MUHAMMAD’S TEACHINGS TO MANKIND
“ The Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, was asked about prescribed almsgiving (1), so he said, "Indeed, there are rights prescribed on one's wealth(2) other than almsgiving." Then he recited this Qur'anic verse, which is in [the Chapter of] al-Baqarah: "Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward...etc." (2 [al-Baqarah]:177)." Footnotes: (1) (Zakāh) One of the five pillars of Islām: It is a calculated proportion of a Muslim's wealth that is paid annually for the benefit of the needy. It is due on certain assets, once their value reaches a certain threshold and the calculation varies according to the nature of the asset. (2) It is a religious obligation to give charity: 1- in the compulsory form of almsgiving prescribed by God upon His Bondsmen; 2- as a moral obligation in order for the Bondsman to protect himself "from the stinginess of his [own] soul" (59 [al-Hashr]:9). (3) The pertinent part of the verse is: "Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in God , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāt;... (2 [al-Baqarah]:177)." ”
