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(3) Giving Tithe (Zakat)
The tithe (zakat) consists of giving one-fortieth of one’s savings
annually to the poor and destitute; more may be given as charity
(sadaqah), but the rate for the tithe is permanently fixed for all, rich
and poor as a percentage of wealth, as are the categories of poor
who may receive it. God says: …. But what you give as tithe, seeking
God’s Countenance, such [of you who do so]—they are the receivers of
manifold increase. (Al-Rum, 30:39)
Thus, apart from its crucial social function, the tithe serves
to detach people from the world, and in so doing brings spiritual
growth and blessings. It is also an act of compassion and sentiment
towards others, for the sake of God. God says:
And they give food, despite [their] love of it to the needy,
and the orphan, and the prisoner. / “We feed you only
for the sake of God. We do not desire any reward from you, nor
any thanks”. (Al-Insan, 76:8–9)
(4) Fasting (Siyam) the Holy Month of Ramadan annually
The fast consists not only of abstaining from food, drink, smoking
and sexual contact during the whole of the holy month of Ramadan
from before sunrise to sunset, but also—and equally importantly—
from sin, especially gossip, slander, and anger. Fasting serves to
detach people from their bodies and their egos. Thus God says in
the Qur’an:
O
you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as
it was prescribed for those before you, that perhaps you
may ward off [evil]. (Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
And the Prophet said: “God says: ‘Every deed of the son of
Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it…’ ” 21
In every other deed—including charity and prayer—the ego
21 Sahih Al-Bukhari; Kitab Al-Sawm, no. 1761; Sahih Muslim; Kitab Al-Sawm, no. 1946.
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