulers, or economists.
Moreover, Islamic law and prophetic Hadiths prefer that Zakat and charity be spent among the needy of the same community from which it is collected. The system of Zakat, even in those Islamic governments that have not been very precise or trustworthy in implementing legal rulings and realizing lofty Islamic values in governance and politics, has still ensured that the poor, needy, and destitute are not deprived of their rights. Under the shadow of these governments, the divine limits have not been entirely abrogated, despite the claims of certain biased historians and Orientalist researchers who exaggerate their criticisms and misrepresent them, asserting that they deviate from Islamic teachings or even rebel against Islam.
In contrast to this Islamic structure, the taxes imposed by today’s governments are an inverse of Zakat. These taxes, whether fair and minimal or oppressive and excessive, are taken from the needy and the middle class of society and given to the leaders of the state, the wealthy, and the powerful.
These taxes are collected from the sweat of farmers, workers, industrialists, and merchants who toil day and night. They are spent lavishly, and often cold-heartedly, on welcoming presidents who visit the country or during their celebrations and parties, which bear a striking resemblance to the festivities and tales of One Thousand and One Nights. The funds are also used for occasional festivals, at receptions in foreign embassies where wine flows like rivers, and in government propaganda that plunders national interests, drains the lifeblood of the people, and deprives the nation of its evening meals.
Moreover, these funds are allocated to the salaries of journalists and news agencies, as well as to presenters and announcers skilled in fabricating news and accusing the innocent while scrutinizing their political rivals and enemies. They also cover the expenses of newspapers and media outlets deemed more significant and beneficial than the mightiest armies and the latest weapons. There is no national, democratic government, nor any communist or socialist regime, that does not exploit the blood of the nation and squander those assets and taxes in a sea of propaganda, political bribery, and media manipulation, all while putting opponents on trial, both guilty and innocent.
A more accurate and honest description of the current taxation system is that it is: “taken from the needy and given to the wealthy.” Therefore, the Zakat that Allah the Almighty has mandated for His servants in Islam is, in fact, a mercy and grace for the community and a testament to the blessing of prophethood—the greatest blessing of all. It is a tax (if we must use this term) which, in terms of amount, is less than other taxes and, in terms of application, is lighter, more blessed, and more beneficial than anything else because it is “taken from the wealthy and given to the needy.”
