Zakat is the bridge in Islam. It is established between giver and taker with courtesy and delicacy. The wealthy passing through this bridge gets rid of his lusts, ambition for money and poverty, selfishness, ruthlessness, stinginess, cruelty, arrogance and many more invisible dust in the soul.
The worship of zakat that puts wealth into this filter of purity, also purifies the needy on the other side of the bridge: jealousy, hatred, and hostility are just a couple of the ills that devastate societies. These may drive people into crimes affecting lives and poverties that result in breaking the peace in society. Therefore, aid and zakat helps to build a society of mercy and charity.
Zakat is a worship that purifies the soul and poverty, an act of faith and a compulsory sadaqah. Each sadaqah is an evidence of faith as stated in Prophet’s words; it approves the faith and make the man loyal. Zakat is “the tax of what Allah gives.” It is the debt one takes from Allah and returns to Him. In this sense, it is like loan with no external gain, called karz-ı hasen.
Zakat brings man to maturity and virtue. Allah states:
“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”Ali Imran 3:92