Call for Peace

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

In the Name of Allah,

the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful

Ibadaah

[Worship]

Zakat

Brothers and Sisters!

Assalam o Alleyykum

[Peace be Upon You]

Technically Zakat means to expend one’s wealth in the Path of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! The question arises what is wealth?

Brothers and Sisters! Wealth is considered to be cash, property, jewelry etc. That is to say anything which can be sold or resold.

Brothers and Sisters! Let us first establish how the wealth came into being because when our forefather Hazrat Adam (PBUH) were sent from Paradise to earth the land, mountains and seas were in simple form i.e. there was no creation on land, mountains and in seas. However there were properties in land, mountain and seas which can be extracted by the use of ILM (Knowledge).

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises where our forefather Hazrat Adam (PBUH) secured ILM (Knowledge)?

Brothers and Sisters! When Allah created Hazrat Adam (PBUH) there were other creations e.g. Angels and Jinn’at (Spirits). All the creations asked what is the status of Hazrat Adam (PBUH)?

Brothers and Sisters! The circumstantial evidence depict that to determine the status of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) every creation was taught ILM by Allah. After some time there was an exam. Hazrat Adam (PBUH) secured 100 per cent marks. So the status of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) was determined as Ashraf ul Makhlukat
(the most Superior creation) and therefore the other creations will be service to Him (PBUH). This is why Allah Commanded all the creations and Angels and Jinn’at (Spirits) to prostrate Hazrat Adam (PBUH).

Brothers and Sisters! When Hazrat Adam (PBUH) were sent on earth with His (PBUH) wife Hazrat Haw’wa RTU) they needed something to eat to keep body and soul together, house to live and clothes to wear.

Brothers and Sisters! In short, by the usage of ILM (knowledge)Hazrat Adam (PBUH) grew food, made house and made clothes i.e. wealth was grown.

Brothers and Sisters! So the ILM (Knowledge) is wealth. The usage of ILM let the food grow, houses made and clothes manufactured. In other words the ILM was turned into wealth in the form of food, houses, and clothes.

Brothers and Sisters! Goods and services were bought and sold with gold, silver or paper notes. So when an employee renders his services i.e. works from 9.00am to 5.00pm he is using his wealth of ILM to be of service to his employer. When he receives his salary in the form of gold and silver it becomes wealth for him i.e. his hard earned money, otherwise gold and silver are just material and cannot be used to eat or drink or wear or to live in, but one can buy goods and services with the exchange of gold and silver cones.

Brothers and Sisters!

Let us see the importance of gold and silver coins as a wealth.

Brothers and Sisters! These coins of gold and silver represent the hard work the employee did for whole month. So if someone lays his hands on it, it hurts him because in fact the other person is laying hands on his whole months hard work i.e. the wealth of ILM he expended for whole month.

Brothers and Sisters! For a thief the same gold and silver coins he stole do not become wealth because there is no hard work done to steal gold and silver coins. He just stole it to satisfy his Sensual Appetite by buying goods and service.

Brothers and Sisters! It is believed that now you can appreciate what wealth is. Wealth is hard earned money by the use of faculties i.e. ILM.

Brothers and Sisters! Mankind has been sent in this world for a test. Test is to look after one another.

Brothers and Sisters! Zakat in modern terminology is consider to be a tax upon wealth at the rate of 2 ½ per cent once a year provided the wealth exceeds the Nisab (limit) set by the Sharia.

Brothers and Sisters! In fact Zakat is not tax. The concept of Zakat is inspiration to the people to expend their hard earned wealth for the sake of Allah. This fact has been revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah Al Baqrah Ayat no 3

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Who believe in Ghaib (unseen) and perform As – Salat (Iqamat – as – Salat), and spend out (Rizq) of what We have provided for them [i.e. give Zakat, spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, and also give charity to the poor and also in Allah’s Cause – Jihad]

Brothers and Sisters! Ulema e Karam (Scholars) elaborate Rizq as hard earned money which has to be spent for various causes for the sake of Allah. Brothers and Sisters! Let us see the avenues of expenditure one by one which has been derived by Ulema e Karam.

Brothers and Sisters! It is natural phenomenon that one who has worked for whole month to depart with his wealth. To expend for sake of Allah there is a reward. Rewards is that Allah will be pleased with him and with His (SWT) Grace Allah will give him a place in Paradise where he will enjoy the Bounties forever which no eye
has seen, no ear has heard and no mind can imagine.

Family

Brothers and Sisters! Under the light of Qur’an and Hadith the Man of the House is under obligation to look after his family in every respect e.g. food, clothing, accommodation, education etc. etc. Similarly, he is under obligation to look after his parents as they brought him up, educate him and helped to make his career.

Brothers and Sisters! So any of the wealth he will expend for the sake of Allah upon his family and parents is form of Zakat where he will be rewarded.

Poor People   

Brothers and Sisters! As per the system devised by Allah there are rich people and poor people. Poor people’s right emerges that they should be looked after. The definition of poor people in the context of Zakat is that their wealth does not exceed the Nisab (limit) determined by Sharia.

Allah’s Cause

Brothers and Sisters! Allah’s Cause is the introduction, revival and promotion of Islam. Scholars devote their lives to make analysis of Qur’an and Hadith and devise plan how mankind can follow the Guidance of Allah and Teachings of Anbiyya e Karam in their day to day life. The well off [people are under obligation to expend their wealth where the Ulema e Karam (Scholars) can avail the resources to introduce, revive and promote Islam.

CONCLUSION

Brothers and Sisters! Zakat is an Ibadaah (worship). There are many Hikmahs (prudence) behind every Ibadaah.

Brothers and Sisters! If we look the properties of Zakat then we will see that one’s every moment of life falls within the sphere of Zakat.

To pay Zakat:

• one has to look for the Bounties of Allah
  

• to look for the Bounties of Allah one has to secure ILM i.e. to be educated
  

• when the education is complete then he has to look for a job
  

• when he secures and job then he has to work hard
  

Brothers and Sisters! Hard work earns him wealth which he can expend for the sake of Allah i.e. pays Zakat.

Brothers and Sisters! The essential of Zakat is part of Deen e Islam to inspire people to expend their hard earned wealth for the sake of Allah where he will be rewarded in the life hereafter. The reward will be a place in Paradise where he will enjoy Bounties of Allah forever which no eye
has seen, no ear has heard and no mind can imagine.

Brothers and Sisters! So Zakat is not a tax at 2 ½ per cent once a year. One can pay Zakat all the year round. When one helps others without any monetary return he is paying Zakat. He helps the person in need by his knowledge and skills. The money he earns is also based on the use of knowledge and skills. So, the object is to help others whether by knowledge and skill or financially.

Brothers and Sisters! When one earns he has to expend it. So why not make an intension that he is expending it for the sake of Allah.

May Allah be with You

Wass’a’lam

[May Allah Bless You]