Benefits of Paying Zakat in Personal Life

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Paying Zakat is among Islam’s commands and doing it has many advantages and benefits for the person.

Some of these advantages are as follows:

Curing parsimoniousness

Parsimoniousness is a flaw that leads to other flaws such as disregarding people, cruelty, losing good friends, having doubts about God’s promises, humiliation of character, failing to trust others, etc.

The Holy Quran says: “Whosoever is saved from the greed of his own soul, they are the ones who win.” (Verse 9 of Surah Al-Hashr and Verse 16 of Surah Al-Taghabun)

Maybe in Verse 103 of Surah At-Tawbah in which God tells the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to “Collect religious tax (zakat) from them to purify and cleanse them and pray for them,” what is meant by purifying and cleansing is purifying and cleansing from parsimoniousness.

Imam Sadiq (AS) said anyone who pays Zakat is saved from Bukhl (parsimoniousness).

Blessing One’s Rizq (sustenance)

The words Zakat and Barakat (blessing) both come 32 times in the Quran, showing that Zakat equals Barakat. Paying Zakat brings blessing just as when you cut off the branches of a grapevine, it actually leads to its growth and brings many more branches.

The Quran says in Verse 276 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “God makes unlawful interest devoid of all blessings and causes charity to increase.”

And there are many Hadiths according to which Zakat brings increased Rizq.

Insuring one’s wealth

Imam Kadhim (AS) said: Insure your properties by paying Zakat.

And Imam Sadiq (AS) said that if you pay Zakat, your properties are guaranteed not to be wasted in the sea and on the land.

Becoming cherished before God

Imam Sadiq (AS) said that one who is loved most by God is the most generous person and the most generous person is one who pays Zakat.

Getting closer to God

Imam Sadiq (AS) said God has made Zakat a means for people to get closer to Him.

Receiving God’s special mercy

We read in the Quran, (Verses 156 of Surah Al’Aaraf and 71 of Surah At-Tawbah): “My Mercy embraces all things. I will write it (My Mercy) to those who are cautious, give the obligatory charity, and believe in Our verses.”

God also says in Verse 12 of Surah Al-Anaam: “I shall be with you and if you establish the prayers and pay the obligatory charity.”

Becoming God-like

Just as God has spread His mercy all over the world, one who pays Zakat spreads his favor to those in need and hence develops God-like character in himself and becomes a manifestation of God’s mercy.

Escaping punishment

Unbelievers can escape punishment by repenting, saying prayers and paying Zakat. “If they repent and establish the prayer and pay the obligatory charity, let them go their way. Allah is Forgiving and the Most Merciful.” (Verse 5 of Surah At-Tawbah)

Prayers answered

According to Hadiths, anyone who wants his prayers to be answered must make his income Halal and one way to do that is paying Zakat and Khums.

Salah accepted

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said pay zakat so that you Salah will be accepted.

Properties become lasting

Paying Zakat is saving for the Day of Judgment, so it makes our money and property lasting.

Sweet life

Imam Sadiq (AS) said if people pay what they are required to pay (Zakat, Khums, etc), they will certainly have a sweet life.