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tended to promote food security, whereas lump-sum payments were more likely to be spent on durable goods such as furniture. In all cases, however, economic activity and psychological well-being improved. Subsequent work in Kenya, involving the infusion of about US$1,000 to more than 10,500 poor households across 653 randomized villages, suggested that the resulting increase in economic activity also benefited those who did not receive the payments.
“People are strapped, they are struggling, and when they get more money, that frees them up to do more, not less,” says Dean Karlan, co-director of the Global Poverty Research Lab at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, .... “Pretty consistently, that’s what we see.”
The Best Investment
[2:261] The example of those who spend their monies in the cause of GOD is that of a grain that produces seven spikes, with a hundred grains in each spike. GOD multiplies this manifold for whomever He wills. GOD is Bounteous, Knower. [2:262] Those who spend their money in the cause of GOD, then do not follow their charity with insult or harm, will receive their recompense from their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [2:263] Kind words and compassion are better than a charity that is followed by insult. GOD is Rich, Clement. … [2:265] The example of those who give their money seeking GOD’s pleasure, out of sincere conviction, is that of a garden on high fertile soil; when heavy rain falls, it gives twice as much crop. If heavy rain is not available, a drizzle will suffice. GOD is Seer of everything you do. [2:266] Does any of you wish to own a garden of palm trees and grapes, with flowing streams and generous crops, then, just as he grows old, and while his children are still dependent on him, a holocaust strikes and burns up his garden?
GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you, that you may reflect. [2:267] O you who believe, you shall give to charity from the good things you earn, and from what we have produced for you from the earth. Do not pick out the bad therein to give away, when you yourselves do not accept it unless your eyes are closed. You should know that GOD is Rich, Praiseworthy. [2:268] The devil promises you poverty and commands you to commit evil, while GOD promises you forgiveness from Him and grace. GOD is Bounteous, Omniscient. … [2:270] Any charity you give, or a charitable pledge you fulfill, GOD is fully aware thereof. As for the wicked, they will have no helpers. [2:271] If you declare your charities, they are still good. But if you keep them anonymous, and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and remits more of your sins. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
To summarize what the research shows about different kinds of charitable giving: The regular payments (which may have an effect similar to Zakat), help people with immediate needs. The larger charitable lump sums also helped in different ways. “In all cases, however, economic activity and psychological well-being improved.”
God teaches us in Quran that we must give Zakat as soon as we receive income. This makes sense since the poor are hungry today. They cannot wait a year. And we make it difficult on ourselves if we wait and then try to remember and calculate. And it’s close to impossible to tell a poor person to save and use what you give him/her carefully spread out over 12 months. The longer we wait the harder we make it for ourselves and for society.
Zakat Must Be Given “On The Day Of Harvest”*
[6:141] He is the One who established gardens, trellised and untrellised, and palm trees, and crops with different tastes, and olives, and pomegranate ―fruits that are similar, yet dissimilar. Eat from their fruits, and give the due alms on the day of harvest,* and do not waste anything. He does not love the wasters.
*6:141 Zakat charity is so important, the Most Merciful has restricted His mercy to those who give it (7:156). Yet, the corrupted Muslims have lost this most important commandment; they give Zakat only once a year. We see here that Zakat must be given away “On the day we receive income.” The proportion that came to us through Abraham is 2.5% of our net income.
Requirements For Attaining God’s Mercy: The Importance of Zakat
[7:156] “And decree for us righteousness in this world, and in the Hereafter. We have repented to You.” He said, “My retribution befalls whomever I will. But My mercy encompasses all things. However, I will specify it for those who (1) lead a righteous life, (2) give the obligatory charity (Zakat),*….
*7:156 The importance of the obligatory charity (Zakat) cannot be over emphasized. As instituted in 6:141, Zakat must be given away upon receiving any income―2.5% of one’s net income must be given to the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, and the traveling alien, in this order (see 2:215).
Let’s look at 6:141 carefully as only God could pack in so much perfect detail that applies almost 1500 years later. There is the “garden” with trees, and there is the harvested fruit. There are the assets and there is income. What you can eat from, the fruits (i.e., income), you give Zakat from. It is not the trees (i.e., the assets). It is what is harvested. Today we harvest paychecks or dividends or interest or royalty or rent or other types of income. If you own a property and get rent, Zakat is 2.5% of the rent. This is God’s mercy. If it were 2.5% of the property value itself, it would be a burden. For those who own non-liquid assets, Zakat can easily be calculated on income from dividends or interest. But a wealth calculation (e.g., of properties and jewelry and paintings) each year would be quite time consuming. And then we would have to decide
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