Please note: This Refocus Report which was published two weeks ago, has received an unusual amount of attention from other websites and the concerned in general as far as our "reports" section goes.  Because of this we felt that we should republish the article here, in main, for those who may have missed it.

Conservative Refocus

By Barry Secrest

Some concerns are circulating the internet with regard to both the upheaval in Egypt and Obama's words on the subject of Muslim giving and "Zakat" which is the Muslim semi-equivalent of Protestant Tithing. The simple problem, in this case, is that Zakat is intended for much more than just ongoing support  for the Mosque and the needy.

Here are the basic facts behind Zakat as well as the one particular point that has a number of people upset at Obama as the rules of Sharia, in Islam, become better known in the west.

The most alarming notations are indicated in passage (7) below and highlighted in bold. These facts and passages are kindly provided by the Islamic website soundvision.com:

Who is deserving of Zakat

The Holy Quran describes the following eight categories who are entitled

to receive Zakat.

1. Fuqara: the people who have some money but not enough to meet their

needs. They live in a precarious circumstances but do not ask for help.

2. Miskins: these are a very miserable people who do not have anything for

food, clothing and shelter. The Khalifa Umar ibn al-Khattab also included in them those

who are fit to earn but do not have means to earning.

3. Aamileen (Collectors of Zakat): the officials engaged in the collection and distribution of Zakat are paid from the Zakat fund.

4. Muallafat-ul-Qulub (Those whose hearts are to be reconciled): this includes the new Muslims, to strengthen them in Islam, as well as those for whom it may be necessary to give Zakat to win their heart.

5. Fir-riqab.(Emancipation of slaves): this means the person who wants to free himself from the shackles of slavery should be given Zakat so that he can pay to this category (those persons who are imprisoned for nonpayment of fines).

6.Al-Gharimeen: this means the people who are in debt, which is more than the assets so that after paying the debt, their wealth that is left is less than the Nisab.?

7.Fi Sabeelillah (in the cause of Allah ): this is a common word used for all good deeds, but in the case of Zakat it means rendering help to an endeavor to serve Islam such as the propagation of Islam, Jihad, etc.

8.Ibn-us-Sabil (the wayfarer): a traveler, if he is in need of money while traveling , is entitled to Zakat .

Some essential Points about Zakat

1.A person who qualifies to pay Zakat is not eligible to receive.

2. It is not permissible to pay Zakat to your husband , wife, parents , grandparents, and the children and grandchildren.

3 Expenditure to Zakat fund is not permissible on the construction of mosque.

4. It is preferable to pay Zakat to deserving relatives.

5. The Zakat of every locality should be spent on the poor inhabitants of the same community except if there is a calamity in other parts of the country or the world.

6. Any one who qualifies to receive Zakat, can be given it as assistance or a gift, without telling him that it is Zakat.

7. All articles of household use and properties given on rent are exempted from paying Zakat.

8, Zakat money of a particular year could be spent during the same year in advance, could be given all at once or in installments.

The collection of Zakat

In the Islamic state, it is the responsibility of the state to collect and distribute Zakat. The Quran says, "Take alms of their wealth and make them pure and clean "

The Prophet says: I have been commanded to collect zakat from the rich among you and distribute it to the poor among you.

In case an Islamic society does not exist or in a non-Islamic society, the local organization of the Muslims should make arrangements for the collection and distribution of Zakat.

Wherever such arrangements exist, every Muslim is required to pay Zakat to this organization and conform to the rates and the amount of Nisab decided by the organization.

Allah has made Zakat one of the pillars of Islam and has often mentioned it in the Quran immediately after the Prayer, saying, "And perform Prayer and give Alms ".

The Prophet said, "Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the Zakat, making the pilgrimage to the House (Hajj), and fasting in Ramadan" (Bukhari, Muslim).

Allah has warned those who do not give Zakat that they will face dire consequence. He says, "O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the rabbis and the monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And those who hoard up gold and silver, and spend it not in the Way of Allah-announce unto them a painful torment (Quran 9:34).

So The Question is just This

What does Obama mean, specifically, with regard to American Muslims and why would the President of the United States be concerned with a subject that the US Constitution specifically excludes with regard to Religion and a form of Governmental coercion? Further, does the President actually wish to aid Islam, as indicated in passage (7), via propogation of Islam, Jihad etc?

 

Related At Conservative Refocus

The Ties That Blind: Big Media and Big Government Float Denial In Egypt

The Fates Of The Apocrypha: Exodus Into Liberty or Apocalypse Now

To Burn Or Not To Burn: September 11, The Mosque and Inflamed Qurans