4. Rights to the Friends

Friends do enjoy certain rights according to Islam. This is based on the guiding directives of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):“ The best of friend and the best of neighbors is the best to them”[69].
5. Rights to the Poor

The poor and the needy enjoy rights in the Islamic society. In fact, Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) praises those who spend for His cause in order to help the poor and the needy in the Islamic society. This is based on the instructions of the verse the Glorious Qur'ân, Sura al-Ma'arej 70:24-25 the meaning of which is translated as:“ And those in whose wealth is a recognized right. For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking)”.

Islam regards the charity given to the poor and the needy as the best deeds. Moreover, Islam warns those who conceal and save up their wealth and do not spend for the cause of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). This is based on the verse in Qur'ân, Baqarah (The Cow) 2:177 the meaning of which is translated as:“ It is not [considered an act of] righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West. But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity, to fulfil the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing”.

For this reason Zakah was prescribed as one of the basic tenants of Islam. Zakah is a set percentage of the accumulated income that is saved for one year. Muslims, willingly, offer the due amount, in obedience to Allah's Commands. They pay it to the poor and the needy. Zakah is obligatory upon those who possess the appropriate amount on which Zakah is due. This is based on the verse Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) stated in the Glorious Qur'ân, Sura al-Bai-yinah (The Evidence) 98:5 the meaning of which is translated as:“ And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being True (in faith); to establish regular Prayer; and to practice regular Charity; and that is the Religion right and Straight”.

If a Muslim denies the payment of Zakah he/she will be declared as a Disbeliever. Furthermore, if a Muslim refuses, openly and publicly, to pay the due amount of Zakah to the deserving individuals, a Muslim ruler must wage war against such people until they pay it properly. Refusing to pay the due Zakah will harm the needy and the poor section of people in the Islamic society who are entitled to this right. Based on this, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), the second Muslim rightly guided Caliph, waged war against the group who rejected Zakah and refused to pay it. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), declared his popular statement, 'By Allah! Have those rejecters of Zakah, refused to pay the value of a leach, which they offered before to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I shall fight them for it [i.e., until they pay the full due amount]'.

Zakah is prescribed with the following principles and conditions:
Zakah payer must possess 'Nisab', the appropriate amount as stipulated in the Islamic Shariah. This amount must be over and above the needs of the owner. The basic needs are defined as food, shelter, transportation and proper clothing.

A period of one-year [i.e., 365 days], must pass while the owner maintains this amount in his possession, and he is in no need for it to pay for his essential needs. If less than a year passes Zakah will not be required.
Islam defines the types of people who are entitled to receive Zakah. This is based on the verse in the Glorious Qur'ân Sura al-Tawbah (The Repentance) 7:60 the meaning of which is translated as:“ Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom”.

Zakah is estimated at %2.5 of the total unused funds for one year. Islam imposes Zakah in order to uproot poverty from the Islamic society, treat the resulting problems stemming from poverty such as: theft, murder, attacking people and their properties. In addition, it revives the mutual social welfare and support among members of the Islamic society. Furthermore, Zakah is used to fulfil the needs of the needy, the destitute and to pay the debts of those who in debts and are not able to pay their debts for a sound and legitimate reason. Moreover, the payment of Zakah purifies one's heart, soul and wealth as well. An owner of a wealth will become less greedy and niggardly when he/she pays this due amount to the poor and needy people in the society. Furthermore, a payer will become less keen to possess and own selfishly, forgetting his poor. The Almighty Allah states in the Glorious Qur'ân Sura al-Taghabun 64:16 the meaning of which is translated as:“ And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls; they are the ones that achieve prosperity”.

In addition, Zakah purifies the hearts of those who are less affluent. The poor and the needy will have less hatred, jealousy and bitterness against the rich and wealthy class of people of the society. For, they notice that they are paying their dues and sharing concerns to their poor brethren.

The Almighty Allah warns those who refuse to pay their due Zakah against a severe punishment. The Almighty Allah states in the Glorious Qur'ân Sura Al-Imran 3:180 the meaning of which is translated as:“ And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah has given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: nay, it will be the worse for them; soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do”.