Our Indian correspondent The Kafir takes a close look at zakah, the universal Islamic tax disguised as a charity operation.

Zakah (also written as Zakat):

Not the Poor-Dues, Not the Charity Money, Not the Alms,
But the Permanent Taxation System of Islam

by The Kafir

Quran verse 9:60

“Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler — an obligation [imposed] by Allah . And Allah is All Knowing and Wise.”

This is the Quran verse detailing the uses of Zakah. Let us go over its uses mentioned in the verse, one by one.

Zakah is used for:

1. The poor and the needy. This is the only use that is advertised to kafirs, the only function that is ever talked about in public. In fact, Zakah is always translated as poor-dues or alms or purifying alms; whereas, in reality, it is a tax, as will be shown below. Sayyid Abul A’la Mawdudi, Founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, in his book Let Us Be Muslims^[1] writes:

“Only Muslims are entitled to receive Zakah. The definition of Zakah, as given in hadith is: ‘It will be taken from the wealthy among you and distributed to the poor among you (Bukhari, Muslim).’”

2. Those who collect and manage it. So no need for the collectors and managers of Zakah to steal the “charity” money for their personal use. Allah knows that even the collectors and managers of Zakah also need to run their kitchen.

3. Winning hearts for Islam. This is notable. So kafir leaders can be bribed using Zakah money to make them support, or at least not oppose Islam, or to defect to the camp of Islam. We should not be surprised if in the near future Angela Merkel and other Western and kafir leaders come into a lot of money. Under this heading, the love-jihadists can also be financed. and any convert can also be given money.

Sayyid Abul A’la Mawdudi, Founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, in his book Let Us Be Muslims writes on this use of Zakah:

“These are the people who need to be given money to seek their support for Islam, or to prevent them from opposition. Muslim converts are also included in this category. Those of them who may lose their jobs or homes upon becoming Muslims deserve every help, but even wealthy converts may be given Zakah to reconcile them by showing at first hand the caring nature of Islam. After the battle of Hunayn, the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him, gave so much of the booty to Muslim converts that some Ansars complained about it. He replied: ‘These people have just entered Islam after giving up Kufr, and I want to please their hearts.’ On this basis, Zuhri has defined mu’allafatu ‘l-qulub thus: ‘Any Christian or Jew or non-Muslim who has entered Islam, though he may be a wealthy man.’” (page 235)

4. Muslims who have been taken prisoners in a war by kafirs. Their ransom can be paid out of Zakah money. We may discover in future that a lot of money from Saudi Zakah was spent on freeing prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

5. Helping Muslims who get buried in the mounds of debt.

6. The cause of Allah, that is, jihad. So Zakah can be used to finance jihadists, and jihad operations; and the families of killed jihadists can be supported.

7. Stranded wayfarer. Of course, in those days feeding travellers was a cultural norm.

Remember: the uses listed above are detailed as such in Quran verse 9:60, and thus, being the command of Allah, are beyond disagreement or dispute. This makes it clear that Zakah is anything but charity money. Its uses make it clear that it is a fund at the disposal of Muslim leadership, to be used to further the cause of Islam, to make Islam victorious. It is more in the nature of a tax, much like the revenue collected by a regular government of a country.

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