love for wealth and its hoarding, and by stating plainly that the poor have a due share in the wealth of the rich. Describing the existence of the true Muslims in the Hereafter, their qualities in this life are stated to be: “They used to sleep but little at night. And in the morning they asked (Divine) protection. And in their wealth there was a due share for the beggar and for one who is denied (good)” (51:17-19). Elsewhere the true Muslims are described as “Those who are constant at their prayer, and in whose wealth there is a known right for the beggar and the destitute” (70:23-25).
Prayer and charity were thus the two essential conditions of righteousness. The “due share” or “known right” mentioned here is different from Zakāt which, being obligatory and leviable at a fixed rate and being the due of the state, is a kind of tax. The Holy Prophet himself made this clear: “In one’s wealth there is a due besides Zakāt” (Bu. 24:31). All the wealth a man earned was not his own. A part of it should go to charity, however stringent the circumstances in which a man lives. “Charity is incumbent on every Muslim” were the clear orders of the Holy Prophet (Bu. 56:72). But what about him who has not got anything? asked his Companions. He replied: “he should work with his hands and profit himself and give in charity.” They again asked, if he has nothing in spite of this? The reply was: “He should help the distressed one who is in need”. And if he is unable to do that? they said again. He said: “He should do good deeds and refrain from doing evil—this is charity on his part” (Bu. 46:2).
The Holy Prophet’s conception of charity was the broadest possible: “On every bone of the finger, charity is incumbent every day. One assists a man in riding his beast or in lifting his provisions to the back of the animals, this is charity; and a good word and every step which one takes in walking over to prayer is charity” (MM. 6:6). “Removal from the way of that which is harmful is charity” (Bu. 46:2). Even to meet a fellow-being with a cheerful countenance was charity: “Every good deed is charity, and it is a good deed that thou meet thy brother with a cheerful countenance and that thou pour water from thy bucket into the vessel of thy brother” (MM. 6:6).
The Holy Prophet thus wanted to make men realize that to be charitable was to be truly human. To make men prayer-minded and to make them charity-minded for the service of humanity are the two