There is a question that presents itself when the Muslim thinks about paying money for Zakat that is if he should pay it for people that he knows like his needy relatives or some people he does not know or to pay it for the country or some institutions and associations. The fact is that Zakat was paid to the country in the past during the period of the prophet (peace be upon him) and then the Sahaabah distributed them to the needy and poor Muslims who work for it, the traveler without a place to live in, and those who aspire to be Muslims but whose hearts do not reach Islam yet as the holy verses mentioned in the Holy Quran, but with the development of time, the institutions and charities appeared which carry out this task to facilitate for the individual searching who really deserves them, but honesty is required.

Giving the money of Zakat for the country is a good idea because of many reasons, instead of distributing it to the individuals. The country is represented in the government and if the country fears God in its people and homeland, it will do its best to provide assistance to various institutions, agencies and their men whether officials, employees, or workers, and that is to limit the cases that deserve Zakat on the country level with the assistance of the Ministry of Social Affairs. The government also can use the civil societies to help them in this task; it has a long history in collecting the money of Zakat from individuals and redistributing it properly to achieve social justice.

The alms is determined by a verse of Quran where Allah the Almighty said, “Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom...” Al-Tawba. It is permissible to be spending from the money of the alms and reaching the State to work on the establishment of projects such as the construction of religious institutes, schools and hospitals, funding them, paying the salaries of those working in them, and equipping them with the necessary tools with giving the priority to spending a part of the alms to the poor and needy among the Muslims as Allah mentioned them in this holy verse. This appears in many projects in Egypt such as donating to the children’s cancer hospital and donating to the city of Zewail. All of these funds are alms that the individual is rewarded for and go to charity projects.

Within the atmospherics which the world is always witnessing, and the change of conditions, anyone can forget the duty of the alms amid the concerns and responsibilities. However, the one who does so does not realize that he is deprived of more bounties. He sees that if he does not give the specified amount of the alms, his money will increase and nothing will be lost. However, he does not hear the words of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that charity subtracted from the wealth never causes reduction. Also, some scholars have said that what is meant by the charity here is the alms, so giving alms in the specific amount set by Allah the Almighty every year, which has the conditions of the alms, will increase the wealth and increase the blessing, abundance and goodness, and also, one can pay concretely or materially and some people of the villages give them out because they do not have money and only have what the Earth gives from plants. Thus, it becomes a mercy from Allah to us and his servants making the alms also in the fruits and plants. There is nothing wrong with giving out the alms of the same kind as what he found, as the types of the alms are many and Allah has not limited them to one type or a particular kind but instead he made it open to everyone, and it is permissible to pay the alms to those who need them. If the State needs the alms, there is nothing wrong in giving it to them.

Islam has imposed on the State the responsibility to apply the principles and the instructions on all the Muslim and the non-Muslim residents on its territory. Islam has imposed on the Muslims the payment of a portion of their money to the State so that it can distribute it to the poor and the needy, and just like that, social justice will spread in the Muslim community and the people will feel the achievement of the equality and the justice between them. Also, Islam has imposed on the non-Muslims the tribute, which is a sum of money paid by the non-Muslims to keep them safe and protected in their residences under the auspices of the Islamic State. However, today, the role of the State in the collection of the alms is too small and almost nonexistent because the State is preoccupied with collecting taxes that it has imposed on its citizens.

The State is responsible for all the matters concerning its citizens. Also, it is the one that imposes on them the spending to improve its resources and to achieve the social justice that leads to a sense of equality among the citizens. In the Islamic State, the State is the one responsible for the Muslims to achieve what the Islamic religion is calling for and restoring its doctrines and its rules. One of the most important principles that Islam has imposed on Muslims and every rich Muslim is that the State is responsible for the imposition of the alms on the Muslims as well as to collect them and punish anyone who evades from this obligation, which is the third pillar of Islam. Islam considers the one who denies this obligation as an infidel because he has denied one of the principles and the pillars of Islam.

The obligation of alms is one of the duties imposed on the true Muslims and the duty of the ruler is to collect the alms and distribute them to their proper places. Also, the evidence of that are the words of Allah the Almighty: "They are those who, if we establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs." [Hajj: 41]. The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to appoint himself those who worked on the alms and followed them and held them accountable, as did several of the Caliphs and those who supported them, and the rulers who are committed to the law of Allah. With the vastness of the Islamic State, the sources of the alms differ and and its collectors vary, as there are those who took the right way and those who stole the money, and were fraudulent. Thus, many donors lost confidence in the collectors of the alms, particularly the State collectors. But with the different rules and the hope for a better tomorrow, the great national projects that the country needs like hospitals, the most important of which is the hospital of cancer providing free treatment hospital as it is one of the most important national projects controlled by the State. At the scientific level, the State has begun assisting many alms donors like the major banks and businessmen to start the city of Zewil for scientific research, which is one of the most important national projects that will embrace a lot of Egyptian scientists and others from all over the Arab States for Egypt to become the place for the meeting of the elite of the scholars from all over the world, and give a chance to every creator that lends a touch in this institution to complete it.

Most scholars and Islamic clerics found that the money of the alms can be given to the State. It distributes them to the worthy people among the poor, orphans, the needy, and bystanders as the State is the guardian of the Muslims and it is responsible for all their concerns. However, under the circumstances that the the Islamic society has undergone over time, many principles that underlie the Islamic State before have changed. There are no longer people who are responsible for the money of the Muslims and in collecting the alms from the Christians and other non-Muslims for their safety and security as before. Therefore, certain groups appeared for the distribution of the alms for the beneficiaries which is distant from the State and these associations work on the basis of being near the community as they exist in the small neighbourhoods and cities, which help them in determining who are the beneficiaries of the alms from the poor, orphans and poor children as stated in the Quran about those who deserve the alms.

We can say that there is a close relationship between the alms, the political system, and the State strategy to collect the alms money and the confidence from these sources to distribute the alms to the needy. Unfortunately, the former regime with the ousted President was not able to achieve it. Then, many alms donors have turned to give it to the private associations which led to the lack of distributing the alms and achieve what Allah has ordered us in his holy book: “Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer. Thus, it is ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.”[AlTauba 60]. Therefore, after the change of the system and the hope for the best, as well as the direction of many to reform, much of the alms money or even the donations have gone to the correct places, and have created many small associations and even a large one as a message and a life making. There are many major projects that need the alms money which are not only limited to the poor and the needy, but also on the major developmental projects as Allah the Almighty has said, “In the sake of Allah.”

" “O ye, who believe! Give of the good things which ye have (honorably) earned and of the fruits of the earth.”[Al Baqra] This is what the Almighty has said in His holy book. Therefore, the alms are imposed from Allah to his Muslim people as it must be paid even if it has different sources and the point of distribution, but with the different views about giving it to sources of the State, and about the fear of some grantors that the alms go to doubtful sources to other places and other sources for fear of lost sources for fear that it will be lost in vain. The alms is optional, for which the ruler does not oblige the Muslims to pay it that is why it has become a forgotten duty. At the Islamic awakening with its movements, communities, scientists and scholars, they give interest in applying these duties and give it a mandate once again by creating the alms institutions in many Islamic countries. Now, you cannot find an Islamic country that does not have an Islamic alms institution. However, this has spread to the non-Muslim countries that have minority Muslims, where these institutions have relatively succeeded in carrying out their mission.

Almighty God has imposed Zakat. Indeed, it is the third pillar of Islam. Zakat is mentioned in more than one verse in the holy Quran to show its importance to Muslims in the Muslim society. Equity can be achieved only through Zakat. The latter was imposed by Islam on the wealthy who should give it to the poor. The rich should show mercy towards the poor and the latter should love and be kind towards the rich, and wish blessing for his wealth and work. Zakat does not reduce money; on the contrary, it makes it double. Besides, Prophet Mohammed took an interest in Zakat. He was keen to make Muslims believe that it is an obligation for every wealthy Muslim. Many sayings of Prophet Mohammed incite the Muslims to give Zakat. Zakat is imposed on any valuable things such as crops, fruits, minerals, gold, real estates, lands and everything that has a monetary value. People must pay one quarter of a tenth provided that one year has passed, except for women’s gold that they keep for themselves and not for trade. Even if this gold reaches some kilograms, it is not subject to Zakat. If it is for the purpose of saving and trade, Zakat is imposed on it if one year has passed and the required quorum has been reached. Given that the country is going through bad economic conditions, it does no harm to give Zakat for the sake of the country to develop it. We can develop only if we promote our country and fear for it.

The payment of the Zakat to the State facilitates the collection of the money and enables the country to achieve excellence in terms of civilization. Indeed, the most important social categories are the poor. They are entitled to receive aids in order to address their problems. In so doing, we would manage to cope with the problems of society and contain the revolution of the hungry. In fact, the failure to collect the Zakat may lead to social imbalance, wide class gaps, and troubled relationships. We want to live in an interdependent and coherent community which seeks to support the poor and to eliminate the inequality between the rich and the poor. In this respect, the Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam. It shows the wisdom of Allah Almighty. The Zakat is very important for the communities which have strong Governments. The latter would seek to collect the Zakat money and distribute it to the poor in order to achieve social solidarity between the rich and the needy.

Zakat has been imposed in order to reduce the number of the poor and the needy in any country. Thus, if people give Zakat money to the State instead of individuals, all people will enjoy abundant wealth. That’s why I would like to advise people to give the Zakat money to the State instead of handing it to individuals. Thus, if it is worthier for the State to take the Zakat money, employ it and exploit it appropriately in a way that benefits the entire country and its members, I advise people to give the Zakat money to the State, especially that as I said earlier that Allah has imposed or legitimized Zakat in order to extend wealth to all State members. Or, let’s say if the State employs the Zakat money appropriately, wealth will not only prevail in the country but its members will also enjoy prosperity and development.

It is known and obvious that Zakaah is mandatory on Muslims as we have explained its sources, as a lot of problems have appeared recently because many people do not know their religion well and some of them implement suspicious acts in the name of religion. The money of Zakaah has become very necessary and, at the same time, a great danger if it goes in the wrong path that God ordered us to avoid. So there are some advantages to putting Zakaah under the control of the government in order that the money will be under its control and the government’s oversight, so that all people will be sure the money will go to whoever deserves it without exploiting anyone or any organization to finance illegal or extremist sides or terrorist organizations which share in harming the country. From here, the advantage of the control of the money of Zakaah by the government appeared; so we urge the importance of the country’s control on the money of Zakaah and to whom they give it as there is a great advantage for that because when the government collects the money they will have large sums of money and will make great interests, which will have great benefits for the Islamic community as it will protect it from extremism. At the same time, there will be a guarantee from the government and the country that this money will go to the legitimate recipients.

Zakaah is one of the most important duties of Islam which is a wise Islam principle, as it creates social solidarity and justice in the country and erases the tension and class hatred in the community, as the community that has mercy on the poor and needy people, helps and saves them from the evil of themselves is an ideal community. The inner soul calls for evil and if we leave the poor and needy without any help or support, we will push them to robbery and killing and will spread class hatred and tension which do not lead to social peace. The country and the government should keep order and collect zakaah because most of the businessmen run away from it which leads to the spread of poverty that is common in Egypt. We have to help the needy people.

The religion of Islam has encouraged the alms for a great wisdom and sublime and great objective because in every society, there are rich people and there are poor ones. There are strong people and there are weak ones and, hence, comes the great wisdom of Islam in the imposition of the alms on the Muslims and their money to give the poor their rights as well as for the community to live together in peace and security without a feeling of hatred by anyone against any other and without rancor and without feelings of haughtiness and vanity. Doing the alms carries a message saying to every rich person that the poor people have a right to their money which is a must and not a pity or sympathy. It is their duty and, therefore, it is forbidden for some terrorist groups and extremist movements to use such high and sublime objective and great wisdom in their criminal acts that Islam has forbidden permanently and indisputably. However, the killing of the innocent people has been completely prevented by the Islamic religion whether the killed people are Muslims or of other nationality. It is not permissible to kill any person or to harm any human being without erring. He should be punished by law and righteousness. No one has the right to impose trusteeship on the society and also kill and punish without any right as this is a mental disorder that has nothing to do with anything else. Therefore, the exploitation of the alms of the Muslims in these extreme activities of the terrorist groups is definitively and indisputably forbidden by Islam, especially since the alms have specific and well-known sources that must be spent over it and if they are spent towards other issues, they are unacceptable. However, we come here for the important role of each State where the States are supposed to do their role of monitoring over all the existing funds as well as the sources of their spending and the sources of giving them out.

At first, I would like to mention that God has imposed the alma so that all the Muslims live in prosperity. Therefore, the alma must only be given to the one who needs it. Also, the States must monitor the alma paid and carefully make sure that it does not go into the hands of the terrorists who increase their power. However, we wonder who is responsible that that the alma money will not go into the hands of the terrorists? I see that the responsible for that is the government of every State. They must investigate about those who are in need of the alma and must make every effort until the alma goes to them. The needy that God the Almighty has referred to in his holy book and has called the necessity that the alma should reach them. After all those instructions, the States pay the alma and does not care to whom it is paid. In the end, we find it into the hands of the terrorists to increase their power and tyranny on the countries. However, they exploit them even more. Therefore, I ask all the States, when they pay the alma or when collecting money for the poor, for them to take into account that they should go to the poor and the needy, and they must be keen that they will not fall into the hands of the terrorists.

The intervention of the State to raise the Zakat money is a good idea. In so doing, this money will not reach the wrong people. In the past, the individuals who were responsible for the collection of the Zakat money used to collect Zakat and delivered it to the terrorist cells in order to finance their criminal operations. Of course, the attacks target the innocent people. This procedure will prevent the arrival of that money to those who do not deserve it. In this respect, the State should strive to prevent the arrival of that money to the suspicious group. Indeed, the Zakat money should be dedicated only to the poor and the needy. This is the responsibility of the State directorates. They should not allow the terrorist movements to obtain it in order to invest it to the detriment of the people. On the other hand, I hope that the Government will distribute the money on the right people and as soon as possible.

The Arab states are required to take many important decisions regarding the case of terrorism. They should monitor all those who may be an active member in financing the terrorist organizations, which are being financed from our money. This means that we are involved in their crimes without our knowledge. The citizens pay Zakaah to help the needy Muslim brothers. However, the charitable organizations vary from place to place and some of them are dishonest. Many of such associations collect the donations and work secretly to cover their real objectives, which is sending the collected money to these cells. The governmental agencies worldwide are deficient in their work; otherwise, such funds would have never reached those who do not deserve them. The control authorities must work harder to stop the smuggling of these funds to the hands of the saboteurs who use our money in killing us and our brothers worldwide. If we managed to deprive them from the sources of money, then they would perish and they will not be able to harm us. Preventing these funds form reaching the terrorist organization requires two steps that would lead to the elimination of the terrorist cells and stopping them from shedding any blood by depriving them from money. First, the role of the government is repressed in the fact that he government authorities must work hard to monitor all the charitable associations worldwide and knowing the ways of spending the funds through the measures to be adopted by the government. As of the role of the citizen, it is represented in making sure that the charitable organizations are under the governments control or direct supervision to ensure that the money will reach those who need them.

Zakat (alms) and donations are normally collected for the sake of poor and needy people that need assistance from altruistic people, but there are great chances that these funds could reach those that do not deserve them, and this is why the government has to set up religious associations that work under the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) in order to collect zakat money and distribute it to the poor and needy people that are registered with the authorities in charge of this, and then distribute it to those that need assistance. But in many cases, these donations are collected under the guise of aids to poor and needy people, but in fact they are collected for other objectives, such as buying weapons to be used to kill peaceful civilians by the terrorists. There are some people that help to funnel zakat money that is meant for the poor to the terrorists that are located all over the world. The citizens should not trust all the places where donations are collected, and they should ask for information regarding them from the relevant authorities so that they would not contribute in funding terrorist movements. These cells do not have a fixed or guaranteed source of revenue, but they know how to get this money, and there are those that help them do so, and this is done in complete secrecy and in a very swift manner. There should be a strict oversight by the government regarding the collection of donations and their distribution to those in need, and these funds should not be allowed to be exploited by the deviant groups and used in the killing of anyone on the face of the earth. I hope that the government will urgently work on this important issue.

The terrorist groups have millions of tricks, games and lies by which they try to strive in order to achieve their own goals and objectives that were about the blood, the death or crime to violate the rights of any Arab country. Therefore, the responsible men must be very prudent and cautious for the security of the country in their tracking of the traces of the Zakat fund movement that the citizens give to the poor. It is possible that terrorism finds in this its path to use the Zakat money as its own financing to obtain the necessary weapons in its crime operations and also buys with it bombs and explosives by which it cuts the people into pieces, plus to fund the other things that the terrorist groups need to continue their continuous operations and attacks. The situation here has changed radically. These funds were used to be given for the victory of love, peace, goodness, and avoidance of anything that is evil or bad. Now, they are only used until the injustice lives and the innocent lives die. Therefore, all the officials of all the towns must be cautious in everything that is about or concerning the Zakat money which is the right of the poor, those rights which God has legislated for them. These terrorist groups do not care about anything other than achieving their basic goal which is to rule the Arab countries for which they are preparing by filling the country with blood until they make them weak and cowards, and cannot deny or object any of the terrorist decisions.

Law and Islamic law? the current law does not match with the Islamic sharia especially in what pertain to the Zakat? Yemen scholars have unanimously agreed that the state has the right to collect and distribute the Zakat, which contradicts the Islamic law! What is this nonsense?