What is the Wisdom of Zakat?

Answered by Zakir Naik,: Amongst the categories who are not eligible, those who do not fall in the 8 categories mentioned in Surah Tawbah ch. no. 9 verse no. 60 but natural are not eligible to receive Zakaat as a general rule but there are some people who may fall in the 8 categories mentioned in Surah Tawbah ch. 9 verse 60 yet they may not be eligible. First is the descendant of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 (Book of Buya) Hadith no. 2055 that “Once the Prophet sees a date fallen down and he said “I’d love to eat it but I am afraid that it may be of charity” because the thing of charity cannot be consumed by the Prophet and his family.”There’s another Hadith of Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 2 in the Book of Zakaat Hadith no. 1491 where”Hasan Ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) once ate a date from what was part of the charity so the Prophet said that expel it from your mouth because the family of the Prophet, they cannot eat from what is given in charity.” The reason is basically that people should not allege that the Prophet you know, is taking Zakaat, Zakaat is compulsory on the Muslims and Prophet is having from it so it is the Rahama of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), wisdom of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that He has seen to it that the people should not lay an allegation. That’s what I feel is one of the reasons.