Translation of the meanings Ayah 60 Surah At-Tawbah - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 60

۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡهَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۖ فَرِيضَةٗ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ

60. (The obligatory) alms are but for the poor, the destitutes, for those employed to collect it, for those whose hearts are attracted (towards Islam), for the freeing of human beings from bondage, for those who are over burdened with debts, (those fighting) in Allah’s Cause, and for the (stranded) travelers (strangers and alien residents). An obligation ordained by Allāh24, for Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

24. The basic principle of almsgiving, or Zakat in Islam is not an act of individual kindness, but a grave social obligation that must be fulfilled. The underlying logic behind it is that Allāh, the One, All-powerful and Supremely benevolent God we believe in didn’t miscalculate when He created the world, nor failed to provide enough resources for all of his creatures to enjoy decent enough material existence. Therefore, there is more than enough wealth in the world for everyone to go around; and if some people appropriate most of it just for themselves while leaving others to squalor in poverty, that can only be in direct violation of Divine plan. Hence, wealthy individuals can justify themselves before Allāh only if they willingly share their wealth with others, and use it to provide for the needy; and in doing so, they do not display any great virtue or moral superiority on their part, but the basic minimum to remain members of their communities. Not giving to the poor when you’re able to makes you a sinner; while giving to the poor restores you to the human baseline in the eyes of Allāh and purifies you from sins and miserliness and elevtes you.