Overpayment of Zakah – Aik Sahabi Ka Zakaat Mein Oont Dena
Ubayy Ibn Ka’b (radiyallahu anhu) says: “Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) once sent me to collect Zakah dues from a locality. I went to person there, and asked about the details of his possessions. A baby camel, one year old, was due from him in zakah. When he heard this, he said, ‘Of what use is a baby camel, one year old? You can neither milk it, not ride it. Here is a fine grown-up she-camel. You had better take this instead.’ I replied, “My orders do not permit me to take more than what is actually due from you. I therefore, cannot accept what you offer. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is visiting this locality, and tonight he will be camping at a place not very far from here. You should better go and place your offer before him. If he does not object, I would gladly accept your offer, otherwise you shall have to give me exactly what is due from you.”
At this, he took the she-camel to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and requested him thus: ‘O Nabi of Allah! Your deputy came to receive zakah from me. By Allah! Before this time, I have never had the honour of paying anything to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) or his deputy. I therefore placed everything that I possessed before him. He decided that a baby camel, one year old, was due from me. Now, O Nabi of Allah! This baby camel is of no use. It can neither yield milk nor carry a load. I, therefore, pressed him to accept a fine grown-up she-camel instead, which he refused to accept without your permission. I have now come to you with the she-camel. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “No doubt, only that much is due form you which he has worked out, but if you are willing to give more than that, of your own accord, it would be accepted.” I then presented the she-camel to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), which he accordingly accepted and asked Allah Ta’ala’s mercy for the giver.”
Look, with what largeness of heart the sahabah parted with their best things for the sake of Allah Ta’ala. On the other hand, we too, claim to be the true following of Islam, and ardent devotees of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) but, leaving apart the bestowing of alms in general to the poor and the needy, we are most reluctant to pay the actual obligatory dues. Zakah, as a pillar of Islam, is not even known to our upper classes. Of the middle classes, only the religiously conscious people keep up a from of paying zakah, in as much as even the expenditure incurred on their own relatives and acquaintances, and all other charitable donations squeezed out of them by the force of circumstances and social pressures are debited to this account.