The Philosophy of Zakāt — Page 26
26 The B lessin gs of P aying the Zak ā t The importance of paying the Zak ā t may also be judged from the fact that the Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, always used to supplicate on behalf of those who paid it. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abi Aufa, God be pleased with him, has related: ‘When the people brought the Zak ā t offerings to the Most Favored Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he used to supplicate in these words, “O Allah, shower Thy mercy on the progeny of such and such a man, the son of such and such a man. ” When my fath er brought his due Zak ā t to the Holy Prophet, he prayed, “O Allah, shower Thy mercy on the progeny of Abi Aufa. ”‘ The above Tradition has been reported both by Bukhari and Muslim. And there is another report which says: ‘Whenever anyone brought his Zak ā t to the Holy Prophet, he used to supplicate, “O Allah, shower Thy blessings on this man. ”‘ Why H as S o G reat A n I mportance B een G iven to Zak ā t? As I have already mentioned before you, the basic aim and object of Zak ā t is sympathy for mankind; rendering assistance to the poor; to raise the standard of life of those who had been left unprovided and to protect them from mental and social