When the Rich Withhold, the Poor Suffer

Hawzah News Agency - Imam Sadiq, peace and blessings of God be upon him, says:

«إِنَّمَا وُضِعَتِ اَلزَّكَاةُ اِخْتِبَاراً لِلْأَغْنِيَاءِ وَ مَعُونَةً لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ اَلنَّاسَ أَدَّوْا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ مَا بَقِيَ مُسْلِمٌ فَقِيراً مُحْتَاجاً وَ لاَسْتَغْنَى بِمَا فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ وَ إِنَّ اَلنَّاسَ مَا اِفْتَقَرُوا وَ لاَ اِحْتَاجُوا وَ لاَ جَاعُوا وَ لاَ عَرُوا إِلاَّ بِذُنُوبِ اَلْأَغْنِيَاءِ.»

"The alms-tax has been prescribed as a test for the rich and an aid to the poor. If people duly paid the alms-tax on their wealth, there would not remain a single poor or needy Muslim, and all would suffice themselves through what Allah has prescribed. Verily people are only impoverished, needy, hungry and naked as a result of the sins of the wealthy."

Al-Wāfi, v. 10, p. 50