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#33 – The Importance of Zakat
Mar 21 – 27, 2022
Sha’baan 18 – 24, 1443

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The Importance of Zakat

What have Allah and His Messenger said about

The Importance of Zakat

لَّيْسَ ٱلْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ فِى ٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلْبَأْسِ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāh; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.

[Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 177]
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah – give them tidings of a painful punishment.

[Surah At-Tawbah, Ayah 34]
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ هُرْمُزَ الأَعْرَجَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ تَأْتِي الإِبِلُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا، عَلَى خَيْرِ مَا كَانَتْ، إِذَا هُوَ لَمْ يُعْطِ فِيهَا حَقَّهَا، تَطَؤُهُ بِأَخْفَافِهَا، وَتَأْتِي الْغَنَمُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا عَلَى خَيْرِ مَا كَانَتْ، إِذَا لَمْ يُعْطِ فِيهَا حَقَّهَا، تَطَؤُهُ بِأَظْلاَفِهَا، وَتَنْطَحُهُ بِقُرُونِهَا ‏”‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏”‏ وَمِنْ حَقِّهَا أَنْ تُحْلَبَ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَلاَ يَأْتِي أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِشَاةٍ يَحْمِلُهَا عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ لَهَا يُعَارٌ، فَيَقُولُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ بَلَّغْتُ‏.‏ وَلاَ يَأْتِي بِبَعِيرٍ، يَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ لَهُ رُغَاءٌ، فَيَقُولُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ بَلَّغْتُ ‏”‏‏.‏
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“(On the Day of Resurrection) camels will come to their owner in the best state of health they have ever had (in the world), and if he had not paid their Zakat (in the world) then they would tread him with their feet; and similarly, sheep will come to their owner in the best state of health they have ever had in the world, and if he had not paid their Zakat, then they would tread him with their hooves and would butt him with their horns.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “One of their rights is that they should be milked while water is kept in front of them.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “I do not want anyone of you to come to me on the Day of Resurrection, carrying over his neck a sheep that will be bleating. Such a person will (then) say, ‘O Muhammad! (please intercede for me,) I will say to him. ‘I can’t help you, for I conveyed Allah’s Message to you.’ Similarly, I do not want anyone of you to come to me carrying over his neck a camel that will be grunting. Such a person (then) will say “O Muhammad! (please intercede for me).” I will say to him, “I can’t help you for I conveyed Allah’s message to you.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1402]

Where Does our Earning Come from?

Why is there such a stark warning for not paying Zakat? We need to think about where does our earning come from, whether we earn it through business, through employment, or through farming, Did we have the power by ourselves to earn that income? If we did, why do so many people who work equally as hard are unable to earn the same amount? It is the system set up by Allah Ta’alah that provides sustenance to everyone through it

The Distribution of Jobs is from Allah Ta’alah

It is the system set up by Allah Ta’alah which sends customers to a shop. Was there ever a conference organized in which it was decided that so many people will sell rice, so many will sell clothes, and so many will sell shoes? No such conference has ever been organized, rather it is Allah Ta’alah who put it in someone’s mind to sell shoes, someone’s mind to sell meat, and someone’s mind to sell clothes, so that everyone’s needs can be met. Then Allah Ta’alah put the thought in buyers’ minds to go and buy these items from these people, to provide them with their sustenance. Such is the system set up by Allah Ta’alah which is providing income to everyone.

Who Grows the Crops from Earth

All a farmer can do is to plant the seeds and water them. But that seed grows into a sapling, which is extremely delicate but pierces hard soil to come out. It then braves the hot or cold weather, braves the wind, and then grows into a plant. That plant then grows fruits or vegetables which in some cases travel to the four comers of the world, Is there a human being who can guarantee when he puts the seeds in that this whole process will happen successfully? It is only Allah Ta’alah who can make that delicate seed into a fully grown plant, tree or a crop

Everything Belongs to Allah Ta’alah

Human beings can make limited effort only. They cannot create anything. For example, they can put the seeds in but have no control whether the crop will grow or not, It is Allah Ta’alah who creates things and then grants them to human beings. Whatever we have actually belongs to Allah Ta’alah. In the Holy Quran Allah Ta’alah says;

لِّلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ
To Allah ˹alone˺ belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. (2:284)


Everything We Have is a Blessing from Allah Ta’alah

And after granting all these material possessions to us Allah Ta’alah declared that we were the owners of these things too, In Surah al-Yaseen Allah Ta’alah says;

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعَـٰمًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ
Did they not see that We have created for them cattle, among things made (directly) by Our hands, and then they become their owners? (36:71)

This verse reminds us that whatever we have, has been granted to us by Allah Ta’alah. And when it has been granted to us by Allah Ta’alah then we should spend it the way Allah Ta’alah wants us to spend it, If we spend from it as per Allah Ta’alah’s commandments, then the remaining capital will become Halal and pure for us, it will become a blessing for us. And if we do not spend from it as Allah Ta’alah has commanded us to do, then, on the Day of Judgment, all this wealth will be heated up and we will be branded with it, and we will be reminded that this is the wealth you used to accumulate in your worldly life.

[Taken from “How to Pay Zakat” by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmani]

Spiritual Reminders

The Importance and Benefits of Zakat

Only Two and a Half Percent

If we truly believe that whatever wealth we have has been granted to us by Allah Ta’alah, then if Allah Ta’alah had ordered us to keep two and a half percent of it, and give 97.% percent of it away in Allah Ta’alah’s way, it would have not been unfair since it all belongs to Allah Ta’alah anyway. However, Allah Ta’alah has shown kindness to His subjects because of our natural attraction towards wealth and told us that as long as we spend 2.5% of it in Allah Ta’alah’s way, the rest of the 97.5 % is Halal and pure for us and will be a source of blessing for us.

Quranic Commandment about Zakat

In the Holy Quran Allah Ta’alah has said multiple times;

وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
And be steadfast in Salāh (prayer), and pay Zakāh

When Allah Ta’alah has commanded us so many times to pay Zakat, and, on the other hand, Allah Ta’alah has showered such great blessings upon us that He has granted us all the wealth we have, then made us owner of that wealth, and then told us to give only 2.5% of it with others, then we should also make an effort to take out 2.5 % of our wealth carefully.

Zakat Should Be Calculated Carefully

In a Hadith, we learn that if Zakat gets mixed with a person’s wealth (meaning that they didn’t calculate their Zakat properly, and therefore didn’t pay all that was due) then that wealth becomes a source of great harm for them. That is why Zakat should be calculated and given very carefully Alhamdulillah most Muslims take out Zakat but some are not diligent in calculating it and pay an approximate amount. If they pay more than what was due, then InshaAllah they will be fine, but if they pay less, then that unpaid Zakat will contaminate their entire wealth

The Worldly Benefits of Zakat

Zakat should be paid primarily because it is one of the commandments of Allah Ta’alah, and is an act of worship (Ibadah), Whether we get any material benefit because of extracting Zakat or not, is not the point. The primary purpose is to obey Allah Ta’alah, and to try to please Him. However, it is Allah Ta’alah’s kindness when a person takes out Zakat from their wealth, Allah Ta’alah showers them with material blessings as well. In the Holy Quran Allah Tatalah says;

يَمْحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَيُرْبِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ
Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities.

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said

مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ يُصْبِحُ الْعِبَادُ فِيهِ إِلاَّ مَلَكَانِ يَنْزِلاَنِ فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا، وَيَقُولُ الآخَرُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا ‏
“Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,’ and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allah! Destroy every miser.’ “

In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said;

‏ مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ
“Charity does not diminish wealth”

It happens that as soon as a person takes out Zakat from their assets, Allah Ta’alah creates other sources of income for them and they get more earning than the Zakat they had paid. Sometimes it happens that after taking out Zakat a person’s wealth goes down in numbers, but Allah Ta’alah creates such blessing (Barakah) in the remaining assets that it suffices for more of their needs.

The Meaning of Barakah (Blessing)

These days our worldly success or failure is measured in numbers. The person who earns more in numbers is presumed to be more successful than the person who earns less. People do not understand the meaning of Barakah (blessing). Barakah means that a little amount suffices for a lot of benefit. For example, a person earned a lot of income. However, his son fell ill. He then had to take his son to the hospital for expensive treatment and he ended up spending more than they had earned. It means that there was no Barakah in his income.

There are many other situations in which people who earn a lot, lose money one way or the other. It means that what they are earning is not being spent on benefitting them, or making them happy. Barakah means that a person may earn a small amount but that small amount is sufficient to cover a lot of his needs and wants. Allah Ta’alah grants this Barakah to those who obey Him. That is why we should take out Zakat by calculating it exactly as advised by Allah Ta’alah and the Holy Prophet, and not by casual guesswork.

[Adapted from “How to Pay Zakat” by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmani]

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF

Sirah

A Pillar of Islam
Anas narrated: “We used to hope that an intelligent Bedouin would show up to question the Prophet while we were with him. So one while we were with him, a Bedouin came, kneeling in front of the Prophet, and he said: ‘O Muhammad, your messenger came to us and told us that you say that Allah sent you.’ So the Prophet say: ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘So, (swear) by the One who raised the heaves, and spread out the earth, and erected the mountains; has Allah sent you?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Your messenger told us that you say that there are five prayers required from us in a day and a night.’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘By the One Who sent you, has Allah ordered that you you?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Your messenger told us that you say that we are required to fast for a month out of the year.’ He said, ‘He told the truth.’ He said, ‘By the One Who sent you, has Allah ordered that you?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Your messenger told us that Zakat is required from our wealth.’ The Prophet said, ‘He told the truth.’ He said, ‘By the One Who sent you, has Allah ordered you that?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Your messenger told us that you say that we are required to perform Hajj to Allah’s House if able to undertake the journey.’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘By the One Who sent you, has Allah Commanded you that?’ (The Prophet said:) ‘Yes.’ So he said: ‘By the One Who sent you with the Truth, I will not leave any of them, nor surpass them.’ Then he got up quickly (leaving). The Prophet said: ‘If the Bedouin told the truth, then he will enter Paradise.'”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 619]

Sunnah Acts

Asking Others is Disliked
Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid narrated that: Thawban said: “The Messenger of Allah said:
‘Who will commit himself to one thing, I will guarantee him paradise?’ I said: ‘I will.’ He said: ‘Do not ask people for anything.’ So Thawban would drop his whip while he was on his mount, and he would not say to anyone: ‘Get that for me’ rather he would dismount and grab it.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 1837]

Adhkar/Dua

Dua For Barakah in Knowledge, Wealth, and Deeds
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
‘Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan

O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and acceptable deeds

[Sunan Ibn Majah 925]
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