Tax Vs. Zakat

GeoG

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Its been long time since active participation of our religious scholar brother on this forum have enlightened us with their wisdom, please help to clear one confusion for many of us including me.

a) Are Taxes and Zakat two separate liabilities and should both be separately paid?

b) Can I treat Tax as part payment of my Zakat or am I justified in cheating the Govt from my tax liability as I have paid my full Zakat liability privately?

c) Which day of the year should be used to evaluate ones assets as gold value has a variance of almost 20 percent in one year?


Ps. Just to spice it up (aadat say majboor), is Bhatta paid in Karachi a tax or Zakat?
 

rajakhanmd

Senator (1k+ posts)
@GeoG:

If the last line was not there, it would have been impossible for me to believe that you started this thread. :-)
 

Bret Hawk

Senator (1k+ posts)
Brother Geo G it was almost difficult for me to stop smiling after reading your usual sarcastic line intended for the criminal mafia group of Urban Sindh and its criminal supporters. Anyhow brother coming back to the serious issue of your questions related to the topic of Zakat & Taxation system then I would like to give my personal opinion on your queries based on my limited exposure to some articles of Dr Yusuf Al Qardawai (Head of Shariah Department in University of Qatar) on the Fiqh of Zakah in following concise words;

A) Yes brother every Muslim state is entitled to levy a separate taxation system apart from the Zakat & Ushr imposition in order to fulfil the necessary requirements (Not to misuse those proceeds of obligatory charity ) of its subjects and state machinery. The concerned government though has to heed this important point here that on those items (Whether on livestock, industrial units including furniture and fixtures, crops and other tangible & intangible assets) where it has already deducted the amount of Zakat should not be used for the calculation of other taxations. Islamic teachings are very much clear on the prohibition of doubling of taxation on single head of asset or source of income including Zakah & Ushr collections.

B) One of the basic difference between Zakah and other forms of taxation is that the proceeds of Zakah is strictly limited for the benefit and consumption of Muslims and not even a penny from Zakah collections can be paid to the Non-Muslims (Except in rare case of Mulafatul Quloob category where a potential hostile non Muslim state or some of the sections of community is needed to be subdued by giving them some financial inducements in order to gain their favour and lessening the chances of open conflict with them) whereas the proceeds of other forms of taxation don’t have such restrictions and can easily be used for the utilities and support of every honourable citizen of a concerned Islamic state. Therefore if a government insists to levy additional Taxation on that item of asset which has been used for the payment of Zakat in one financial year (Based on Islamic lunar month of Hijri) then yes brother you can make yourself exempt for paying that extra burden.

C) The more sensible and convenient practise is to do the evaluation towards the end of a financial year (Usually in Sha’aban if one needs to pay one’s Zakat in the highly rewarding and blessed month of Ramadhan) irrespective of any fluctuations occurred in the value of a concerned item of asset or source of income according to the large number of legal doctors of Islam. Nevertheless evaluation practise can be done during the middle course of a year

With regards to extortion money collected in Karachi then I think brother one has to applaud the courageous reasoning of Imam Abu Hanifah RA and some of his disciplines (Not all) that for the corrupt individual, who makes his imposing fortune by Haram / illegal means, it is permissible for him to get the Zakah proceeds from rest of the Muslim community. That reasoning of Imam was made to make the characterless and shameless rascals like Nawaz, Zardari and Taffu Kaa-lia to realise that they are not the rightful owners of their accumulated wealth and therefore are in fact desperate need to get some income from Zakah payers to fulfil their necessary needs. So Geo G brother you are eligible to pay your Zakah and other voluntary charities to Taffu Kaa-lia in the current financial year and can earn enormous amount of blessings from Almighty according to some Hanafite scholars.
 
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babadeena

Minister (2k+ posts)
@GeoG
Brother, Zakat is your religious duty. The matter is between you and Your Lord. Tax is your
social/national obligation and is required to run the affairs of the government or your
system. That is only briefly stated.
Rest last line of your post, if people claiming to be muslims will be not
pay voluntarily as prescribed by Allah, then Allah may get it through one
way or the other.?
 

GeoG

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Brother Geo G it was almost difficult for me to stop smiling after reading your usual sarcastic line intended for the criminal mafia group of Urban Sindh and its criminal supporters. Anyhow brother coming back to the serious issue of your questions related to the topic of Zakat & Taxation system then I would like to give my personal opinion on your queries based on my limited exposure to some articles of Dr Yusuf Al Qardawai (Head of Shariah Department in University of Qatar) on the Fiqh of Zakah in following concise words;

A) Yes brother every Muslim state is entitled to levy a separate taxation system apart from the Zakat & Ushr imposition in order to fulfil the necessary requirements (Not to misuse those proceeds of obligatory charity ) of its subjects and state machinery. The concerned government though has to heed this important point here that on those items (Whether on livestock, industrial units including furniture and fixtures, crops and other tangible & intangible assets) where it has already deducted the amount of Zakat should not be used for the calculation of other taxations. Islamic teachings are very much clear on the prohibition of doubling of taxation on single head of asset or source of income including Zakah & Ushr collections.

B) One of the basic difference between Zakah and other forms of taxation is that the proceeds of Zakah is strictly limited for the benefit and consumption of Muslims and not even a penny from Zakah collections can be paid to the Non-Muslims (Except in rare case of Mulafatul Quloob category where a potential hostile non Muslim state or some of the sections of community is need to be subdued by giving them some financial inducements in order to gain their favour and lessening the chances of open conflict with them) whereas the proceeds of other forms of taxation dont have such restrictions and can easily be used for the utilities and support of every honourable citizen of a concerned Islamic state. Therefore if a government insists to levy additional Taxation on that item of asset which has been used for the payment of Zakat in one financial year (Based on Islamic lunar month of Hijri) then yes brother you can make yourself exempt for paying that extra burden.

C) The more sensible and convenient practise is to do the evaluation towards the end of a financial year (Usually in Shaaban if one needs to pay ones Zakat in the highly rewarding and blessed month of Ramadhan) irrespective of any fluctuations occurred in the value of a concerned item of asset or source of income according to the large number of legal doctors of Islam. Nevertheless evaluation practise can be done during the middle course of a year

With regards to extortion money collected in Karachi then I think brother one has to applaud the courageous reasoning of Imam Abu Hanifah RA and some of his disciplines (Not all) that for the corrupt individual, who makes his imposing fortune by Haram / illegal means, it is permissible for him to get the Zakah proceeds from rest of the Muslim community. That reasoning of Imam was made to make the characterless and shameless rascals like Nawaz, Zardari and Taffu Kaa-lia to realise that they are not the rightful owners of their accumulated wealth and therefore are in fact desperate need to get some income from Zakah payers to fulfil their necessary needs. So Geo G brother you are eligible to pay your Zakah and other voluntary charities to Taffu Kaa-lia in the current financial year and can earn enormous amount of blessings from Almighty according to some Hanafite scholars.

(clap)(clap)(clap)

As usual, great response, Thanks a lot.
 

GeoG

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
@GeoG
Brother, Zakat is your religious duty. The matter is between you and Your Lord. Tax is your
social/national obligation and is required to run the affairs of the government or your
system. That is only briefly stated.
Rest last line of your post, if people claiming to be muslims will be not
pay voluntarily as prescribed by Allah, then Allah may get it through one
way or the other.?

Thank a lot Brother Babadeena.
You kind response leads to some further questions.
Does Islam permits or forbids from other forms of taxation alongwith Zakat?
In an ideal world where every Muslim pays Zakat, can state levy general or specific taxation of a fixed or indefinite length of time?
Are there any examples of such taxation from our Prophet's (PBUM) time?
 

GeoG

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
I will second Raja, title was difficult to believe post GeoG............LOL............lol

They have all disappeared after MQM rejoining the Govt, I was feeling redundant.
And Mr Moderator, stick to the subject or your post will be deleted and you may even get yourself banned, lol...
 

abbasiali

Minister (2k+ posts)
They have all disappeared after MQM rejoining the Govt, I was feeling redundant.
And Mr Moderator, stick to the subject or your post will be deleted and you may even get yourself banned, lol...
wow

I really feel like banned.............lol...........lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 

Raaz

(50k+ posts) بابائے فورم
Ps. Just to spice it up (aadat say majboor), is Bhatta paid in Karachi a tax or Zakat?

Bhatta paid in Karachi is not Zakat on your wealth.

It might be Zakat on your life....thats is must.
 

babadeena

Minister (2k+ posts)
Thank a lot Brother Babadeena.
You kind response leads to some further questions.
Does Islam permits or forbids from other forms of taxation alongwith Zakat?
In an ideal world where every Muslim pays Zakat, can state levy general or specific taxation of a fixed or indefinite length of time?
Are there any examples of such taxation from our Prophet's (PBUM) time?

Dear GeoG,
a) Zakat is compulsory, and all other forms of charities like Sadqaat, Nazar are voluntary and
conditional. If you wish to convert these words into "Taxation".
May Add that Islam encourages the propensity to Consume a lot than a propensity to save.
b) "In an Ideal world", GeoG, let it be only "world", ideal is too much to wish?

c) Examples from our Prophet(PBUH) time. Dear it is or has become a fashion/ritual
to talk about that "time". Time has changed a lot, the world is entering post dual-core era,
the needs and requirements are now totally different. Keeping in view the "fundamental
and Basic principles", let us think more of present and plan for future, than to
always stick to past, when we ourselves in our inner heart know that it is
now just a ritual.

Thanks and best of luck.
 

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