Educational Role of Zakat in Islamic Lifestyle: the inference of educational principles

In Islamic lifestyle, some obligations (Vajebat) govern the relationship between Allah and human beings. "Zakat", is one of the branches of religion (Furu al-Din) and an obligation to pay. This service to people, is the key element of the relation between Allah and human beings and has significant implications as to the cultivation of the soul and the human's spiritual progress. In this article, through application of Frankena's practical inference pattern, we have tried to infer and explain the educational principles of Zakat payment, relying on Ayat of the Holy Quran and Hadiths. These principles include the following: the principle of zakat payment as a cause of spiritual purification and cleanliness, condition of the acceptance of other acts, a condition of receiving the mercy of Allah, a means to achieve the faith and redemption, a tool providing the background of nearness to Allah and a sign of trust in Allah and Ahl al-Bayt (Alayhemassalam). It is expected that by relying on these principles, and for the purpose of self-cultivation and moral excellence, education institution and the Islamic educational system teach people to pay Zakat and establishes its payment obligation in their spirit.