Islam As It Is
The Five Pillars of Islam
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Zakat
brings the realization that all of one’s posses-
sions are gifts from God and makes one more
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.
Zakat
is a perennial reminder that a selfish
stance is a wrong stance, and that others must be
given their rightful share of our earnings.
One unfortunate aspect of human relationships is
that people tend to give to others only when they
hope to gain something in return. Money, they feel,
should be returned with interest. When such an
understanding becomes a factor in our social
organization, exploitation becomes rampant;
everyone is ready to plunder everyone else. This
results in society falling a pray to oppression and
disorder. No one—whether rich or poor—can be at
peace in a society stricken with this malaise.
Society should be so ordered that the fortunately
placed in life come to the assistance of their less
fortunate brothers, in the knowledge that they will
ultimately be rewarded by God. Believers have the
assurance of God that if they give to others,
