1. Zakat Brings One Closer to Allah and Earns His Pleasure and Mercy
Zakat, being a divine command, is first and foremost a means of seeking the pleasure of Allah. The Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] informed us through a sacred hadith that performing obligatory acts and maintaining voluntary worship draws the servant nearer to his Lord and earns His love:
“Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I declare war upon him.
My servant draws near to Me through nothing more beloved to Me than the obligations I have enjoined upon him. Then My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts until I love him.
And when I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his tongue with which he speaks, his hand with which he grasps, his foot with which he walks, and his heart with which he understands.
If he asks of Me, I will surely grant him; if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.”
From this hadith, we understand that Allah loves the servant who fulfills the obligations and perseveres in voluntary deeds, granting him divine favor and special assistance.
2. Zakat Embodies the Attribute of Divine Generosity (Al-Jawad)
To be adorned with the attributes of Allah means to reflect, within human capacity, the noble qualities that Allah has revealed through His Names and Attributes. The believer seeks to resemble his Lord — not in essence, but in conduct and spirit — for love naturally inspires imitation.
Among Allah’s beautiful attributes is Al-Jawād, “The Most Generous, the One who bestows abundantly.” To adopt this attribute is to be generous to people and all creatures, giving from the blessings Allah has entrusted to us. Just as a lover strives to resemble the beloved, the true servant seeks nearness to his Lord by manifesting His divine qualities — mercy, generosity, patience, forgiveness — within the bounds of human ability.
May Allah, the Exalted, adorn us with the beauty of His Names and Attributes. Amin.
3. Zakat Purifies Wealth
Zakat cleanses both wealth and the hearts of people — the giver, the receiver, and society as a whole — from material and spiritual corruption. The Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] called zakat “the impurity of wealth”, meaning that it purifies property from the unlawful portion belonging to others.
For the poor have a rightful share in the wealth of the rich. When one withholds zakat, he pollutes his wealth and causes resentment, envy, and social discord — breeding greed, hostility, and imbalance in society.
Imam al-Sha‘rani [quddisa sirruhu] beautifully explained this:
“Allah, the Exalted, has granted certain rights to the poor within the wealth of the rich. He has made it obligatory upon the wealthy to deliver these rights, for they are trustees of the wealth Allah has bestowed upon them.
If the wealth truly belonged to the owner in full, there would be no divine warning for withholding zakat. Therefore, the wealth designated for zakat is not the owner’s—it is the right of the poor.”
Just as prayer (salah) is a right of Allah upon His servants, zakat is a right of the poor upon the wealthy. For this reason, Allah often mentions zakat alongside prayer in the Qur’an.
4. Zakat Purifies the Body and Soul
Zakat not only purifies wealth but also cleanses the body and soul of the giver. It protects the heart from destructive ailments such as greed, envy, pride, and attachment to material possessions.
Man was created to be a servant of Allah, not a slave to wealth. When a person gives for the sake of Allah, he breaks the chains of materialism and attains spiritual freedom.
Imam al-Sha‘rani [quddisa sirruhu] said:
“Zakat purifies the bodies and souls from every impurity, illness, affliction, and moral defect. It softens hardened hearts, removes division, and restores harmony. As Allah says:
‘Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify and uplift them.’ (At-Tawbah, 103)”
Thus, zakat is both a physical and spiritual cleansing — it purifies wealth externally and purifies the soul internally.
5. Zakat Prevents Miserliness and Cultivates Generosity
Generosity is one of the attributes of Allah, while miserliness is a disease of the heart that leads to destruction. Man, by nature, is prone to selfishness and attachment to worldly gain.
By giving zakat and charity, a believer cures his heart of greed and learns to give joyfully for the sake of Allah. He comes to realize that generosity is a reflection of divine mercy — that giving purifies wealth and elevates the soul. Each act of generosity brings him closer to the One who is The Most Generous, and he strives to mirror this divine quality in his own limited capacity.
6. Zakat Brings Blessing and Increase in Wealth
Though outwardly zakat seems to diminish one’s wealth, in reality it brings increase and blessing (barakah). When one gives willingly and cheerfully for the sake of Allah, he earns not only the prayers of the poor but also divine favor.
Allah, in turn, removes harm from his wealth, opens paths of benefit, and multiplies his sustenance. The wealth given in zakat becomes everlasting — transformed into eternal reward that grows manifold in the Hereafter.
It also contributes to social prosperity, as the circulation of wealth enables others to work, produce, and live with dignity.
Allah, the Most High, promises in the Qur’an:
“Whatever you give in charity, seeking Allah’s pleasure, it is these who will have their reward multiplied.” (Ar-Rum, 39)
Thus, zakat does not deplete wealth — it sanctifies it, blesses it, and transforms it into light that endures forever.
