Zakaat - A Perpetual Investment

It is the desire of every person to earn an everlasting fortune – a fortune that never diminishes nor depletes at any time. Instead, its profits and returns continue to increase at every second.

Allah Ta‘ala has blessed us with the opportunity of acquiring such a fortune through discharging zakaat. When one discharges zakaat, he acquires a perpetual investment – the investment of the Aakhirah (Hereafter) which never diminishes at anytime. Rather, it perpetually grows and increases, so much so that when one will reach the Hereafter, he will find that the reward for a single date that he had spent in charity for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala will be even greater than a mountain.

Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The person who gives the equivalent of a date in charity, from pure earnings, and Allah Ta‘ala only accepts that which is pure, then Allah Ta‘ala accepts it with His right hand (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala accepts it and is pleased with it) and causes it to grow (and increase) for the one who gave it, just as one of you grows his foal (baby horse), until the sadaqah becomes like a mountain (i.e. in size and weight on the scales. In the narration of Muslim Shareef, it is recorded that Allah Ta‘ala causes it to grow until the sadaqah becomes even greater than a mountain).” ^[5]

In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta‘ala mentions the immense rewards one receives for spending wealth in charity:

مَثَلُ الَّذِيْنَ يُنْفِقُوْنَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِيْ كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللهُ يُضٰعِفُ لِمَنْ يَّشَاءُ وَاللهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ

 The example of those who spend their wealth in the path of Allah Ta‘ala is like that of a grain that produced seven ears, each ear having a hundred grains in it, and Allah Ta‘ala multiplies the reward for whom He wills, and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. ^[6]

However, the condition for this investment to thrive is for one to fulfil the obligation from halaal wealth, in accordance with the sunnah, and with sincerity.

There are great rewards promised in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for spending optional charity in the path of Allah Ta‘ala. However, the greatest rewards promised are for discharging the fardh obligation of zakaat. Thus, the reward for discharging zakaat is far greater than the reward one receives for optional charity, provided one discharges the zakaat correctly and with ikhlaas (sincerity).

^[1] عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة والحج وصوم رمضان (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: ٨)

^[2] وفرضت في السنة الثانية قبل فرض رمضان (الدر المختار 2/256)

^[3] مراسيل أبي داود، الرقم: 105، وقال المنذري في الترغيب والترهيب، الرقم: 1112: رواه أبو داود في المراسيل ورواه الطبراني والبيهقي وغيرهما عن جماعة من الصحابة مرفوعا متصلا والمرسل أشبه، و قال ابن الغرس ضعيف لكن ورد له شواهد (كشف الخفاء 1/ 415)

^[4] المعجم الأوسط للطبراني، الرقم: 1579، وقال الهيثمي في مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 4334: إسناده حسن

^[5] صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 1410، صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1014، فتح الباري 3/280

^[6] سورة البقرة: 261