Spirit of Ramadan

ZAKAT: AN ANNUAL REMINDER OF GOD’S GIFTS just as everyone is expected to sympathize with those afflicted by adversity. This feeling should be so well developed that one should have no hesitancy about sharing one’s possessions with others, or coming to their assistance, even when it is clear that nothing can be expected in return. Even where there are no ties of friendship, one should be a well-wisher of others and guard their honour as if it were one’s own. Society should be so ordered that people fortunately placed in life should come to the assistance of their less fortunate brothers. The observance of Zakat is a way of acknowledging this fact of life. Islam desires that private wealth should be considered as belonging to God, and therefore should be spent in the way as ordained by God. In doing so, no one should consider that he is conferring a great favour upon those less well-endowed than himself and should in no way be condescending to the recipients of his charity. When a man gives alms to others, he should do so with the knowledge that they have a rightful share in his wealth, for this is as God has ordained. He is doing no more than giving others their due. But when he gives, he can feel reassured that he himself will be given succour by his Maker on the Day of Judgment. In giving to others, he knows for certain that he will not be denied by God at the Last Reckoning. ZAKAT: AN ANNUAL REMINDER OF GOD’S GIFTS Zakat brings the realization that all of one’s possessions are gifts from God and makes one keenly aware of the virtues of devotion to God. In the light of such awareness, one cannot remain insensitive to the needs of the society in which one lives.