Social Benefits of Zakat
They point to things like good intention, good behavior, generosity, sacrifice, kindness, beneficence, etc, all of which can be found in paying Zakat.
Here are some social benefits of paying Zakat:
Enhancing fraternity
The Holy Quran says that believers are brothers (Verse 9 of Surah Al-Hujurat). It also says: “If they repent and establish the prayer and pay the obligatory charity, they shall become your brothers in the religion. So We make plain Our verses for a nation that knows.” (Verse 11 of Surah At-Tawbah)
So a requirement for fraternity is paying Zakat, in addition to repentance and saying prayers.
Removing spitefulness
By paying Zakat, the deprived people’s spitefulness turns into kindness and friendship, which will contribute to the promotion of cooperation and helping one another in society and protection of the Islamic society’s achievements.
Bringing deprived people out of isolation
Poverty and destitution force people into pessimism, hopelessness and isolation. But when Khums and Zakat are paid and people’s economic problems are solved with them, happiness will grow in society and people’s presence in social scenes will grow.
Promotion of empathy in society
Paying Zakat brings hearts closer together and prepares the society to resolve problems. If the poor know they have a share in the profits of the rich, they will have a motivation to strive for resolving the society’s problems as much as they can.
Removing poverty
A major problem in all societies is the existence of poverty, hunger and shortages and one way to confront them is giving serious attention to paying Khums and Zakat.
Creating jobs
Unemployment is another important problem in societies that can cause many other problems. If people pay Khums and Zakat as they are required to, the economy will start developing and many of those who are jobless will find a job.
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On the other hand, if people stop paying Khums and Zakat and abandon charity activities, there would be pressure on the poor, which could turn into disorder in society and that will harm everyone.
Reducing social vices
Accumulation of too much wealth could lead to corruption but paying Khums and Zakat creates a balance in people’s wealth and properties and prevents corruption. Poverty can also lead to corruption in the form of theft, taking bribes, etc. When the poor receive Khums and Zakat, the grounds for such corruption is removed. So paying Khums and Zakat plays an important role in curbing social vices.
Protecting the poor’s reputation
Most often, poverty threatens one’s reputation. Paying Khums and Zakat removes poverty and thus protects people’s reputation.
Removing wealth disparities
Khums and Zakat are means for adjusting wealth. Islam keeps the path open for those who are talented, creative and innovative to work and grow rich. It also bans incomes obtained from improper ways such as Riba (usury), theft, bribery, embezzlement, etc. On the other hand, Islam does not allow those who earn money through Halal means to spend their money in wastefulness and extravagance. Islam has also made it obligatory for Muslims to pay Khums, Zakat, Sadqat (charity), etc, in order to resolve the problems of the deprived people.
