Five Pillars of Islam
"Zakat" (charity), one of the Five Pillars of Islam, since the time of the first Islamic State, established by Allah's Messenger at Medina. The taxes (including "Zakat" and "Jizya") collected in the treasury ("Bayt al-mal") of an Islamic government were used to provide income for the needy, including the poor, elderly, orphans, widows and the disabled.