Imaam Ibn Qudaamah Al-Maqdisi rahimahullaah said:
Know verily, that, certain understanding and attitudes are made compulsory upon the one who seek to give out zakah.
Knowing these qualities will make his zakah to be accepted by Allah.
Among these are;
♦ Understanding the objectives of zakah.
It tests the degree of love for Allah, eliminates miserliness from the heart and it makes one among those people that shows gratitude to Allah.
♦ Giving Zakah in secret.
Giving zakah in secret saves one from showing-off and seeking reputation. Giving zakah openly may harm the poor recipient when he feels humiliated.
However, when he fears that he may be accused by people of not giving out zakah, then he should give it out openly to the poor recipient whose dignity will not be injured by so doing.
♦ Not to make the zakah worthless by reproach and injury.
one should not invalidate his zakah by scorning and hurting people’s feeling.
And these happen when the giver of the zakah sees the recipients as the benefactors because of what he gave out of his wealth.
But in reality, it is the poor recipient that did good to the donor by collecting what Has been apportioned to him by Allah in order to purify the wealth of the donor. The donor should not see the poor recipients as insignificant people, for one’s status in the side of Allah is not weighing with wealth nor poverty but it is weigh with piety.
Thus, there is no difference between the donor and the poor recipients.
One should, moreover, realize that by giving out zakah, one is actually showing gratitude to Allah for what He has bestowed upon him of wealth.
♦ Showing humbleness.
One should see what he donates as little and insignificant, for to regard it as great may lead to arrogance which is one of the deadly sins.
♦ Giving out zakah from what is good and lawful.
One should know that, Allah is good and does not accept but that which is good.
Thus, zakah should be given from the best of one’s wealth.
In this regard, Allah, says in Suratu Al-Baqarah, verse 267;
(ولا تيمموا الخبيث منه تنفقون ) [ البقرة: ٢٦٧]
“Do not aim at what is bad that you may spend (in alms) of it..”
♦ Searching for those people who are most worthy and deserving of the zakah.
one should seek out a truly worthy recipient for his zakah. These are the most deserving ones within the eight categories of legally qualified beneficiaries.
Among these generally eligible people, there are some with special attributes and qualities.
InshaAllah, we will mention some of these qualities in our next daily post.
Allaahu A’alam
Baarakallaahu feekum
