Islam has established the institution of Zakaat to make concern for the poor a compulsory duty, so people it give an annual contribution of 2.5% of one’s own income to public welfare and the pleasure of Allah.
Zakaat represents the unbreakable bond between members of the community, whom Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w) described to be "like the organs of the body, if one suffers then all others rally in response."
This ayah in the Quran clarifies who Zakah should go to.
[At-Taubah 9:60] Charities shall go to the poor, the needy, the workers who collect them, the new converts, to free the slaves, to those burdened by sudden expenses, in the cause of The GOD, and to the travelling alien. Such is The God’s commandment. The GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.
Therefore Zakah; is a way of helping to eradicate poverty in such a way that the rich can still remain wealthy, though still help the poor.
However others might say all the rich people can give they wealth until there is no poverty, but the fact is that they is millions more poor people in the world than rich people, so no matter how much a person donates there will always be poverty in the world. Some people may not want to give their wealth away but the following Quran ayah:
‘Cannot gain complete reward until you spend from what you like’
Tells us that we should spend on the poor what we would spend on ourselves.
‘He who eats and drinks whilst his brother goes hungry is not one of us’, Hadith quoted by al’ Bukhari.
This Hadith tells us that if a Muslim does not give charity or help a poor Muslim, then he’s not a Muslim. Therefore we should give Zakah to the poor.
Also people who do not want to give money to charity, may think that they have better things to spend their money on such as drugs or gambling, these sort of people however are ignorant and only think about themselves. The following Quran ayah says:
‘O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling………are an abomination’ (Surah 5:9)
This ayah tells us that those people that spend their money on drugs, alcohol and gambling will be punished and are a disgrace.
So in conclusion, I think there should be rich Muslims in the world as long as there’s poverty, because if nobody was rich then nobody would be able to develop things further or help each other.
Hazrat Anas reported that the messenger of Allah said. ‘The best charity is to satisfy a hungry belly’
Ibni omer reported that the messenger of Allah said ‘Verily there is a key for everything and the key to paradise is to love the poor’ Hadith-Darquini
As long as there fulfil they duty of Zakah in the Islamic manner then there is nothing wrong with being a rich Muslim and I therefore maintain my view and belief there should be rich Muslims in the world.
