All Praises are due to Allah alone, and may the Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him (Muhammad ) after whom
there is no Prophet, and upon his family, companions.
To proceed:
I wrote this treatise in order to sincerely advise and remind
[the Muslims] about the obligation of Zakaah, a matter in
which many Muslims have been too careless and lenient.
Many do not offer their Zakaah in accordance to what has
been legislated in the religion, despite its greatness and its be‐
ing one of the five pillars of Islam without which it (Islam)
cannot stand. The Prophet () said:
“Islam has been built (by Allah) upon five: The testi‐
mony (Shahaadah) that none has the right to be wor‐
shipped except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Mes‐
senger of Allah (Laa ilaaha ill‐Allah, Muhammad‐ur‐
Rasoolullaah); establishing Salaah, giving Zakaah, Fast‐
ing (Sawm) the month of Ramadan, and performing Hajj
to the House [of Allah] (the Ka’bah).” (Bukhari and Mus‐
lim)
The fact that Zakaah is an obligation upon the Muslims is one
of the most apparent indications of the beauty of Islam and the
concern it has for its adherents. The benefits of Zakaah are in‐
deed numerous, and [it has been made obligatory] due to the
dire need of the poor amongst the Muslims.

From its benefits are the following:
1. 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.
2. It purifies and cleanses the soul and distances it from greed
and avarice, as indicated in the Noble Qur`aan when Allah ()
says:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا
“Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to pu‐
rify them and sanctify them with it.” [Surah at‐Tawbah
(9):103]
3. It causes Muslims to grow accustomed to performing acts of
generosity, hospitality and empathy towards those who are in
need.
4. It brings increase and blessings to one’s wealth, and Allah
replaces it (the wealth given as charity with something better),
as Allah () said:
وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرازِقِينَ
“And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allahʹs
Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of provid‐
ers.” [Surah as‐Saba ́ (34):39]
In a Saheeh (authentic) hadeeth, the Prophet () 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 () said:
وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضةَ وَلا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ االلهِ
فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ * يَوْمَ يُحْمَى عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنمَ فَتُكْوَى بِهَا
جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ نْفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا
كُنْتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ
“And those who hoard up gold and silver [al‐kanz: the
mony, 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 treas‐