Zakat and Charity in Islam: The Importance of Helping Those in Need

Islam is a religion that emphasizes individual and social responsibilities. At the beginning of these responsibilities, ensuring social justice in society comes first. Islam deals not only with worship, but also with the responsibilities of people towards each other. Zakat and charity are an important part of these responsibilities, and helping those in need is one of the basic teachings of Islam. Zakat is one of the five conditions of Islam and means the cleaning of goods, while charity is a form of voluntary assistance. Both zakat and charity are powerful tools for helping out, sharing and eliminating social inequalities in the Islamic society. In this article, the meaning of the concepts of zakat and charity in Islam, the place and importance of these practices in Islam, the individual and social benefits of zakat and charity, Islam's understanding of helping those in need will be discussed. 1. Zakat: Cleaning of Property and Helping Those in Need Zakat is derived from the Arabic root "intelligence" and means "cleansing" or "increasing". Zakat is the necessity of giving a certain part of the goods to a certain purpose and to certain people. Zakat is one of the five requirements of Islam and commands that goods be given to the poor at a certain rate (usually 2.5%) every year. Zakat provides both an increase in the abundance of goods and a cleansing of a person's heart. Zakat is a worship that is constantly emphasized in the Noble Qur'an. Surat al-Baqara 177. It is stated in the verse as follows: "Goodness is not just about turning your faces to the east and west; the real goodness is the goodness of those who believe in Allah, the last day, the angels, the books, the prophets and give their wealth to relatives, orphans, the needy, the wayfarers, beggars and slaves." This verse states that zakah is not limited to giving only a part of the property, but also an internal cleansing and rapprochement process with Allah. a. The Purposes and Importance of Zakat The main purpose of zakat is to give a part of the property owned to the needy, to ensure that the property is cleaned and to reduce social inequalities. Zakat is a worship that increases the abundance of wealth, purifies the heart of a person and strengthens the awareness of helping in society. Zakat is also a tool for ensuring social justice. Taking care of the rights of the poor, destitute and needy and improving their lives is one of the most important goals of the Islamic society. Zakat not only provides financial assistance, but also strengthens social solidarity and unity. Zakat helps to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor in society and ensures that all segments of society have equal rights Dec. b. Those to Whom Zakat Will Be Given Zakat should be given to the needy in certain categories. The Qur'an clearly states the seven categories in which zakat will be given. The Chapter of Repentance is 60. It is stated in the verse as follows: "Zakat is given only to the poor, the destitute, the officials who collect zakat, those whose hearts want to be warmed to Islam, slaves, debtors, those who fight in the way of Allah and the traveler." These categories determine to whom zakat should be given and ensure a fair distribution of social assistance. Zakat is not only an individual responsibility, but also a means of ensuring the order of society.

2. Charity: Voluntary Help and Kindness Sadaqah is derived from the Arabic word "sadaqah" and means "to give, to help". Charity, unlike zakat, is a voluntary aid and allows a person to give the amount he wants from his property to the needy in the way he wants. Charity is not limited to a certain ratio, and any kind of help that breaks from a person's heart is considered charity. Charity is considered not only material help, but also a spiritual and spiritual good. Our Lord the Prophet (p.a.v.) in a hadith, he said as follows: "Charity is all kinds of goodness." (Muslim) This hadith states that charity is not limited only to money or goods, but also includes spiritual actions such as a smile, a word of kindness, or helping people. a. Types and Types of Charity Charity can take various forms. While financial assistance can be provided for basic needs such as food, clothing, housing; longer-term assistance such as education, health services, opening water wells are also included in the scope of charity. Charity can also be aimed at meeting people's spiritual needs. Praying to someone, guiding someone to the right path, offering instructive information to people are also considered alms. In Islam, charity is not something that only the rich should do. Every individual can give alms according to the opportunities he has. In the Hadith-i Sharif, Our Lord the Prophet (p.a.v.) he said that: "Alms should be given to every Muslim. Each of you has charity." This hadith emphasizes that charity is the responsibility of every Muslim and that every individual should fulfill this responsibility by doing his best. b. The Benefits of Charity The benefits of charity, both individual and social, are great. Individually, giving alms purifies a person's soul, purifies his heart and helps him become closer to Allah. Charity also makes a person feel more peaceful and satisfied at the same time. Socially, charity increases solidarity between people, facilitates the life of the poor and helps to reduce inequality in society. Dec. There are many verses in the Noble Qur'an on the benefits of charity. Surat al-Baqara 261. It is stated in the verse as follows: "The example of those who give alms is like a seed that gives seven ears of corn for every grain of October. There are a hundred in each spike. Allah gives multiples to whomever He wills." This verse describes the abundance of charity and the reward of this action in the sight of Allah. A person who gives alms does not lose his wealth, but rather earns greater rewards in the sight of Allah.

3. The Social Benefits of Zakat and Charity Zakat and charity are tools that strengthen the social structure and ensure social justice. These two practices help to reduce material inequalities in society and meet the needs of the poor and needy. While Zakat is distributed regularly and systematically to the poor, charity can be given more flexibly and plays an important role in meeting people's daily needs. Zakat and charity also ensure social peace. By reducing the gaps between the poor and the rich, it protects peace and balance in society. Dec. Our Lord the Prophet (p.a.v.) in a hadith, he stated that the poor and the rich bear responsibility towards each other: "The rich should take care of the poor and not neglect them." (Buhari) 4. Decrees the Differences Between Zakat and Alms Although zakat and charity are performed for the same purpose, they show some differences. Zakat is a obligatory worship service depending on certain conditions and requires that a certain part of the property be given to the poor every year. Charity is a voluntary charity, and a person can give whatever amount he wants whenever he wants. While Zakat helps to ensure justice in society, charity also provides the opportunity to help those in need in a more flexible way. Result In Islam, zakat and charity are not only individual acts of worship, but also social responsibilities. Zakat provides for the cleaning of goods, while charity benefits people as a voluntary charity. These two practices strengthen both individual spiritual purification and social solidarity. Giving Zakat and alms is a fundamental value of the Islamic society