If you are Muslim, Pay Zakat!

In the Name of Allah,

Recently, one brother approached me asking about Zakat, and the amount due. I would like to share some info that may guide people in the right direction.

Is Zakat Fard?

Yes. This should be an obvious thing that Zakat is obligatory, but in case, following verses of Quran and hadith prove the obligation.

"You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and bow down with those who bow down." (Quran 2:43)

"Who do not give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and with regard to the Hereafter, they are disbelievers." (Quran 41:7)


Volume 2, Book 24, Number 573:

Narrated Abu Ma'bad,:

(the slave of Ibn Abbas) Allah's Apostle said to Muadh when he sent him to Yemen, "You will go to the people of the Scripture. So, when you reach there, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Apostle. And if they obey you in that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers in each day and night. And if they obey you in that tell them that Allah has made it obligatory on them to pay the Zakat which will be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them. If they obey you in that, then avoid taking the best of their possessions, and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person because there is no screen between his invocation and Allah."

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 486:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.' " Then the Prophet recited the holy verses:-- 'Let not those who withhold . . .' (to the end of the verse). (3.180).

When is Zakat Due ?

1. Passage of One Lunar Year:

Zakat is obligatory after a time span of one lunar year passes with the money in the control of it's owner. Then the owner needs to pay 2.5% (or 1/40) of the money as Zakat. (A lunar year is approximately 355 days).

2. Deduction of Debts:

The owner should deduct any amount of money he or she borrowed from others; then check if the rest reaches the necessary nisab, then pays Zakat for it.

How much to pay?

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 487:

Narrated Abu Said:

Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "No Zakat is due on property mounting to less than five Uqiyas (of silver), and no Zakat is due on less than five camels, and there is no Zakat on less than five Wasqs." (A Wasqs equals 60 Sa's) & (1 Sa=3 K gms App.)

Zakat is not just charity, but it is more like annual tax that Muslims have to pay on their properties that are not necessity (Cash, Jewelry, etc) excluding the debt owed for next 12 lunar months.

If we try to hide our savings from zakat, we are missing the point.

"And those who hoard up gold and silver, and do not spend them in the wayof God, announce unto them a painful punishment..." (Quran 9:34)

http://www.soundvision.com/Info/life/zakatcalc.asp

Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital. So, you just pick a date on lunar calendar and stick to it for the rest of your life. Preferably use Ramadan to get extra reward.

Any amount until "Nisab" is exempt from Zakat. So, we subtract that amount from the final total and pay Zakat on the rest.

Nisab is the exemption limit for the payment of Zakat. In other words, it is the amount which savings or capital or product must exceed in order for the Muslim owner to be obliged to give zakat. Nisab amount calculated based on 3 oz of pure Gold. This changes on a daily basis, so either use a calculator, or look it up for that day.

Personal properties that are necessity are exempted from Zakat.

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 542:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "There is no Zakat either on a horse or a slave belonging to a Muslim"

Who or where to pay Zakat?

You can pay zakat to any relative who is not:

• Your parent, grandparent and ascending
• Your child, grandchild and descending
• Your spouse

As for all other relatives then it is not only permissible, but better to pay zakat to them if they are valid zakat-recipients.

1. The poor (Fuqara)-this refers to someone who has no income or incapable of earning income
2. The needy (Masakin)-this is someone who for instance, may have a job, a house and a car, but their income is below the minimum requirement.
3. Employees of the Zakah.
4. Sympathizers. These are those people who might enter or who have already entered Islam. Anyone we feel are good friends or ours (non-Muslim or new Muslims) we give them a gift from the Zakah money.

   (To draw their hearts closer.) Some people are given because some of his peers
   might embrace Islam, while others are given to collect alms from surrounding
   areas, or to defend Muslim outposts. Allah knows best. (Ibn Kathir)

To free slaves
Riqab is the term used to describe the group of people who are slaves. The Zakah money is used to free the slaves.

For the Gharimeen-those who are in debt
Zakah money is used to pay off debts but these people are not living in luxury, they are living a normal life. For example, someone who has gone bankrupt because of job loss and is overloaded with debt.

Fee Sabeelillah (for the Cause of Allah)

Ibn as Sabeel
This refers to a traveler, for instance who has lost his wallet and has to get back to his home.

If there is no close relative or neighbour in need of it, it is suggested to pay Zakat in your local masjid, since they will have a program to help people in the neighbourhood.

First two categories are top priorities, and Masjid can take care after that. Rest categories are for future generations, when wealth will be so common that you would need to search for a person to pay zakat. Please don't spent time looking for a traveler, as that is the last person for zakat.

Following masjid accepts Zakat and helps locals in Orlando.

http://icorlando.org/

And Allah knows best.

JazakAllah Khairin

Adnan Jumani

Which Category of Prophet's Ummah Do We Belong To?

In the Name of Allah

'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying:

"My Ummah will be of three categories in this world:
The first will have no
desire in hoarding wealth and treasuring it. They do not work for owning and
monopolizing it. Their satisfaction of this world is with what allays their
hunger and covers their bodies. Their wealth in this world is what suffices them
to reach the Hereafter. To those there shall come no fear upon them neither
shall they grieve.

The second category loves earning money through the
most lawful means and spending it in the best manner. They help the needy.
Indeed, it is easier for this kind of person to their blood relatives and do
favor to their brethren and support starving than to earn a dirham unlawfully or
to spend it where it should not be spent, or to withhold it from its rightful
owner, or to treasure it until he dies. Those if they are audited will be
punished; however, if they are forgiven they will be safe.

The third
category loves hoarding money lawfully and unlawfully and keeping away from
where lawfully it should be spent. If they spend it, they spend extravagantly
and hastily, and if they hold it, they hold it out of stinginess and monopoly.
Those are the ones on whose hearts the worldly life holds the reins until it
leads them to the Fire through their sins." (Muhammad PBUH)

My Thoughts:

Category # 1 is the fast track to Jannah, and the questioning will be less. It requires to stay below certain wealth level. This person chose not to expand the wealth. They work to pay their bills and obligation, and share the rest of the money with this world. I recommend this to everyone if you can push back on the peer pressure.

Category # 2 is a group of people who does like earning money, as it is Halal to earn money proper way, and they also spent in the Name of Allah. They follow Islam as best they can. They pay Zakat, charity, and help the needy. Although they do everything right, they will not enter Jannah if they face full accounting on day of judgement. See, more you receive from Allah, more you to answer for it. If someone is rich then they have complicated means of income, and complicated ways of expenditures. If some mistakes are made, they have to account for it. Now, Allah has setup many ways to forgive people, and this group will be forgiven if they don't commit major sins. Our Prophet (PBUH) has told us that we should try not to get accounted, becuase no one can withstand the scrutiny of Allah. So, this group enjoys their lives in this world, and MAY enter jannah if forgiven.

Category # 3 are the ones who are Muslims, and they pray Salat, and do some good deeds, but they earn money anyway they can. They spend on things that do not benefit anyone. For example, they will spent a $50,000 on Marraige, where marraige suppose to be without expenditures. Their life moves around money, and they will skip the Salat, if there is an important meeting with a client. They beleive strongly in power of money, and Islam is a ritual for them. As long as Islam doesn't come in their way of earning more money they are happy to follow it.They truly don't beleive in life after death, as if you beleive that, then all the ealth is like "Toy Money". For example, if you go to Disney resort for a week, they use Disney money within the resort. So you start collecting the money but don't spent it. When you return, you try to use the money at the store, and they will start laughing at you. Same way, all the wealth in this world is good for 60+ years, and we can't use it to buy a cup of coffee at the coffee shop before "Sirat" on judgement day. We have to find a money exchange and exchange the currency that we can use. So, earn money, spent on worldly things, then spent more in the path of Allah converting to currency of hereafter, and keep as less as possible. This group will certainly end up in Hell fire, unless they repent.

JazakAllah Khairin
A struggling Muslim
Adnan Jumani

What is more important than Salat (Namaz)?

In the Name of Allah

Most of the Muslims are aware of the status Mothers have in Islam.

But do we know that all our Salat is useless unless, we are obedient to our Mother. This sounds like an easy thing to understand, but lets say it differently.

There is a person, who is very pious, and prays Salat with Jamat in the Masjid 5 times a day. He visits others home and enjoin to come to Masjid. He follows every Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH) down to its tiny details.

He doesn't do any Haram, and stay with Halal. He does not do his daughter's wedding lavishly with Music and intermixing of Sexes. He doesn't talk bad about someone behind their back. You got the idea what kind of person this is.

If you know this man, you know for sure, he is going to Jannah.

But, he does not obey his mother on one thing. For example, he gives preference to his wife over his mother. He will not go to Jannah, unless the mother forgive him, or repent and change himself.

This should be an Alarm call for many of us who take light of their Mother's requests. We have to keep mother above all, except Allah and his messenger. Respecting Mother is not just lip service or a hug once in a while, or calling her "Amma". It means following what she says, and providing what she needs.

“Alqamah (radi Allahu anhu) was a very pious person. He spent his time in prayer and fasting. At the approach of death he was unable to proclaim the Kalima Shahada, in spite of repeated instruction by those present. Alqamah's wife sent a messenger to Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to inform him of Alqamah's grave condition.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) enquired whether the parents of Alqamah were alive. He was informed that Alqamah's mother was alive. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked the aged mother about Alqamah. She replied: ‘Alqamah is a very pious person. He passes his time in Salat and Saum. He performs Tahajjud, but he always disobeys me for the sake of his wife. I am, therefore, displeased with him.’

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘It will be best for him if you forgive him.’ However, she refused. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) to gather firewood. On hearing this order, Alqamah's mother asked in consternation: ‘Will my child be burnt in the fire?’

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘Yes! Compared to the punishment of Allah, our punishment is light. I take oath by Allah that as long as you remain displeased with him, neither his Salat nor his Sadaqah is accepted.’

The old lady said: ‘I make you and all people present witness that I have forgiven Alqamah.’ Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) addressing the gathering, said: ‘Go and see if the Kalima is on the tongue of Alqamah or not.’

After returning from Alqamah the people informed him that he was reciting the Kalima. Thus, he left this world with the Kalima on his lips. After burying Alqamah, Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘The curse of Allah is on the one who causes difficulty to his mother. The curse of the angels and the curse of mankind be on him. Allah Ta'ala neither accepts his Fardh nor his Nafl Ibadat as long as he does not repent and obey his mother. He has to gain her pleasure as best as he can. Allah's Pleasure depends on the mother's pleasure and His Wrath is concealed in her wrath.’” [Ahmad]

This hadith is a sobre reminder for us to be respectful and obedient to our parents and try to keep them happy with us. It is not a small matter to upset them for the sake of our friends or others who we value more. The only time that we are allowed to give preference to others is in the matter of others’ Allah-given rights, since no obedience can supercede obedience to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and His Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam).

Therefore, it is important to find out what the rights of our children, spouses, relatives, friends, and other Muslims are, so we know what Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) wants us to do in case there is a clash between what different people want from us. This is the only proper way to balance relationships as it seeks Allah’s pleasure. Otherwise, mothers deserve our utmost attention, respect and obedience.



A Struggling Muslim
Adnan Jumani