THE USES OF ALMS- TAX (ZAKAT) AND ITS DETAILS

      When a government is being newly established, having a public- purse will be inevitable for various rightful expenditures. The prophet formed the public-purse of Medina, with alms and offerings, and particularly with alms- tax which is termed, `ZAKطT' in Islam's religion.

      The above verse shows the uses of ZAKAT in brief, so that it might not be diverted to other uses. Here eight cases to which the alms- tax is applicable has been mentioned as follows:

      1- To the poor. 2- To the needy.

      The poor in religious terms, is the honourable person whose income is not satisfactory, and does not balance his expenses for necessities. In spite of all his needs he asks not for help, the NEEDY has not a certain and specified income, and begs for his sustenance and livelihood.

      3- Those who work for collecting the alms.

      These are the staff and workers whose duty is to collect, keep, and guard the alms, and they are paid a regular salary from the Public Purse.

      4- For gaining hearts.

      There are some people who have no spiritual stimulant for struggle in the way of God. This article is applicable to any Muslim or non- Muslim whose service and affection to Islam can be obtained by offerings.

      5- Ransoming the slaves.

      Holding slaves, and slavery in general, is an anti- human anti- Islam act. Islam from its beginnig, use various tactics, such as buying the slave and freeing him for the sake of God, to encourage man to give an end to slavery. So in here a share of the alms- tax is dedicated to release the slaves from the snare of the slave masters.

      6- To save those who run into debt, and cannot pay back what they owe.

      7- In the way of Allah.

      Those who are striving and struggling in the way of God, like; teaching, fighting, guarding, and etc., and who are unable to earn their ordinary living; they must be supported from the public purse.

      8- And to the wayfarer.

      A traveller who has not enough provision, and remaind in mid of his way, can be given from the alms- tax enough to reach his destination.

ZAKAT IN OTHER RELIGIONS

      In the other Abrahamic religions, such as the Mossaic Law or the Christians creed, paying the alms- tax, or what they call it the TITHS, has been made incumbent upon the Jews as well as the Christians. The following is some quotations from the Bible.

EXODUS - 25

      The Lord said to Moses: ``Tell the Israelites to make an offering to Me. These offering are to be gold, silver, and brons; fine linen, blue, purple and red wool. Cloths made of goat's wool. Rams skin dyed red. Fine leather, Acacia wood. Lamp oil, anoiting oil, carnelians and other Jewel.''

MALACHI - 3 : 6-9

      I ask you; is it right for a person to cheat God? Yet you are cheating me! You cheat Me in the matter of TITH and offerings. Bring the full amount of TITH in the temples so that there be plenty of food in the temple (for the poor and needy) Then I will open the windows of heaven, and pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things.

MATTHEW - 6: 2-4

      When you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people may see and prasie them! I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter, and your Father who sees what you do in private will reward you.

1- CORINTHIANS - 16: 2

      Every sunday, each of you must put aside some money in proportion to what he has earned, and save it up. Then we shall send them to Jerusalem for our fellow believers.   TRANSLATOR'S NOTE