Why Zakat Is Called a Cure for the Disease of Excessive Love of the World

In the Islamic view, zakat functions not only as an instrument for economic equalisation and aid for the poor. More than that, zakat is a means of spiritual education aimed at cleansing the heart of excessive love for wealth and the world. Through the obligation to disburse a portion of one’s riches, a Muslim is trained to treat wealth as a tool, not a life goal, while strengthening their orientation towards the hereafter and seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT.

Yusuf Qardawi, in his book Fiqhuz Zakat, explains that zakat serves as a reminder to the heart of its duties to Allah and the afterlife, acting as a medicine to prevent the heart from drowning in an excessive love of wealth and the world. According to Ar-Razi, such immersion in worldly love can divert the soul from the love of Allah and fear of the afterlife.

By commanding property owners to part with a portion of their wealth, the sharia aims to curb excessive attachment to possessions, prevent the soul from being dominated by materialism, and remind individuals that happiness is not achieved by subjugating the soul to wealth. Rather, happiness is attained by spending wealth in the pursuit of Allah’s pleasure.

Syekh Yusuf Qardawi states that the obligation of zakat is a fitting and precise remedy for treating the heart’s excessive love of the world. Imam Ar-Razi further explains the secret behind the heart’s domination by worldly love: substantial wealth generates power and strength, leading to increased pleasure from that power. This heightened pleasure, in turn, drives humans to seek even more wealth to further increase their enjoyment.