The Philosophy of Zakāt — Page 16
THE PH ILOSOPHY OF ZAKAT 16 ‘A guidance and good tidings to those who would believe, who observe Prayer and pay the Zak ā t, and have firm faith in the hereafter. ’ ( 27:3 - 4 ) One can see in the Holy Quran that Prayer and the Zak ā t have been bracketed together, not once but twenty - seven times. God Almighty says: ‘And observe Prayer and pay the Zak ā t; and whatever good you send on before you for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah; surely, Allah sees all that you do. ’ ( 2:111 ) ‘But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zak ā t, then they are your brethren in faith. And We explain the Signs for a people who have knowledge. ’ ( 9:11 )This refers to the disbelievers and those who associate other gods with Allah. Zak ā t , along with observing Prayer, is stated to be the true sign of Islam. We read: ‘Those who, if We establish them in the earth, will observe Prayer and pay the Zak ā t and enjoin good and forbid evil. And with Allah rests the final issue of all affairs. ’ ( 22:42 ) And again we read: ‘…and especially those who observe Prayer and those who pay the Zak ā t and those who believe in Allah and the Last Day. To these We will surely give a great reward. ’ ( 4:163 )