EXPLORATION OF THE PRACTICE OF ZAKAT PAYMENT AND ITS INFLUENCE AMONG THE INDIVIDUALS OF KADUNA STATE
ABSTRACT
This research entitle “Assessment of the practice of Zakat payment and its impact on the people of kaduna State” aimed at appraising the nature of Zakat payment among the people of Kaduna state, and to assess the problems and challenges of the application of the concept of Zakat among the people of Kaduna State, To achieve the stated goals, the researcher adopted the descriptive research methods, by distributing questionnaires, A total of five hundred (500) questionnaires were distributed to two categories of respondents i.e Zakat givers and receivers from fifteen local governments in Kaduna State, after which the data were collected and analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). The research concluded with a number of results, the most important of which include: 1-The majority of the respondents are qualified to receive Zakat for their life status, but most of them have never received any kobo (as Zakat) from the rich in their community. 2- Selfish interest, is the main and major factor that leads to ineffective nature of Zakat payment in Kaduna state. 3- Religious awareness and guidance are the main and appropriate ways for motivating the prompt payment of Zakat. in Kaduna State. Finally the research makes some recommendations which includes: Zakat committee should properly be organized and coordinated under the supervision of Kaduna state ministry of Islamic affairs; The non-governmental committee on Zakat collection and distribution in Kaduna State should be registered; A statistical data should be prepared by Zakat committee annually in order to simplify the assessment of collection and distribution of Zakat in each local government in the state.
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the most merciful. All thanks be to the Lord of universe who revealed religion in order to create cordial relationship among the creatures. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the seal of Prophets Muhammad (S.A.W), for demonstrating to the world how to relate with various groups of people. Similarly, may Allah (S.W.T) be pleased with the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) for their sincerity in the conveyance of what they learned from the Prophet (S.A.W) to the next generation.
The basic aim of the religion of Islam is to guide man to the understanding of the right of the Creator as well as the right of creatures. Thus, Islam obliged Muslims to the performance of certain acts. For instance, salat (prayer) is commanded to be observed by every man in order to keep his relationship with Allah (S.W.T) by shunning all evils. In this regard, the Qur‟an States:
“….Verily, the Salah prevents from Alfahsha‟
( immoral sins)and Al-Munkar (evil deeds) (Q29:45)
Similarly, Zakat is commanded to be observed in order to create love among people and to remove the tendency of exploiting others. The Qur‟an States:
…
…..… in order that it may not become a
fortune used by the rich among you” (Q59:7)
The Prophet (S.A.W) explained that Zakat is to be collected from the rich and to be given to the poor; this is to create love and sympathy among them. The Prophet (S.A.W) States:
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet sent Mu’adh bin Jabal to Yemen and said:”You are going to some people from among the people of the Book. Call them to bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah (and that I am the Messenger of Allah.) If they obey you in that, then teach them that Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers every day and night. If they obey you in that, then teach them that Allah has enjoined upon them Sadaqah (Zakah) from their wealth, to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. (Bukhari book of Zakat: 1395).
Perhaps the essence of Zakat is the promotion of love for one another in the society and bringing other developments to bear on it, this made Zakat one of the strongest pillars of Islam. The Prophet (S.A.W) says:
I have been ordered ( by Allah ) to fight against people until they testify “La ilaha illallah, wa anna Muhammadan Rasulullah” ( none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad ( S.A.W) is the Messenger of Allah ), If they perform all this, then they will save their lives and properties from me, except for (those due by) Islamic laws. Their
reckoning (accounts) will be with Allah”
( Bukhari book of jihad, No 2946: P.1435)
In view of the above, Zakat is one the early and principal institutions established in Islam. Thus, the implication of neglecting the payment of Zakat is tantamount to equalizing the faith of a Muslim with polytheism. The following Qur‟anic verse substantiates the Statement;
…And woe unto those who ascribe divinity to aught beside him, and) those who do not spend in charity: for it is they, they who (thus) deny, the truth of the life to come: (Q 41:6-7)
Zakat is payable in cash items, from farm produce and animals, and is specifically given to the identified groups as highlighted in the Qur‟an , which will be analyzed in the next chapter of this research. Therefore, every Muslim locality is responsible for the payment and for disbursing Zakat as enshrined in the Shari‟ah. Kaduna State is a
State that is divided into three senatorial zones. The zone A and B are predominantly Muslims. In view of this, this research is designed to carefully study the nature of the practice of Zakat payment in the predominant Muslim areas in the State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem:
The principal objectives of Zakat are to promote love and peace among people as well as improve their economic standard and integrity. Therefore, payment of Zakat is expected to provide economic strength to the Muslims in order to meet both their spiritual and worldly demands. Hence the challenges of redundancy and evil will be minimized in their society. However, what appears to be the norm in the contemporary Kaduna state is lack of apparent traces of Zakat payment in spite of the many number of Muslims who could be said to be capable of disbursing Zakat to the teaming population that are poor. Certainly, the proliferation of beggars roaming around poses a question to the payment and utilization of Zakat. The sub-Standard nature of Islamiyyah schools, the nature of the Masajid (Mosques), the inability of the Muslims to meet up with the contemporary world challenges are reasons to ask the true State of Zakat disbursement.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
This study is aimed to achieve the following objectives;
- To examine the concept of Zakat in Islam and its impact on the Muslims of Kaduna State.
- To appraise the nature of Zakat payment among the people of Kaduna State. To carefully study means by which Zakat proceeds may improve the lives of Muslims in Kaduna State.
- To assess the problems and challenges of application of the concept of Zakat among the people of Kaduna State.
- To proffer solutions from the Shariah guidance to the problems and challenges of application of the concept of Zakat among the people of Kaduna State.
1.4 Research questions
- What is the concept of Zakat and its impact on Muslims in Kaduna State ?
- What is the nature of Zakat payment in Kaduna State ?
- How can Zakat improve the lives of the Muslims in Kaduna State ?
- What are the problems and challenges in the application of Zakat concept in Kaduna State?
- What are the proper solutions to the problems and challenges facing the
Muslims of Kaduna State in their attempt to apply the concept of Zakat ?
1.5 Significance of the Study
One of the basic aims of Islam is to ensure the comfort and safety of people. This is the reason why the religion abhors the concentration of wealth in the hands of few people. Thus, the well to do Muslims are commanded to as a matter of obligation give out a portion of their wealth to the needy members of the society. This will eventually create love and sympathy among them and hence ensure their security. However, in the recent years this wisdom appears to be neglected. The rich people either practice the payment of their Zakat as they wish or refuse the payment of Zakat and remain unchecked. In view of this, any research that stands to study the nature of the people‟s response to the dictate of Shariah in matters of Zakat payment, with a view to providing guidance and solutions that could promote the life of the people in line with the wisdom of Zakat payment will not only be significant in promoting mutual trust and love among the people of Kaduna, but it will equally boost their economic activities, which will in turn help in the reduction of crimes and evils in the society. Thus, it will assist the government in tackling the security challenges and implementing other developmental projects. Similarly, the educational challenges among the Muslims would also be addressed to allow the standard and acceptance of the Almighty Allah to befall in them.
1.6 Basic Assumption
If Muslims of Kaduna State origin would properly practice the instruction of Zakat payment, they will attain a comfortable State of living and evils may be minimized in the society.
1.7 Scope and Delimitation
Kaduna State has twenty three (23) local governments in three senatorial zones. The research will therefore cover five (5) local governments from each senatorial zone. This will give a total of Fifteen (15) local governments out of the Twenty three. The selected local governments are:
Zone 1: Zaria, Sabon Gari, Soba Kudan and Makarfi local government.
Zone2: Kaduna north, Kaduna south, Giwa Igabi and Chukun, local government.
Zone3: Kaura, Kachia, Kajuru, Kagarko and Zangon Kataf local government. The
research is restricted from 2010-2017.
EXPLORATION OF THE PRACTICE OF ZAKAT PAYMENT AND ITS INFLUENCE AMONG THE INDIVIDUALS OF KADUNA STATE