Brothers and sisters in Islam, as we navigate the increasing demands of modern life, we are constantly reminded that our wealth does not exist in isolation. It carries responsibilities. Some are civic, tied to the society, and state we live in. Others are spiritual, tied directly to our relationship with Allah ï·». The challenge of our time is not that these responsibilities exist, but that many have forgotten which one comes first.
In recent months, conversations around tax reforms and revenue generation in Nigeria have intensified. Governments are seeking new ways to expand the tax net, enforce compliance, and increase internally generated revenue. Businesses, workers, and even small traders are being reminded sometimes forcefully of their civic duty to pay taxes. Whether one agrees with the system or not, one reality is clear: what is due to the government will eventually be demanded.
But long before tax laws were written, long before revenue agencies were established, Allah ï·» legislated a duty upon wealth that is not enforced by task forces or penalties but by faith and conscience. That duty is Zakat.
Zakat is not a tax. It is an act of worship. It is a pillar of Islam. It is a divine system designed to purify wealth, soften hearts, and uplift society. Allah ï·» says:
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“Take from their wealth charity by which you purify them and cause them increase.” (Qur’an 9:103)
Notice the mercy in this command. Allah does not say Zakat diminishes wealth. He says it purifies it and causes it to grow.
Zakat is only 2.5% on eligible savings once a year. A small portion that brings enormous barakah. It cleanses wealth from greed, arrogance, and neglect of the poor. It reminds the believer that wealth is not owned absolutely but entrusted. Compare this to worldly taxes, which can be significantly higher, deducted without consultation, and often paid with resentment or fear of penalty.
This brings us to a sobering reality many Muslims overlook:
If what is due to Allah is refused, what is due to the government will still be taken.
This is not a threat; it is a pattern of life. Those who delay or ignore Zakat often find their wealth drained in unexpected ways. Taxes, fines, medical bills, losses, or endless expenses with no barakah. Meanwhile, the believer who fulfills the right of Allah finds ease, even when obligations increase.
The Prophet ï·º warned sternly about neglecting Zakat:
“No owner of gold or silver who does not pay its Zakat will escape being punished on the Day of Resurrection…” (Muslim)
In contrast, he ï·º also promised:
“Charity does not decrease wealth.” (Muslim)
Look around us today. Rising living costs. Increased taxation. Shrinking disposable income. Many Muslims say, “I will give Zakat when things are better.” But Islam teaches us the opposite: things become better when Zakat is given.
Zakat is also a social stabilizer. In a country like Nigeria, where poverty, unemployment, and hardship are widespread, Zakat if properly observed can transform communities. It feeds the hungry, supports widows, empowers small businesses, educates orphans, and restores dignity. It does what policies often promise but fail to achieve.
Yet Zakat must be given consciously and correctly. It is not random charity. It must be calculated properly on savings, gold, silver, and business assets and distributed to those Allah Himself specified in the Qur’an (9:60). This intentionality is what separates Zakat from casual giving.
In times like this, the believer must ask:
Am I more afraid of government penalties than of standing before Allah with unpaid Zakat?
Do I prepare more carefully for tax deadlines than for my Zakat due date?
Choosing to give Zakat willingly is choosing mercy over compulsion, faith over fear, and barakah over mere survival. Taxes may sustain systems, but Zakat sustains souls.
So let us act now.
Calculate your Zakat before the year ends.
Purify your wealth before it purifies itself through loss.
Give with excellence, sincerity, and trust in Allah’s promise.
Do not wait until wealth leaves your hands unwillingly. Offer it to Allah lovingly.
Because in a world where demands keep increasing, only Allah ï·» gives back infinitely.
May Allah accept our Zakat, purify our wealth and hearts, place barakah in what remains, and make us among those who give before they are compelled. Ameen.