A Comparative Commentary of the Verse of Zakat (Verily, the alms…)

The verse 6 of Chapter al-Tawba deals with the disposal of Zakat and it is one of the verses about which both branches of faith have expressed different opinions. This discussion involves a comparative study of the verse with reliance on the exegetical works of both branches of Islamic faith. The goal is to examine the points of agreement and disagreement of various Islamic denominations by going through the views and opinions of the scholars of the two branches of faith. Most of the scholars of the two schools of thought are of the view that "al-sadaqat" refer to the obligatory alms i.e. zakat. The acceptable opinion about the letter "l" (lam) with the word "fuqara" (lil-fuqara) is the very opinion held by Shiite, Hanafi and Maliki scholars and the letter "l" is to show where the alms may be spent. It does not mean that the possession of the property is transferred to them. When it comes to the difference between a faqir (poor person) and an indigent, it seems that an indigent is in greater need and in a more difficult condition than the former. The property given to the agents is not a wage; rather it is a means with which he subsists. The preferred opinion of Muslim scholars have also been mentioned concerning those people whose hearts are made to incline (to truth) and the (ransoming of) captives and those in debts and in the way of Allah and the wayfarer.