Zakah is indispensable for the Muslim community as it achieves reform, both financially and spiritually. It eliminates misery and greed from hearts and consolidates the Islamic economy, leading to its stability and prosperity. Besides, the Qur'an pictures Zakah as:
* The means of attaining Allah's mercy, "But My Mercy extendeth to all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and practice regular charity". (Surah Al-A`raf 7:165).
* A precondition to achieve victory, "Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for verily Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will). (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity." (Surah Al-Hajj 22:40-41).
* A sign of brotherhood in religion, "But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, they are your brethren in Faith." (Surah Al-Taubah 9:11).
* A distinctive feature of the faithful community, "The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise." (Surah Al-Taubah 9:71).
* A distinctive quality of the believers who frequently go to mosques and maintain them. "The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah." (Surah Al-Taubah 9:18).
* A distinctive quality of the true believers who will abide in Paradise, "Who are active in deeds of charity." (Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:4).
* Also the Sunnah equally stresses the importance of Zakah. Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying, "I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, perform Prayer, and pay Zakah."
* It is reported on the authority of Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he observed, "I gave pledge of allegiance to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) on the observance of Prayer, payment of Zakah, and sincerity and well-wishing for every Muslim."
* Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "(The superstructure of) Islam is raised on five (pillars): Bearing testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performance of Prayer, payment of Zakah, Pilgrimage (to Mecca) and Fast of Ramadan."
(All the above hadiths are included in Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)