Zakat in the modern national state between rationing and institutionalization

Abstract

Zakat represents an essential pillar of Islam and a solid foundation of its social and economic system. However, the absence of official activation of the zakat function in our contemporary societies, despite the definite need of the peoples of these societies for the financial flows provided by the zakat institution, was the result of the imbalance that afflicted the relationship between the modern Arab state and the Islamic legislative system. These countries tended to implement Western laws and some of them adopted hostile secular regimes, so the rulers abandoned their responsibilities in collecting zakat and imposing taxes on the people