Is there any reason to give money to the needy?

Of the five fundamentals of Islam, Zakat occupies the second position (after the shahada), the first being prayer. This word is derived from the verb ‘Zaka’, which means: ‘It (a plant) grew.’ The second derivative of this word carries the sense of purification, e.g., ‘Qad aflaha man zakkaha (he is indeed successful who purifies himself). Spending the wealth for the sake of Allah purifies the heart of man of the love of material wealth. The man who spends offers that as a humble gift before the Lord and thus affirms the truth that nothing is dearer to him in life than the love of Allah and that he is fully prepared to sacrifice everything for His sake. There is no burden of obligation on one who receives Zakat, but a sense of thankfulness and gratitude on the part of the giver, since has been enabled by the recipient to discharge his obligation that he owes to Allah and society. Zakat is paid on surplus of wealth that is left over after the passage of a year. It is thus a payment on the accumulated wealth. Leaving aside animals and agricultural yield, Zakat is paid at almost a uniform rate of 2 ½%.





The minimum standard of surplus wealth over which Zakat is charged is known as ‘Nisab’. It differs with different kinds of property, the most important being nearly 21 OZ in case of silver and 3 OZ in case of gold. The Nisab of cash is the same as that of gold and silver. Twenty percent of buried treasure, i.e. wealth that does not imply exertion of effort in collecting it; as for agricultural crops that require labour to gain, Zakat would be 10% and it is known as `Ushur (tenth). If the land is irrigated by artificial methods, one-twentieth part of the yield is to be paid as Zakat. Should the land producing the yield be in need on constant labour and catering, then the owner is bound to pay one-fortieth of the produce. There is no Zakat on less than five camels, but if the person pays it out of his own sweet will that would be a voluntary act of charity. Upon five camels the Zakat is one goat, provided they subsist upon pasture throughout the year, because Zakat is due only upon such camels as live on pasture and not upon those which are fed in the house with fodder. One goat is due upon any number of camels from five to nine, and two goats on any number from ten to fourteen. There on any number from fourteen to nineteen and four upon any number from twenty to twenty-four and upon any number of camels from twenty-five to thirty-five, the Zakat is a ‘Bint-al-Makhaz’, that is, a camel’s yearling colt.





No Zakat is due upon fewer than forty goats and upon forty goats that feed for the greater part of the year upon pasture, there is due, at the expiration of the year, Zakat of one goat. One goat is due on thirty cows. As for horses, no Zakat is due on them in the light of the Holy Prophet’s guidance.





The objects and persons on whom Zakat is to be spent are included in the following verse: %26quot;The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed in connection therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for the (freeing of) slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer – an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.%26quot; [9:60]


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Is there any reason to give money to the needy?
muhammed(saw) said the poor will enter Paradise long before the rich. He said save yourself from the fire even with only half a date given in charity.


A society can flourish only when its members do not spend all their wealth to fulfil their own desires but reserve a portion of it for parents, relatives, neighbors, the poor and the debilitated.


The best charity is to satisfy a hungry person, said Prophet Muhammad (SAS). He also said %26quot;No wealth (of a servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity.%26quot; (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2247).


apart from paying the obligatory zakat, even a smile is a charity.kindness, n even removing sumthin harmful from the road is charity.
Reply:I would give money to an organization, ministry or church that caters for the needy.... Not to anybody at a traffic light who poses as a needy person..
Reply:I think it%26#039;s a way of returning the blessings you have received...
Reply:i do it sometimes ... its a good feeeling ..
Reply:Sharing what God has blessed you with, and providing for those who have been less fortunate.
Reply:Not sure what you are talking about in the details. But if you want an answer to your question about giving money to the needy, read Matthew 25:31-46.
Reply:I have given money to people on the street, however, i dont give to charitys. To me, its the Governments job to take care of its people, and if there are charities, then to me the Government isnt doing its job.
Reply:is this a QUESTION?
Reply:I am not going to read your lengthy post and just go by it%26#039;s title, because I have a life.





You do good things without expecting stuff back, because you want to and because it%26#039;s the right thing to do.





There is no religion for that, thats how simple life is.
Reply:The penitent knows the floor. The worthy offers more.
Reply:There shouldn%26#039;t be a reason why u give to the needy u should do it out of the goodness of your heart
Reply:To at least feel like you%26#039;re going to get a blessing in return.
Reply:you got off cheap. Christians are required to tithe 10% (and, as reverend Lovejoy would emphasize, that%26#039;s OFF THE TOP).
Reply:Yes, alms-giving is very important is Islam and for humankind. It shows what the Quran teaches. Remember all of Indonesia converted just by seeing the beauty of Islam from a few hundred sailors.
Reply:Well, the five pillars are the way of live for Muslims. They%26#039;re like the ten commandments for christians. You folow them if u are a good muslim/christian. So, there is a point of giving 2 1/2 savings to the poor. Personally, I would do it even if it wasn%26#039;t one of the pillars, but since it is the one of the pillars, you are required to do it if you want to be a good muslim.
Reply:Always. It%26#039;s not about my benefit. It is the possibility that they will have a good meal or buy something that is meaningful or necessary. I only say no to someone when I have no money on me. It%26#039;s none of my business what they spend it on. I think somehow they know they are being cared for. It%26#039;s my action that is the important piece, not my possible benefit. I have no stake in the outcome. They wouldn%26#039;t ask if they didn%26#039;t need something.
Reply:I help out anybody I can that needs help. It has nothing to do with God. I don%26#039;t like people suffering. I do whatever is possible to help. Give money, food, housing, advice. I will do all possible to help. I don%26#039;t have much, I am disabled and living off of social security. So, I also get charity in a sense. I also contributed alot of money to social security while I was working. Being loving and wanting to end suffering has nothing to do with God. I also love God by the way, but I do not help others for God%26#039;s approval, or to get into heaven. It%26#039;s love for everyone, and understanding.



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