Zakat: Lessening pain for the less-privileged

Zakat or obligatory charity is to be paid once in a year by the well -to- do Muslims whose wealth has reached or crossed the benchmark or threshold called Nisab.   Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) stipulated that 2.5 per cent should be paid when one’s wealth reaches or crosses the threshold when one full year has passed. […]

Zakat or obligatory charity is to be paid once in a year by the well -to- do Muslims whose wealth has reached or crossed the benchmark or threshold called Nisab.   
Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) stipulated that 2.5 per cent should be paid when one’s wealth reaches or crosses the threshold when one full year has passed.
Al-Bukhari (1454) narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to him this document when he sent him to Bahrain: “This is the obligatory charity that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined upon the Muslims and that Allah enjoined upon His Messenger:… for silver, one quarter of one tenth.”
Abu Dawud (1572) narrated from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If you have two hundred dirhams and one full year has passed, then five dirhams are due on them. You do not have to pay anything – i.e. on gold  – unless you have twenty dinars; if you have twenty dinars and one full year has passed, then half a dinar is due on them, and if the number increases then work it out on this basis.”(Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.)
Ibn Majah (1791) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar and ‘A’isha (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to take from every twenty dinars or more, half a dinar, and from forty dinars, one dinar.(Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Ibn Majah).
Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated in al-Musnad (9966) with a jayyid isnad from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Nothing is due on anything less than twenty dinars; for twenty dinars, half a dinar is due; for forty dinars, one dinar is due. For anything more than that, it is to be worked out.”
It can be paid by the rich directly to those entitled to it or can be paid to Islamic authority who will in turn pay to those entitled to it.
Who are those entitled to obligatory charity? Allah says “As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara’ (poor), and Al-Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause (i.e. for those who fight in the way of Allah), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise”(al-Tawbah 9:60).
Islamic scholars said Zakat was legislated to purify the wealth of the wealthy and to serve as a means of alleviating poverty in the society. But many rich Muslims have not been paying adequate attention to this important pillar of their religion. This may be because many of them do not know how to go about it or who to give it to.
Because of this, many voluntary Zakat groups have sprout up across the country in the last few years. Rich Muslims can pay Zakat to them and they in turn will help them give it out to needy Muslims
One of such groups is Lagos-based Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation. The group caters for the Zakat needs of Muslims in the south west of the country. They collect Zakat from rich Muslims and distribute it to indigent.
Just last weekend, it distributed over N30million to poor and needy in Lagos.  Imam Abdullah Shuaib, its Executive Director said at the event that government alone could not alleviate poverty of the citizenry. He called on wealthy Muslims to pay their Zakat to help in poverty alleviation.
“Just as we feel the pain of the less-privileged in our midst, our hearts are gladdened with joy with the event taking place today. Indeed, we are greatly indebted to the Zakat payers who lived up to their expectations by fulfilling their socio-economic and religious obligations by coming to the rescue of the 46 people, men and women”, Imam Shuaib said.
Will more other wealthy Muslims gladden the hearts of their poor brothers and sisters by paying their obligatory charity?