FOCUS: Zakat is the strongest mechanism for economic equality, empowerment and education of Muslim children

 

 

 

Farooq Siddiqui

NewsBits.in

Every year, as the crescent of Ramzan appears in the sky, hearts soften, hands open and Indian Muslims prepare to fulfil one of the most sacred obligations of faith — zakat. Zakat is not optional charity; it is farz i.e.obligatory upon eligible Muslims at 2.5% of their accumulated wealth above the 'nisaab' threshold.

It is calculated with care, given with humility and intended solely for the sake of Allah.Yet zakat is more than a spiritual transaction. It is a divinely mandated economic system designed to reduce inequality, protect dignity, and empower the weak.

The question we must ask ourselves, especially in these changing times, is this: Are we using zakat in a way that secures not only immediate relief but also the long-term future of our children?

Across towns, villages and cities in India, there are countless bright Muslim students with extraordinary potential. They clear entrance exams, earn admission to colleges, and aspire to become doctors, engineers, civil servants, teachers, researchers, entrepreneurs and skilled professionals.

But too often, their journey halts at a familiar obstacle — affordability. A semester fee, a coaching installment, hostel rent, examination charges, a laptop for online classes — what may appear modest to some becomes an insurmountable barrier for families surviving on daily wages or uncertain incomes.

When a talented student drops out because of financial hardship, the loss is not individual alone. It is collective. We do not simply lose a degree; we lose a future contributor to society. Poverty, when reinforced by educational deprivation, becomes hereditary.

Islam’s emphasis on knowledge leaves no room for ambiguity. The very first revelation — "IQRA - Read” — was not incidental; it was foundational. The Prophet ﷺ described the pursuit of knowledge as an obligation upon every Muslim.

For centuries, Muslim civilizations led the world in scholarship, science, medicine, mathematics and philosophy because knowledge was treated as sacred capital. Reclaiming that intellectual legacy today demands practical commitment — and directing a significant portion of zakat toward education is one of the most meaningful steps we can take.

This does not mean neglecting immediate needs. Hunger, medical emergencies, and crisis situations must continue to receive priority attention. No child can focus on studies while battling hunger or instability. But while relief addresses urgency, education addresses continuity. A ration kit may sustain a family for weeks; educational support can sustain generations.

In today’s India, education is not a luxury. It is the minimum requirement for dignity and participation in economic life. Without formal education or vocational skills, employment opportunities remain limited and unstable. A single graduate in a household can alter the trajectory of an entire family — ensuring better healthcare, improved schooling for siblings, financial security for parents and enhanced social confidence.

Zakat, when thoughtfully invested in education, becomes a multiplier. The student supported today becomes tomorrow’s professional. The beneficiary becomes a benefactor. Instead of receiving aid year after year, that individual enters the workforce, contributes economically, pays zakat in turn, and supports others. This transformation from dependency to dignity is precisely the spirit in which zakat was ordained.

Importantly, education must be understood in its full spectrum. It includes school and higher education, professional degrees, competitive examination preparation, skill-based courses, and vocational training. Not every student will pursue medicine or civil services — and that is perfectly fine. Electricians, technicians, coders, teachers, nurses, artisans, small entrepreneurs — each plays a vital role in nation-building. Zakat can unlock all these pathways.

At the same time, we must recognize the vital importance of madrasa education. Madrasas have historically preserved faith, scholarship, moral grounding and community leadership. They nurture scholars, imams and teachers who guide society spiritually and ethically. Supporting madrasas through zakat ensures that religious knowledge, Quranic studies, and moral education continue to flourish.

However, the conversation need not be framed as madrasa versus modern education. The future demands integration, not division. Many families desire that their children be grounded in deen while also equipped with contemporary knowledge and skills.

Strengthening madrasas with improved facilities, language proficiency, digital literacy and exposure to modern subjects can create balanced individuals — spiritually rooted and professionally capable. Zakat can help modernize infrastructure, provide scholarships for madrasa students to pursue higher education, and support hybrid models that combine traditional learning with modern competencies.

When we invest in both religious and modern education, we build character alongside competence. We produce professionals with ethics and scholars with awareness of contemporary realities. This balance is essential for a confident and responsible generation.

Another area requiring urgent attention is the education of girls. An educated daughter uplifts not just herself but her entire family. Studies consistently demonstrate that women reinvest their income into health, nutrition and education for children. Supporting girls through zakat is therefore not merely a social gesture; it is a strategic investment in the next generation.

At this point, it is important to reflect on another dimension of responsibility. While zakat is farz at 2.5%, those whom Allah has blessed with substantial income, stable businesses, professional success and financial security should introspect deeply. The minimum obligation is 2.5% — but generosity has no upper limit.

In my humble view, Muslims with strong and comfortable incomes should not restrict themselves to only the mandatory 2.5%. They should voluntarily strive to give 5% or even more, combining obligatory zakat with additional sadaqah and structured community investment. The excess amount beyond the compulsory 2.5% can be consciously directed toward long-term empowerment initiatives — especially in education, livelihood generation, and small business support.

Why is this important?

Because sustainable upliftment requires capital. A scholarship creates a graduate. A vocational grant creates a skilled worker. Seed support to a widow or youth for a small business — tailoring unit, repair shop, food venture, digital service, or trade — creates self-reliance. When families generate stable income, they no longer depend on annual relief. They become contributors to the economy and, eventually, zakat payers themselves.

Thus, while 2.5% fulfils the obligation, going beyond it, will help the community. 

Of course, educational and livelihood-focused zakat must be managed with transparency and care. Scholarships should be awarded based on genuine need and merit. Selection processes must be fair. Students should receive mentorship alongside financial assistance, because money alone does not guarantee success. Guidance in career planning, exam preparation and personal development significantly increases outcomes.

It is also essential that a defined and meaningful portion of zakat be channelled through reliable and trusted institutions — organisations that have demonstrated integrity, accountability and sustained commitment to educational upliftment and livelihood support.

Well-managed institutions and community-based NGOs often possess the infrastructure to identify deserving students, verify backgrounds, monitor progress and provide structured support. Individual giving is noble, but collective, institutional mechanisms ensure scale and continuity. When zakat is pooled responsibly and deployed systematically, its impact multiplies.

The collective zakat potential of Indian Muslims runs into thousands of crores annually. Imagine the transformation if even a substantial fraction were consistently directed toward structured educational initiatives, skill development centres, and micro-enterprise support systems.

Within a decade, we could witness a significant rise not only in graduates and scholars but also in self-employed youth, women-led enterprises, and financially independent families emerging from economically weaker backgrounds.

Ramzan is not only a month of fasting; it is a month of reflection and recalibration. As we calculate our zakat this year — the obligatory 2.5% — perhaps we should pause and ask: Can we do more? Can we stretch beyond the minimum? Will our contribution merely sustain survival, or will it secure the future?

Zakat is an amanah — a trust. It carries spiritual reward, but it also carries social responsibility. Directing a significant portion toward education, livelihood creation, and small enterprise development — whether supporting a poor child’s school fees, enabling a student’s professional course, strengthening a madrasa, funding skill training, or helping a family start a dignified income stream — is not innovation. It is a return to Islam’s original vision of empowerment.

When zakat builds minds instead of only meeting moments, when it produces entrepreneurs instead of perpetual recipients, when it strengthens both deen and duniya — it fulfills both its worldly purpose and its divine promise.

The future of our children depends on the decisions we make today. And perhaps the most powerful decision this Ramzan is not only to give our 2.5% faithfully — but, where possible, to rise beyond it — so that no deserving child, no aspiring youth, and no struggling family is left behind for want of opportunity.

(The writer is a Delhi-based Wealth & Legal Services Advisor who is also a social worker, actively working with International & National organizations on education and livelihood related initiatives for over 25 years).