Friday Khutbah (3rd June 2005) delivered by Shaykh Muhammad Taher
DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic. Any meanings lost in translation are not to be attributed to the speaker as reminders are translated by volunteers. The mosque has no official translater and volunteers often have no formal qualifications to translate on the day. Please forgive any errors as they are from our human weakness and any right guidance is from Allah.The Shaykh continued his explanation of Allah SWT’s description of what al birr (righteousness) is and who is truthful and of the mutakeen (pious).
“it is not al-birr that you turn your faces towards east or west; But it is al-birr – to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend out of your substance out of love of Him for your kin, orphans, the needy, the traveller, those who ask and for the ransom of slaves, those who establish as-salat (prayer) and gives Zakat, fulfil promises when made, and are steadfast (patient) in tribulation, hardship and in times of distress. These (people) are the truthful and these are the pious.” [Surat al Baqarah (2: 177)]
We reached “and performs as-salat and gives Zakat”.
Oh muslims
The Zakat was mentioned in the Quran about 30 times. On 27 of those occasions the obligation to pay Zakat was combined with the obligation to pray Salat.
Oh muslims, the Zakat is one of the main pillars of this Deen, and it is known to be compulsory. The proof that Zakah is obligatory is in the clear ayahs of the Holy Quran, well accepted Ahadeeth of Prophet SAW (reported by multiple transmitters), and the consensus of the Islamic Nations - the Salaf (first three generations) and subsequent caliphates.
Allah SWT said: “Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Your invocations are a source of security for them; and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower” [Surat At-Taubat (9:103)]
May Allah SWT make us among them and may He help us to be among the people who have these mighty characters…Ameen.
The Prophet Mohamed SAW said:
“Islam is built upon [the following] five: bearing witness that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, the establishment of the prayer, the giving of zakah, the fast of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to the House (Makkah) for whoever is able to make it”
The Qur’an has used the word Sadaqah instead of Zakat many times to mean the obligatory charity upon wealth and also in the hadeeth of the Prophet SAW. The word Sadaqah comes from tasdiq – believing in the truth of the giver. It is a sign of true faith of the heart in Islam and the Day of Judgment for those who give Sadaqah for sake of Allah. The Prophet SAW also said “Sadaqah is Burhan” i.e. a very clear evidence. Allah SWT says:
“So, as for him who gives [to others] and is conscious of Allah, and believes in the truth of the ultimate good - for him shall We make easy the path towards [ultimate] ease. But as for him who is miserly (bukhl), and thinks that he is self-sufficient, and calls the ultimate good a lie – for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship ” [Surah al-Lail (92:5 to 10)]
The word Zakah means Purification, Prosperity and Blessings. But customarily in the sacred law, the word Zakah is used rather than Sadaqah - meaning a part of one’s wealth - with specific criteria and limits - that has to be taken from the rich or whoever has money exceeding the specific limit (nisab) and given to the people deserving of it – this is a clear command from Allah SWT.
Oh muslims:
Prophet Mohamed SAW sent Muath Ibn Jabal to Yemen and he told him:
"You are going to a people who are People of the Scripture. Invite them to accept the shahadah: that there is no god but Allah and I am His Messenger. If they accept and affirm this, tell them that Allah, the Glorious One, has enjoined five prayers upon them during the day and night. If they accept that, tell them also that He has enjoined sadaqah upon their assets which will be taken from the rich of the (Muslim) community and distributed to the poor. If they accept that, refrain from laying hands upon the best of their goods."
Prophet Mohamed SAW was informing Muath that he will come to people having knowledge of the sacred books, and they are to share the burden for what has been revealed by Allah to His prophets. So Muath’s speech to them should be different to his speech to the ignorant idol worshipers and similar people. This is a higher rank of etiquette that the preacher to the call of Allah SWT should have to those knowing the sacred books.
Give attention to the saying of the Prophet SAW to Muath when he said “if they obeyed you”, i.e.
THEN and ONLY IN THIS CASE inform them of the obligations of Allah upon His believers… at this stage comes the duty to act and at this stage comes the role of testing their heart’s believe:
“Alif-Lam Mim, Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: we believe, and will not be tested!” [Surat Al-Ankabut (29:1,2)]
Many people think that the hardship and the test from Allah to His believers would be ONLY by confronting the oppressors, the rebellious and the enemies to Allah and His messenger or by
“being tested with something of fear, loss of wealth, people and fruits.” [Surah Baqarah (2:155)]
No, oh muslims, Allah SWT said:
“We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good and to Us you will be returned” [Al-Anbiya (22:35)].
The trial and the test of Iman would be by fulfilling the commands and the duties from Allah. Also, it could be by testing your hearing and obedience and the extent to which you respond to Allah’s call in the Holy Quran because He is calling you when he says: “Oh who you believe”. So did our souls and hearts respond to the call of Salah by performing prayer? Did we respond to the command of Allah to give Zakat by paying obligatory charity upon our wealth willingly? Did we? Did we? Did we?
Oh muslims
Be informed that Performing Salat, giving Zakat, fasting Ramadan and visiting the sacred house of Allah for Hajj (pilgrimage) are the main pillars of the Deen, which the slaves of Allah would not do without the seed of Iman in his heart and this seed grows up to be a long and highly extended tree of Iman, giving its fruit all times by the will of Allah.
Conclusion:
So your performing salats, giving Zakat, fasting and Hajj are deeds to increase your Iman and to bring you closer to Allah SWT.
The Shaykh promised to explain more details of our obligation to pay Zakah inshallah.
Related Links:
Khutbas