The Obligation of al-Zakat (charity) and Necessary Payments from Properties

إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يُعْطِي هَؤُلَاءِ جَمِيعاً لِأَنَّهُمْ يُقِرُّونَ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانُوا لَا يَعْرِفُونَ فَقَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ لَوْ كَانَ يُعْطِي مَنْ يَعْرِفُ دُونَ مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ لَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهَا مَوْضِعٌ وَ إِنَّمَا يُعْطِي مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ لِيَرْغَبَ فِي الدِّينِ فَيَثْبُتَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَلَا تُعْطِهَا أَنْتَ وَ أَصْحَابُكَ إِلَّا مَنْ يَعْرِفُ فَمَنْ وَجَدْتَ مِنْ هَؤ

“Once we both asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, in the following verse of the Holy Quran. ‘Charity funds (zakat) are only for the poor, the destitute, and the tax collectors. (It is also for the) people whose hearts are inclined (toward Islam), the slaves, those who ca

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَمَّا أُنْزِلَتْ آيَةُ الزَّكَاةِ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَ تُزَكِّيهِمْ‌ بِها[2] وَ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مُنَادِيَهُ فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ الزَّكَاةَ كَمَا فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَفَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ فَرَضَ الصَّدَقَةَ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ و

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, has said that once this verse of the Holy Quran was revealed to the Messenger of Allah. ‘Collect religious tax (zakat) from them to purify and cle

يَقُولُ‌ مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ شَيْئاً أَشَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ فِيهَا تَهْلِكُ عَامَّتُهُمْ

“I heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘No other obligation that Allah has made compulsory upon this nation is of more intensity than zakat. In the matter of zakat most of them face their destruction.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ جَعَلَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ فِي أَمْوَالِ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مَا يَكْفِيهِمْ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَزَادَهُمْ وَ إِنَّمَا يُؤْتَوْنَ مِنْ مَنْعِ مَنْ مَنَعَهُمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has assigned in properties of affluent people a share for the needy that is sufficient to meet their need; otherwise, He would have increased such share. Shortages come from non-payment of those who do not pay.”

قَالا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الزَّكَاةَ مَعَ الصَّلَاةِ

“Abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that Allah has made zakat obligatory along with Salah (prayer).”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَضَعَ الزَّكَاةَ قُوتاً لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَ تَوْفِيراً لِأَمْوَالِكُمْ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has made zakat as means of living for the needy and to increase your properties.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الزَّكَاةَ كَمَا فَرَضَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا حَمَلَ الزَّكَاةَ فَأَعْطَاهَا عَلَانِيَةً لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْهِ فِي ذَلِكَ عَيْبٌ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ فِي أَمْوَالِ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ مَا يَكْتَفُونَ بِهِ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الَّذِي فَرَضَ لَهُمْ لَا يَكْفِيهِمْ لَزَادَهُمْ وَ إِنَّمَا يُؤْتَى الْفُقَرَاءُ فِيمَا أُتُوا[1] م

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has made paying zakat compulsory as He has made performing of Salah (prayer) obligatory. If a man pays zakat publicly, it is not a blamable thing to do. It is because Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has assigned a share in t

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ فِي أَمْوَالِ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ فَرِيضَةً لَا يُحْمَدُونَ إِلَّا بِأَدَائِهَا وَ هِيَ الزَّكَاةُ بِهَا حَقَنُوا دِمَاءَهُمْ وَ بِهَا سُمُّوا مُسْلِمِينَ وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ فِي أَمْوَالِ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ حُقُوقاً غَيْرَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ‌[2] فَالْحَقُّ الْمَعْلُومُ مِنْ غَيْرِ الزَّكَاةِ وَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has made it compulsory on affluent people to pay the share of the needy people from their properties and the affluent people will not be praised unless they pay the share of needy people. This share is zakat. Paying zakat protects their

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَعَنَا بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ الْأَمْوَالِ فَذَكَرُوا الزَّكَاةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ لَيْسَ يُحْمَدُ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا وَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ شَيْ‌ءٌ ظَاهِرٌ إِنَّمَا حَقَنَ بِهَا دَمَهُ وَ سُمِّيَ بِهَا مُسْلِماً وَ لَوْ لَمْ يُؤَدِّهَا لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَهُ صَلَاةٌ وَ إِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ غَيْرَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ وَ مَا عَلَيْنَ

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from abu af-Maghra’ from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. With us, there were certain wealthier persons. People spoke about zakat. Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alay

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ. لِلسَّائِلِ وَ الْمَحْرُومِ‌ أَ هُوَ سِوَى الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يُؤْتِيهِ اللَّهُ الثَّرْوَةَ مِنَ الْمَالِ فَيُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ الْأَلْفَ وَ الْأَلْفَيْنِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْآلَافِ وَ الْأَقَلَّ وَ الْأَكْثَرَ فَيَصِلُ بِهِ رَحِمَهُ وَ يَحْمِلُ بِهِ الْكَلَّ عَنْ قَوْمِهِ.

“In the following words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, there is the expression, ‘certain share’: ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (70:25) Whether ’certain share’ stands for zakat or something else, the Imam said, ‘It is the property t

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَجُلًا جَاءَ إِلَى أَبِي عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ. لِلسَّائِلِ وَ الْمَحْرُومِ‌ مَا هَذَا الْحَقُّ الْمَعْلُومُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع الْحَقُّ الْمَعْلُومُ الشَّيْ‌ءُ يُخْرِجُهُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ مَالِهِ لَيْسَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ لَا مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ الْم

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Once a man came to my father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), and said, “Please tell me about the expression ‘certain share’. The words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, say, ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (

الْمَحْرُومُ الْمُحَارَفُ الَّذِي قَدْ حُرِمَ كَدَّ يَدِهِ فِي الشِّرَاءِ وَ الْبَيْعِ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُمَا قَالا الْمَحْرُومُ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بِعَقْلِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ لَمْ يُبْسَطْ لَهُ فِي الرِّزْقِ وَ هُوَ مُحَارَفٌ‌[4].

“In the following words of Allah there is the expression ‘deprived’: ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (70:25) Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘“Deprived” is a professional who no longer is able to benefit from the labor of his hands in busi

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَسَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ فِي كَمْ تَجِبُ الزَّكَاةُ مِنَ الْمَالِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الزَّكَاةَ الظَّاهِرَةَ أَمِ الْبَاطِنَةَ تُرِيدُ فَقَالَ أُرِيدُهُمَا جَمِيعاً فَقَالَ أَمَّا الظَّاهِرَةُ فَفِي كُلِّ أَلْفٍ خَمْسَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ وَ أَمَّا الْبَاطِنَةُ فَلَا تَسْتَأْثِرْ عَلَى أَخِيكَ بِمَا هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكَ.[5]

The Imam asked him, ‘Do you mean thereby the apparent or unapparent zakat?’ He replied, ‘I mean both kinds.’ The Imam said, ‘The apparent kind is twenty-five due upon every one thousand. The unapparent kind is what you should not spare from your brother what he needs more than you do.’”

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَرْضٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِلَى غَلَّةٍ تُدْرَكُ‌[1] فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُؤَبُ‌[2] قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِلَى عُقْدَةٍ تُبَاعُ فَقَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَنْتَ مِمَّنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فِي أَمْوَالِنَا حَقّاً ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِيس

“Once a man came in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, and appealed, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah, grant me a loan until I am able to pay back.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, asked, ‘Do you want to borrow until the time you harvest your plantation?’ The man answered, ‘No, by Allah, (I do not have any plantation).

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِعَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِ‌ يَا عَمَّارُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ مَالٍ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَتُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتُخْرِجُ الْحَقَّ الْمَعْلُومَ مِنْ مَالِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتَصِلُ قَرَابَتَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَ تَصِلُ إِخْوَانَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ يَا عَمَّارُ إِنَّ الْمَالَ يَفْنَى وَ الْبَدَنَ يَبْلَى وَ ال

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to ‘Ammar al-Sabatiy, ‘O ‘Ammar, do you own a great wealth?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you pay what Allah has made compulsory in the form of zakat?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pay.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you pay “

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقاتُ لِلْفُقَراءِ وَ الْمَساكِينِ‌[5] قَالَ الْفَقِيرُ الَّذِي لَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ وَ الْمِسْكِينُ أَجْهَدُ مِنْهُ وَ الْبَائِسُ أَجْهَدُهُمْ فَكُلُّ مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْكَ فَإِعْلَانُهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ إِسْرَارِهِ وَ كُلُّ مَا كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً فَإِسْرَارُهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ إِعْلَانِهِ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا يَحْمِلُ زَكَاة

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Charities are for the poor and the destitute. . .’ (9:60) The Imam said, ‘Poor is one who does not ask people for help, destitute is one of a worse condition, and hopeless is even of a worse condition. Paying, what Allah, t

هِيَ سِوَى الزَّكَاةِ إِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ عَلَانِيَةٌ غَيْرُ سِرٍّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘. . . If you pay it privately to the needy, it is better for you. . . .’ (2:273), has said, ‘This payment is a payment other than compulsory zakat which is paid publicly and not privately.’”

الْفَقِيرُ الَّذِي لَا يَسْأَلُ وَ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي هُوَ أَجْهَدُ مِنْهُ الَّذِي يَسْأَلُ.

“Someone asked the Imam (a.s.), about poor and destitute. He replied, ‘Poor is one who does not ask for help. Destitute is of a worse condition and he asks for help.’”

ذَكَرْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع شَيْئاً فَقَالَ اصْبِرْ فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ يَصْنَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَخَّرَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِمَّا عَجَّلَ لَهُ فِيهَا ثُمَّ صَغَّرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ قَالَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هِيَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ النِّعْمَةِ عَلَى خَطَرٍ إِنَّهُ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ حُقُوقُ اللَّهِ فِيهَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَتَكُونُ عَلَيَّ

“I mentioned something before al-Rida (a.s.), and he said, ’Exercise patience. I hope Allah will do something good for you if He so wills.’ He then said, ’By Allah, He does not delay anything from a believer of the worldly things unless it is better for him than to do it for him quickly.’ He then belittled worldly thin