EPIC Masjid, Imam Shakeel Wawda, Charity in Islam.

Khutbah: Charity in Islam

الحمد لله، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا. من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلله فلا هادي له. ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، ونشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله.

My dear respected brothers and sisters, I would like to share with you a few points regarding charity.

Part One: Compulsory Charity — Zakah

Firstly, compulsory charity, as we know as Zakah. The word Zakah in the dictionary means purity, blessing, and increase. In the Shariah, Zakah means to give a specific amount of one's wealth to a needy person, making him the owner of it.

By looking at these two meanings, we can conclude that Zakah means to give charity in order to purify one's wealth. This giving not only benefits us in the hereafter, but it benefits us in this world also. As we know, Zakah is the fifth pillar of Islam. It was ordained upon us in the second year of Hijrah, and the Quran is proof of that.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Quran:

"Establish Salah and give Zakah."

In another place, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

"And they were commanded not but that they should worship Allah and worship none but Him alone, perform Salah and give Zakah, and that is the true religion."

The Virtues of Zakah

Apart from Zakah being obligatory, we learn in many narrations of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam where we can understand the virtues and the benefits of Zakah. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam says:

"If a man pays his Zakah, then the evil influence and the evil from his wealth will vanish."

Further, in another hadith, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said:

"Protect your possessions by payment of Zakah. Treat your patients by giving Sadaqah. And face the waves of affliction with supplication and humility."

And there are many other benefits of Zakah:

• Gaining Allah's pleasure
• Increase in wealth
• Protection from losses
• Blessings and forgiveness are obtained
• Safety from calamities
• Zakah will provide shelter on the Day of Judgment

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala give us the understanding to give our Zakah in this blessed month of Ramadan, which is going to pass away from us in two days. This blessed month of Ramadan is such that it multiplies our giving — it multiplies by 70 times.

Part Two: Voluntary Charity — Sadaqah and Lillah

Sadaqah

The second type of charity is voluntary charity. This comes in the form of Sadaqah and Lillah. Firstly, about Sadaqah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Quran:

"Whoever gives from the wealth that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has granted him, and he believes in Allah, then Allah will make easy for him the path of goodness."

If any one of us is out of luck — God forbid we are in a car accident, our child is hurt — then it is time to give Sadaqah, because this will get rid of our bad luck and, inshallah, good fortune will come in our direction. The hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam mentions this:

"Sadaqah removes calamities." It extinguishes calamities that may be heading in our direction.

This is why we are taught that before going on a journey, we give a little Sadaqah. Before we intend to do something, we give Sadaqah. Before going for an exam, give Sadaqah. Before doing something important, give Sadaqah. This is not a fairytale — this is something which we can understand from hadith.

Lillah — Giving for the Sake of Allah

The second form of optional charity is Lillah — لِلَّهِ — for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It is given for the upliftment of the deen, the religion of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. For example: the building of a masjid, maintaining the masjid, payment of salaries, purchasing and distributing the Quran or Islamic literature.

Almighty Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

"The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none but Allah — and it is they who are expected to be on true guidance."

Our holy Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam narrated:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 450; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 533)

"Whoever builds the house of Allah for the sake of Allah, then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will build for him a house in Jannah."

In another narration: "Whosoever shares in building a masjid for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, even if it is as small as a bird's nest, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will build for him a house in Jannah."

The Importance of Sincerity — Giving for Allah's Sake

Let us ponder upon these ahadith. First of all, I am going to emphasize لِلَّهِ — for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. My dear respected brothers and sisters, our intention — that what we give for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala — will be accepted in the eyes of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Not for name and fame. Not to have a certificate or a plaque saying this person gave such-and-such amount of money. Not to be given a status in the community or on the board.

My dear respected brothers and sisters, if we are giving for those reasons, we are just buying a service — we want status in the community by giving more money to the masjid. But when we give for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will grant us a house in Jannah.

What is the house of Jannah? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has mentioned it in many places in the Quran. Amongst these, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said: "But those who heed their Lord will have mansions raised upon mansions, high, beneath which running water flows. That is Allah's promise, and Allah does not break His promise." Golden encrusted thrones. Thrones lined up. Reclining upon soft couches. Believers gazing around them.

And our holy Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said in a hadith that the houses of Jannah will not be like the houses over here. Today we think if we have a 3,000 or 4,000 square-foot house, we have a mansion in a good gated community. But the house of Jannah — 70,000 rooms in it. And not made out of the bricks that we see. Each brick will be made out of silver. Each brick will be made out of gold. The cement will be made out of musk. The ground will be made out of saffron. At every single door there will be a doorman welcoming you into that room and into the palace. The palace is made out of pearls and rubies. Whatever you want, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

By giving for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make the house of Allah, Allah grants us these ni'mat, these blessings, in the hereafter. With this faith, with this yaqeen, if a person gives to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, He will surely grant it.

Sadaqah Jariyah — Continuous Charity

My dear respected brothers and sisters, donating money to build a masjid for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is Sadaqah Jariyah. As it is mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1631)

"When a person dies, he cannot do any amal, he cannot do any good deeds — he cannot even say one SubhanAllah — except for three ways that he can still gain reward."

1. Sadaqah Jariyah — whatever we give for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala: whoever performs prayers, does good deeds, attends halaqas and Quran teachings and so many good activities that go on in the house of Allah — he will be getting that reward in his grave.
2. عِلْمٌ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ — A person writes an Islamic book and through it people benefit.
3. وَلَدٌ صَالِحٌ يَدْعُو لَهُ — A pious child who makes du'a for you after you pass away.

The Role of the Masjid and the Example of the Sahabah

These are the benefits of giving for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And the role of the masjid in the lives of Muslims is great. In reality, it is the beating heart of a Muslim society. It is a place of prayer, socializing, dawah, celebration, and education. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala likes to see brotherhood and love spread amongst the believers.

And Allah has told us the type of wealth we should be spending. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says that they ask you about what they should spend — tell them: spend from the excess, from that which you have more of.

Now we see the life of the Sahabah radhiallahu ta'ala anhum ajma'een. At the time of the campaign of Tabuk, when the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam asked the Sahabah to bring their wealth, Umar radhiallahu ta'ala anhu thought on that day: "I am going to surpass Abu Bakr radhiallahu ta'ala anhu today." So he brought half of his wealth. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam then asked Abu Bakr radhiallahu ta'ala anhu: "What did you leave behind?" He said: "I left behind the name of Allah and His Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam — I brought my entire wealth." That day, Umar radhiallahu ta'ala anhu said: "I will never surpass Abu Bakr radhiallahu ta'ala anhu."

My dear respected brothers and sisters, what we have been asked for by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and emphasized in the hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam is to give that which is excess. The Sahabah gave what they needed — they needed it for themselves. They didn't know if they were going to get anything for iftar or for their evening dinner. But they gave for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

We are not told to give in Zakah or in any other charity what we need — our necessities are ours to use. But we are told to give what is excess, what we have more. And believe me, we all have a little bit extra to give for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And by this, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will grant us the benefit of this in this blessed month of Ramadan.

How do we know we will see another Ramadan? We think we delayed. We don't know if we are going to see the next Ramadan — may Allah grant us the life and ability to do more and more. We only have two days left. And whatever we give now, we will see in the hereafter. We will see the benefit of this in this world too.

I have a friend, and he says: "Every time I give for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, it comes back to me." When we take out our pocket and count it a little bit and give one dollar, two dollars, five dollars, ten dollars — but when we give with that yaqeen and faith that Allah will surely give it back to me, Allah does give it back to us in this world — but we don't realize it. And He gives it back in so many folds, so much, and we don't realize it.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala give us the understanding and give us the ability to give for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in these causes — for the masjid, for the neighboring masjid. This community, mashallah, is a great community. Just like this community and many other communities — it is in your need. And when you give for a great need at the time of need, that is most virtuous in the eyes of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. If the masjid is running smoothly and everything is going well, you will still get the reward — but at the time of great need, when you give, that is more virtuous in the eyes of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala give us all — give me and give us all — the understanding and ability to give for His sake. Ameen.