Charity

Now we know that charity is an incredibly important part of the muslim way of life,

because it goes all the way from a tax system for the whole community

right down to one person giving someone else a smile,

but these are so different that we really have to think about it

to work out what they have in common.

Because the Zakat is compulsory for the community,

being part of their Islam,

it has rules giving details of just what is required of whom,

whereas Sadaqah is voluntary

just part of being good,

so it's not possible for it to have too much in the way of rules,

more like guidelines.

Zakat is to do with the value of goods,

that part of our lives which enables us to feed, clothe, shelter and protect ourselves.

We calculate how much we have and share some of it with the poor by giving it away.

Which is also a kind of Sadaqah,

because even though it is compulsory it is still being freely given.

The first requirements for Zakat are that

the obligation can only be on someone who is free and muslim,

male or female, young or old,

and it is said to apply to all, whether of sound mind or mad.

You can't get away with giving all your money to a crazy close relative in your care.

Nor can you pay your Zakat with someone else's property,

you can only give from what you personally own.

And that is an essential part of Zakat that it shares with all Sadaqah,

that you only give what is yours to give,

and certainly no-one else can claim ownership of your smile.

Nor,

if you are free and not a slave,

can they claim ownership of your time,

or the right to any effort that you might expend in an attempt

to relieve another's suffering or distress,

and sometimes these kinds of Sadaqah

can prove to be more useful than mere material goods.

And unlike Zakat, Sadaqah can be given to anybody.

Charity can go through all our relationships,

as it is the loving giving and sharing that keeps a community united,

but the Zakat hands out community money

and so the sort of people it can be given to are also defined.

The people have to be able to see the justice of what is being done with their money.

And the Zakat was not the only tax that was claimed from the community,

as the Messenger also took one fifth of all the spoils of war,

known as the Khums,

to distribute amongst the most impoverished in the community,

but the people on whom this money could be spent was less narrowly defined.

The Zakat cannot be given to a rich man,

or used to pay a debt on behalf of someone.

The money can only go to those too poor to pay the Zakat,

and it is up to them to pay their debts if they have them.

Or the Zakat can be used to help travellers in need,

converts and captives,

or the expenses of those in charge of collecting the Zakat for distribution.

But then again, there is another category of person

that is considered a suitable recipient of the Zakat,

which is someone considered to be "on God's path".

But exactly what is meant by "God's path" is extremely vague,

meaning it has been possible over the years

to use the Zakat to fund the general welfare of the community

in such things as public works and community education.

God may provide us with specific guidance,

but God also tends to leave us room

for human insight and creativity.