Charity
The religion of Islam is a religion of mercy. It is the religion of helping others for the sake of Allah SWT. It is about helping the poor and helping the needy.
In Sura Baqarah, ayat 261, Allah SWT says:
The similitude of those who spend their wealth in the way of ALLAH is like the similitude of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains. And ALLAH multiplies it further for whomsoever HE pleases and ALLAH is Bountiful, All-Knowing.
My brothers, if one was to analyse the above ayat, it is evident that Allah SWT is describing the way in which the reward for giving charity is multiplied many times over. In fact this ayat is telling us that the reward for whatever is given in charity is multiplied 700 times by Allah SWT.
This, my brothers, is the extreme bounty which Allah SWT displays towards his servants.
One can be mistaken into thinking that charity is reserved for those who can afford to give it. This is not true. We know from our Prophet SAWS that giving charity does not decrease wealth and so we are transgressing ourselves if we think this and therefore don’t give to charity.
Allah SWT reminds us of this in ayat 195 of Sura Baqara which is translated to say:
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
On top of this, we also have the our beloved Prophet SAWS advising us to give to charity. In a Sahih hadith, the prophet SAWS is narrated to have said:
“There will be none among you but will be talked to by Allah on the Day of Resurrection, without there being an interpreter between him and Him (Allah) . He will look and see nothing ahead of him, and then he will look (again for the second time) in front of him, and the (Hell) Fire will confront him. So, whoever among you can save himself from the Fire, should do so even with one half of a date (to give in charity).
There are several different categories of charity in Islam, the two main ones being Zakat (obligatory charity) and Sadaqa (voluntary charity).
Zakat is a specific, standardized charity that must be given to the poor and those in need. The general guide to for the amount is 2.5% of capital assets, i.e. money.
Sadaqa, on the other hand, can be given to anyone, and in many different forms, including: a smile to another, advice to a friend, helping someone out with a task or chore.
And probably, the best of all, is the charity that we can invest in that will work for us after we have departed this world and that is Sadaqa Jariya.
Examples of this can range from paying for the maintenance or building of a masjid to planting a tree that wildlife can feed off or even teaching others about Islam.
Charity serves as a way to bring justice, balance and kindness to every society and community. It should be the prayer of every single Muslim that their community fulfils their charitable duty correctly and does their part to eliminate poverty from the neighbourhoods.
There are numerous benefits of giving Sadaqa besides what has already been mentioned. This reminder concludes with summarizing these so that we may be encouraged to give to charity consistently and without reminder.
Charity wipes away sins. Charity protects us from the anger of Allah SWT in other transgressions we may be guilty of. It protects us from the Hellfire, it keeps us under the shade of Allah SWT on the Day of Judgement and it results in angels praying for us that would otherwise not.
In the dunya, we have benefits of giving to charity. The first is that our wealth isn’t diminished. In fact, our wealth is filled with baraqa. What does that mean though? In practical terms, we get a sense that the money doesn’t just disappear as we may have all experienced from time to time. The money we acquire has more substance, more meaning and just appears to last longer even if the amount is the same.
The other and final point on the benefit is one of it being a cure. Charity cures illnesses and it is a remedy for the heart. Allah SWT mentioned the benefit in ayat 92 of Sura Imran which is translated to say:
Never will you attain the good
[reward]until you spend [in the way of Allah ] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.
Dear brothers and sisters, giving to charity gives us peace in our hearts, cures to our ailments and blessing to our wealth. It is one of the biggest gifts we have the choice to take. And all it requires is for us to part with that which we are known to love, part with it in the knowledge that it is better for us in this life and the next to do so.
Read MoreCharity in Ramadan
Dear brothers and sisters, charity like any other good deed, has extra reward given to it in the month of Ramadan.
In fact, charity is a purifier of the fasting we perform in Ramadan. As humans, we are imperfect in our actions and fasting is no exception. In order to purify our fasts, Allah SWT has specify told us to give charity in the latter half of the month and we call this Zakat-ul-Fitr.
This year the amount for Zakat-ul-Fitr will be £4. This is mandatory for each individual regardless of age and needs to be distributed to the needy before the Eid prayer begins. Therefore, we need to be mindful that we pay this as early as possible so that we are able to purify our efforts of fasting in the month of Ramadan. For this year, we have already begun collections for this and they are at the back of the hall on the table.
The imam referenced the following hadith in todays reminder in which the Prophet SAWS said:
“Indeed in Paradise there are chambers whose outside can be seen from their inside, and their inside can be seen fom their outside.” A Bedouin stood and said: “Who are they for O Prophet of Allah?” he said: “For those who speak well, feed others, fast regularly, and perform Salat for Allah during the night while the people sleep.”
Dear brothers and sisters, even with this act we can run the risk of invalidating the reward associated with it. The main risks here are twofold.
Firstly, it is when the person giving the charity advertises the fact that they are doing so. This is sad as the beautiful act is nullified through carelessness of the ego. In the time and place that we live there is even more danger of this then usually due to the compulsive nature of social media. So much is put on that now with people narrating even the most personal or mundane of their everyday lives.
That is a bad habit but it is especially so when you advertise a donation to charity. It may be for innocent reasons where you are wanting to inspire others to donate as well but that can also be achieved without telling others that you’ve donated yourself.
The imam reminded us of the following ayat from the Glorious Quran in relation to this point. It’s ayat 271 from Sura Al-Baqarah and is translated to say:
If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds [thereby]. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.
The second risk we run is not as common but worth mentioning nevertheless. It is when the act of charity is nullified through the person giving the charity making the other person feel bad.
The imam reminded us of the following ayat from the Glorious Quran. It’s ayat 264 from Sura Al-Baqara and is translated to say:
O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are giving the warning here from Allah SWT and so we should give the charity on the best of ways, and not by degrading, or showing our ego, or keep reminding them you gave them charity. Do that and we will risk losing the benefit of the charity.
The benefits to this task are many, in both this life and the next and so this reminder concludes with three that we should remind ourselves with.
Firstly, charity is a reason for increasing in wealth. This is an important point for those who may think that charity is something that cannot be afforded by them. We may be in a situation where we are wishing for more wealth in our lives. Allah SWT provides us with a direct remedy for this and the imam referenced it today. It’s ayat 261 from Sura Al-Baqara which is translated to say:
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
The second benefit is purifying the wealth. We mentioned earlier about this point and this is confirmed through the words in Sura Tauba, ayat 103 which is translated to say:
Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [ Allah ‘s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
And lastly, charity protects you from incurring the anger of Allah SWT and protecting you from an evil death. This is specifically mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet SAWS that is translated to say:
“Indeed charity extinguishes the Lord’s anger and it protects against the evil death.”
Dear brothers and sisters, we are in the most blessed month of the year. Let’s make the most of it by offering charity through donations of money, food and old clothing and items in our home that we no longer need.
And with that we can aim to be of the people who will benefit in this life and the next with this blessed act.
Read MoreDiseases of the Heart (2)
The imam referenced ayats 31 to 3 from Sura Qaaf of the Glorious Quran in which it said:
And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far, [It will be said], “This is what you were promised – for every returner [to Allah ] and keeper [of His covenant], Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].
Dear brothers and sisters, this passage talks about us returning to our Lord with a healthy heart. We spoke about this last week and one of the methods of achieving this. The method last week was about asking for forgiveness and this week we expand upon charity as a method for fixing our heart.
Giving our wealth in the name of Allah SWT and spending on the poor and needy is one of the best ways to fix our heart. The imam reminds us of Sura Al-Toba, ayat 103 which says:
Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [ Allah ‘s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
Dear brothers and sisters, Allah SWT is telling us here the effect of charity on us and so it is imperative that we do not overlook this advice in reference to the health of our hearts and our souls.
In Islam, we have both mandatory charity which is Zakat and optional charity is Sadaqa. We ought to remind ourselves, that the charity we give here to purify ourselves is above and beyond the compulsory charity.
The imam mentioned the following hadeeths in reference to today’s reminder. The first one is in reference to the character of the charity giver and this is important so that we do not cancel out our reward of giving charity. It says:
“Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His ….” He mentioned the rest of the hadith, which says, “and a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.” (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity).
Dear brothers and sisters, we need to recognize the lesson here is that we can give to charity but if we follow it up by boasting about it, either in person or sharing it via facebook etc, then we run the risk of invalidating the deed because we are showing it off. Let’s keep our charitable acts between us and our creator.
The next hadith mentioned is where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spoke of 3 qualities of Allah SWT. For the purposes of today’s reminder, we will focus on one of the three. The Prophet SAWS said:
“I swear by Allah for three (qualities) which I am going to tell you about. Remember them well:
(1) The wealth of a man will not diminish by Sadaqah (charity).
Dear brothers and sisters, this is an important point as it touches upon a mathematical and financial miracle that is present in our everyday lives that we seldom speak of to others unless in the month of Ramadan when reminders are being given.
By donating to charity, our wealth does not decrease but Allah SWT will ensure that it increases. This, in turn, means that charity is actually one of the best investments we can do in life. Forget the ISA or the Mutual Funds, this is coming straight from the provider of wealth and so we would do well do add charity to our list of investments we make.
Dear brothers and sisters, it’s a no-brainer to spend in the way of Allah SWT. So what does this mean practically? We conclude this reminder with 2 practical tips that each of us can take with us.
Firstly, we should aim to make charity a regular part of our lives. Set up a direct debit, however large or small it may be and use it to contribute to a charity that benefits the local community. You will find over time you will forget that it even exists and yet it will continue to benefit you in this world and the next insh’Allah.
Next, we should aim to remind ourselves constantly that the money we have, the wealth that we acquire and the status that we have been given is from Allah SWT. The money is a loan to us from Him and we will be answerable to the money we earn and spend on the day of Judgement.
We should remind ourselves of this often so we do not fall into the bad habits of spending and worse still, fall into the trap of earning the money from the wrong sources.
Dear brothers and sisters, in the world of mathematics, you can add, subtract, divide and multiply in precise quantities. You cannot increase what you have, by dividing it or giving it away. That’s mathematics.
But, in the spiritual world, things work differently. In the spiritual world, the more you give of what you value, the richer you become, the more you prosper. Whether you give of your wealth, or your time, or your love, your care and wisdom, you can never impoverish yourself by giving generously. Dear brothers and sisters, let us take care not to mix the rules of mathematics with the rules of Islam.
May Allah SWT protect us being miserly or careless with money. May Allah SWT enable us to spend in His way. And may Allah SWT rewards us for our efforts in spending for the sake of Allah SWT.
Read MoreInteraction with one another
Dear brothers and sisters, the khutba this week was on a particular hadith of the Prophet SAWS and as with all hadith’s, they are best understood when analysed with context and thought.
This one in particular though is self-explanatory so we will begin by translating it as was mentioned by the imam earlier:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Allah (mighty and sublime be He) will say on the Day of Resurrection:
O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?
O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me?
O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me.
Dear brothers and sisters, the hadith is a long one and there are three main lessons to derive from the hadith but alongside that the theme of this reminder will also be commented upon.
The first reminder was of visiting the ill. This is a communal obligation and so if we hear of someone being unwell, it is an obligation upon at least one of us to visit the sick. In this city, we even have a local Muslim charity that visits the sickest of us all in hospices and care homes. Google the Myriad Foundation and you will see every day Muslims fulfilling this obligation to the next level.
However, we ought to remind ourselves of some pointers when doing this so that we keep etiquette even with a task as rewarding as this one.
Firstly, we should notify them before we come over. This is to avoid times when they are asleep, receiving medication or general courtesy.
Secondly, a small gift. It acts as charity and it’s even more rewarding if it assists in the emotional wellbeing of the sick.
Thirdly, whilst some patients enjoy the company, we don’t want to overburden the unwell and so keep the visit short and sweet. 20-30 minutes should suffice.
Fourthly, engage your brain. That means a couple of things. For example, if you are unwell then avoid the visit so you don’t pass it on. It means when you are there don’t focus on what’s wrong with them and it also means reflect upon your own self and be thankful to Allah SWTfor your own health and pray for the ill person.
The second and third part of the hadith was about feeding others food and drink. Dear brothers and sisters, we don’t live in a time where we know of our neighbourhood’s plight and that is a shame. It is often the case that if our neighbour in the street is going hungry then we are at risk of being caught out as mentioned in this hadith.
However, Salahadeen Masjid, alongside countless others in the county, have a system in place where we can avoid this transgression. On the stairs coming into the main hall we have a food box which is directly connected to your hungry neighbour. Let’s make it a habit each Friday to come to this masjid with one item of food. Even if it is a Smart Price can of beans for 23p, if we all brought one thing each week, the box would be overflowing and the food banks of this city would be catered for by the Muslims of this city. Surely, a habit worth establishing insh’Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters, these were the lessons of this hadith but by giving three examples, there is an overall theme and lesson to remember.
By mentioning these three things, the hadith reminds us that Islam is not about performing the actions of our faith only. It is not about the 5 prayers, fasting and giving the annual zakah only and thinking that is the end of it.
Of course, these things are needed from us, but by thinking this way, it is a narrow viewpoint and we need to remind ourselves that through this hadith, Allah SWT is speaking to us of collective responsibility.
A great example of this was the atrocity that fell upon this city last month during Ramadhan in the Arena. As Muslims, we automatically acted upon the lesson of todays hadith.
There were stories of taxi drivers who stopped charging money for the victims. There were stories of the local residents opening their homes in the middle of the night so that strangers had somewhere to sleep in the emergency. There were stories of off duty nurses and doctors passing by and giving up their spare time to help the wounded, offering critical first aid to those whose lives could still be saved.
This, dear brothers and sisters, that was the theme and lesson of today’s hadith and reminder. What today’s reminder tell us is that it doesn’t need an atrocity to bring out the best of Muslims, we have a need for heroes every single day. Through food banks and through visits to the sick, we have opportunities to demonstrate compassion for each other and thus be of those on the Day of Resurrection that are not posed the questions as stated in today’s hadith.
May Allah SWT fill our hearts with compassion. May Allah SWT instill into our hearts the need to look after others. And may Allah SWT reward us for our kind actions towards others.
Read MoreZakat – The obligatory charity
Our khutba today is about a financial act of worship which protects the soul from its greed and purifies it from stinginess. It is about Zakat.
The imam speaks of the following hadith in which the prophet SAWS said:
“Islam is built on five pillars; the Shahada that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishment of Salat, payment of Zakat, Hajj and the fasting of Ramadan.”
It is very important that every believer in Allah should not underestimate and neglect this significant pillar of the religion and that he/she should happily pays his/her Zakat. One should remember that it is Allah Who has blessed one with the money he has, and He only obliged him to pay a small fraction of it (2.5%) as Zakat. Compare that to the tax we pay on income of around 30%. One should also remember that Allah SWT gives great reward for the payment of Zakat on the Day of Judgement.
In addition to all of that in the payment of Zakat there is the purification of the soul from its greed and a cause for the growth and increase of the wealth.
The imam referenced ayat 105 of Sura Tauba which says:
Take sadaqat (this commanded sadaqat means – Zakat) from their wealth, so that they may thereby be cleansed and purified, and pray for them; for your prayer will give them comfort. Allah hears all and knows all.
Dear brothers and sisters, Allah SWT made Zakat an obligation and one of the five pillars of Islam. There are two conditions for Zakat to be an obligation.
First condition that needs to be met is to own the Nisab (i.e. minimum amount of money or other type of wealth on which Zakat is payable.) Nisab differs according to the type of wealth.
The second condition that needs to be met is one must have the money in one’s possession for one lunar (Hijri) year.
The types of wealth on which Zakat is payable are:
- Gold and silver and banknotes (paper money) which is used nowadays instead of gold and silver as a measure of the value for goods and services.
- Goods stocked for trade. This is applicable to business owners.
- Grains fruits, cattle and minerals.
This khutba concludes with the common misconceptions about zakat that are answered for us all to benefit from paying this in the blessed month of Ramadan.
First point to clarify is the sterling value of the Nisab. Nisab of money is equivalent to the value (price) of 595 grams of silver. That is equal to roughly £255 today. Whoever has this amount or more saved for a (lunar) year he has to pay 2.5% of the total.
The second point to clarify is what should one do if the amount of money one has increases and decreases continuously during the year – such as if one has a monthly income and he also spends from this money throughout the year. The easiest way to calculate Zakat is this case is to determine a day in the year (e.g. in Ramadan or beginning of the Hijri year) when one pays one’s Zakat. When this day 3 comes, one should add together all the money that one has. This includes cash in hand, money in bank(s) and the value of good for trade (if one has) etc. One should deduct debts which are due for payment – and out of the remaining, one should pay 2.5% .
The third point is about the recipient of the Zakat. It is about whether it is permissible or not to give Zakat to brothers and sisters if they are poor. The answer is yes, you can give your Zakat to your brothers and sisters if they are entitled for Zakat, However, you cannot give your Zakat to your parents or children.
The imam referenced ayat 60 of Sura Tauba which is translated to say:
In fact the sadaqat (Zakah) collection is for the poor, the helpless, those employed to administer the funds, those whose hearts need to be won over to the truth, ransoming the captives, helping the destitute, in the Way of Allah and for the wayfarer. That is a duty enjoined by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowledgeable, Wise.
Finally, one of the types of wealth on which Zakat is payable is goods which are stocked for trade. The Nisab is equal to that of paper money. At the end of year, the trader makes an evaluation of all the goods he has in stock. What is considered here is the sale value of the goods – not the purchase value. The amount which should be paid as Zakat is 2.5% of the total value of the goods. It is very important for shop owners to pay their Zakat. They must not forget or neglect it.
The imam referenced ayats 34 and 35 of Sura Tauba which is translated to say:
To those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, proclaim a painful punishment.
The Day will surely come when their treasure will be heated up in the fire of hell, and their foreheads, sides and backs branded with it. They will be told: “This is the treasure which you hoarded. Now taste what you were hoarding!”
Dear brothers and sisters, zakat is a compulsory charity as instructed by the giver of our sustenance. It would be non-sensical to ignore this duty that is placed upon us. And by using this month as the financial end of year, we can fulfil the duty placed upon us as well as earn the extra reward of performing this great deed in the month of Ramadan.
May Allah SWT bless us with the means to pay Zakat. May Allah SWT reward us for paying Zakat and may Allah SWT reward us in our efforts to purify our wealth.
Ameen walhamdulilahirabilalameen
Read MoreSpend in the way of Allah
Dear brothers and sisters, Islam is a religion of moderation in all aspects of life. And life is one that is to be enjoyed within the boundaries placed upon us by our Lord.
However, there are people that can take the boundaries and exaggerate them. In this reminder, we are speaking of wealth. Alhamdullilah we are in a time and a place where relative to some parts of the world, we are wealthy.
And as a result, we are able to spend beyond the bare necessities but within reason. And this reason is explained to us in the glorious Quran. The imam referenced Sura Al-Furqan, ayat 67 which is translated to say:
And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate
And again in Sura-Baqarah, ayat 267 which is translated to have said:
“O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it, (though) you would not accept it except if you close your eyes and tolerate therein. And know that Allaah is Rich (Free of all needs), and Worthy of all praise”
Dear brothers and sisters, this religion in not a wasteful religion and thus we must keep our spending in check but at the same time, not be stingy in our spending.
In essence we can make the spending out of our income, our wealth a form of worship. How do we do that?
We must “spend out of our substance, out of Love for Him…” and for that reason alone. Not for any other reason, … not to massage our vanity, nor to impress other people. Spending on Zakaat and Sadaqa should be motivated purely by our deep sense of gratitude and Love for Alláh.
We must constantly remind ourselves, that no matter how learned or wealthy or successful we might become, we entered this world with nothing, and we will leave it, with nothing except a record of our deeds.
By spending in the way of Alláh, out of love for him, we are simply following the natural order of things, just as the fruit trees and blossoms in our garden, spend their lovely fragrance and delicious fruits freely on us. There is no other reason for their existence, but to glorify Alláh, and to serve His creatures. It is the same with man. There is no other reason for our existence, but to glorify Alláh, and to be of service to His creation.
This is mentioned in Sura Baqarah, ayat 261 by the imam today which is translated to say:
THE PARABLE of those who spend their possessions for the sake of God is that of a grain out of which grow seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains: for God grants manifold increase unto whom He wills; and God is infinite, all-knowing.
Dear brothers and sisters, if we analyse this ayat, Allah SWT is informing us of a great blessing from Him. He is specifically giving an example of what happens to those people who spend in His name.
For those who are familiar with investing, the return on investment is astounding. Allah SWT is speaking of 1 grain which has 7 ears or branches and in each branch has 100 grains. That’s 700 grains in total from one grain. In other words, the spending we do for the sake of Allah SWT is grown 700 times by Him.
Therefore it’s a no-brainer to spend in the way of Allah SWT. So what does this mean practically? We conclude this reminder with 2 practical tips that each of us can take with us.
Firstly, we should aim to make charity a regular part of our lives. Set up a direct debit, however large or small it may be and use it to contribute to a charity that benefits the local community. You will find over time you will forget that it even exists and yet it will continue to benefit you in this world and the next insh’Allah.
Next, we should aim to remind ourselves constantly that the money we have, the wealth that we acquire and the status that we have been given is from Allah SWT. The money is a loan to us from Him and we will be answerable to the money we earn and spend on the dy of Judgement. Remind ourselves of this often so we do not fall into the bad habits of spending and worse still, fall into the trap of earning the money from the wrong sources.
Dear brothers and sisters, in the world of mathematics, you can add, subtract, divide and multiply in precise quantities. You cannot increase what you have, by dividing it or giving it away. That’s mathematics.
But, in the spiritual world, things work differently. In the spiritual world, the more you give of what you value, the richer you become, the more you prosper. Whether you give of your wealth, or your time, or your love, your care and wisdom, you can never impoverish yourself by giving generously. Dear brothers and sisters, let us take care not to mix the rules of mathematics with the rules of Islam.
May Allah SWT protect us being miserly or careless with money. May Allah SWT enable us to spend in His way. And may Allah SWT rewards us for our efforts in spending for the sake of Allah SWT.
Read More7 Types of People receiving shade on Day of Resurrection
This week’s khutbah is on a hadith of the Prophet SAWS in which 7 types of people are described as receiving shade from Allah SWT on the Day of Resurrection.
The hadith in question is translated to have said:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Seven people Allah will give them His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but the Shade of His Throne (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection): And they are: a just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom an extremely beautiful woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer and) says: ‘I fear Allah’; a man who gives in charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand does not know what the right has given; and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become tearful”.
Dear brothers and sisters, the remainder of this khutba will break down the explanation of the 7 types of people mentioned in this hadith and alongside it, will aim to provide a practical example that we can all implement so that we are of these people insh’Allah.
- A Just ruler, is one who looks after the interests of the Muslims, including Judges and ministers, etc, and to rule with fairness. For us, this can be applied in our everyday lives in business or studies, as a parent, as a middleman between friends that disagree or any situation where the ruling or judgement offered is logical and impartial and unbiased towards anyone.
- A youth who grew up with the worship of Allah – Allah SWT has mentioned youth specifically here, since the difficulties our youth face from desires and temptations are huge, and therefore resisting this and staying on the right path has extra rewards compared to those who are much older. A practical example here is to utilize the time you have as a youth for things you will find harder to do in later live. For example learn Quranic Arabic as a course here is starting later on this month.
- That in turn brings us to number 3 which is those whose heart is attached to the mosque. Whether it be coming here regularly to pray, make it an aim to increase either by another congregational prayer or aim to help the house of Allah SWT either by providing a service to it or through regularly funding its upkeep.
- This talks of the unity that we are blessed with in the Muslim community. And this is practically illustrated in this hadith by informing us of the importance of mercy towards one another. We live in a time where family ties are strained and social media is the new family. Fight that urge and show compassion to one another for the sake of Allah SWT.
- Fifth describes a man who is tempted by the woman but chooses Allah SWT over illicit relations with her. Dear brothers and sisters, this is, unfortunately, a sign of our times. It’s almost the case that this example was written for this time in history. Never before has it become so socially acceptable to engage in such actions. However, Allah SWT is merciful and Allah SWT is fair. Guard your chastity and your senses in these times and Allah SWT is the most rewarding as this test is one of the most potent of our times. Practically this is achieved through rememberance of Him, through fasting for Him and through engaging in Halal relationships as soon as practically possible to do so.
- Next is a man who gave in charity and in this Hadith it is showing the importance of giving without making a fuss or advertising it or embarrassing those who charity is given to. A great practice by which we can do this is through a monthly direct debit of an amount equalling 2% of our monthly income for example. How often do we check our bank balance to see the details of each and every transaction? Such a small amount will go unnoticed after a few months and yet will be counted for you on the day of resurrection as stated. And as we know, charity never causes poverty and so there is no excuse for not implementing this strategy today. Our very own masjid is an example of a charity that could do with a monthly donation.
- And lastly, remembering Allah SWT in places where the person knows no one will be there, and secretly between only him and Allah, can show the true intentions and away from showing off. A practical example of this is waking up fifteen minutes before the start of Fajr. Prepare for this prayer by praying 2 units of Tahajjud prayer. This is away from the family and even others in the masjid and at a time when the majority are asleep. This is also the best time to ask of Allah SWT so make it a benefit in this life and the next through this practical example.
Dear brothers and sisters, through this one hadith there are examples that each and every one of us can implement into our lives today. If the hadith states that Allah SWT will shade us on the day if we follow one of the seven then surely it also means that we will be in favour with Him insh’Allah. Therefore there can be no other more pressing thought in the minds of each and every one of us to see which one of the seven we can implement as soon as possible so that we are of the people that are referred to in this hadith.
May Allah SWT enable us to remember the 7 traits in this hadith. May Allah SWT enable us to implement the traits in this hadith and may Allah SWT reward us in our efforts in implementing the traits in this hadith.
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Best of Charity
Allah SWT has given us roles in this world. Whether it is as a child, a parent, a spouse or in our jobs, we all have responsibilities that we carry out as part of the society in which we live.
On the whole, the brothers here have a responsibility to be the breadwinners of the home, to be able to provide for their families and for themselves.
For those of us who are old enough to remember, the times in which we live are more challenging than of yesteryear. Jobs are more difficult to come by and the cost of living has gone up. Social care on the other hand is decreasing along with public spending by the government, which all contributes to increased pressure on the role of the breadwinner.
Often we are told the pursuit of wealth is not a good way of thinking. As Muslims it is true that we shouldn’t be materialistic and aim instead for the riches of the next life.
However, as breadwinners, we know that the pursuit of money is not to be greedy but in fact, a necessity to be able to provide for our loved ones.
However, as with all things in relation to our faith, we are blessed in that we have been told how to perform this role to the best of our ability.
For the disbeliever, the idea that is discussed in this khutba may appear to be counter-intuitive, but to the Muslims, this idea that is the topic of this week’s khutba is the key to being a breadwinner.
All fathers, husbands and brothers looking to run their home, this is the most important advice that you can receive in fulfilling that role. For sisters too, this is a key part of being able to run the home.
What is this key? To answer that question, let’s refer first to ayat 31 of Sura Ibrahim in the glorious Quran which says:
[O Muhammad], tell My servants who have believed to establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, before a Day comes in which there will be no exchange, nor any friendships.
Dear brothers and sisters, the solution to fulfilling this role is spending the money you have in the way of Allah SWT.
In charity, Allah SWT is providing you with a means to be able to increase your wealth in this life and bank good deeds and thus increase your wealth in the next life. It is a win-win situation.
Everybody could do with some boost in wealth. Everybody is in dire need of acquiring good deeds for the hereafter. What charity does is to provide you with the ability to tick both those boxes with one gesture.
Charity is always something that one is tempted to put off to a later time due to circumstances. After all, the bills never reduce in size. However, the prophet SAWS was asked which was the best of charity and he replied:
That you give in charity while well and do not wish to be poor and wish to be wealthy that u do not wait until you say this person will have this and that person will have that.
Dear brother and sisters, the point here is that there is no time like the present and the best of deeds are the consistent ones so make it a habit, even if it is a small donation, to charity in order that you may benefit from this blessing.
With that being said, it brings the khutba well onto the notices for this week and there is only one which is the one regarding this masjid.
As you all know, the services provided here have only increased as time has gone on and we have benefitted greatly from the donations that were given over Ramadhan last year. However, we are now in a position where we need your help.
Every organisation has ongoing costs. Every organisation has the bills that need paying. This mosque is no different.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is your house of Allah. You are all here today and are praying the Jumma Salat here today. We need your help. At the back of the hall we have donation slips for donations but for those of us who prefer the modern alternative, we now have the ability to receive donations from our website.
The donation button is on the home page and donations can be from just £10 month. That’s less than £2.50 a week for which we will receive reward in our next life as well as an increase in our wealth in this one.
Over the past year, we have been blessed with a lot of newcomers to this masjid. Faces we have not seen before. Therefore, it is important to offer transparency on the management, costs and cash flow of this masjid so that everyone feels involved in this house of Allah.
This masjid was acquired around 3 years ago for a cost of £415k. £200k was paid through donations from people at the time and the rest was with an Islamic mortgage. We have from that original outstanding amount of £215k, around £125k left to pay. We are currently doing this in the form of monthly payments for which the £120 a month shortfall was originally mentioned but it is also worth mentioning that we can aim to pay off the remaining £125k early through donations. For that we have donation forms at the back of the masjid and you can get in touch through the website.
Dear brothers and sisters, this masjid is our collective responsibility. We have trustees of course, we have a management team too. However, they are all available to each and every one of you should you have any questions on the masjid, our services and our vision for this community centre.
Over the next few weeks, we will be placing the details of these people on the website so that the transparency is there and alongside that we will be posting details of our ongoing costs and income through donations so that you can see how the masjid funds itself and where the money is spent.
With this transparency we aim to encourage involvement in its upkeep from each and every visitor to the masjid and right now it is through financial help, however small or significant it may be.
Dear brothers and sisters, charity is a blessing from Allah SWT. Whether it is spent on the house of Allah, the less fortunate or other causes, it is one of those deeds that we will benefit from now and when we gather in the next life.
May Allah SWT enable us to give charity for His pleasure. May Allah SWT increase our wealth through our acts of Charity and may Allah SWT reward us for our acts of charity.
Read MoreYouth in the Masjid
Allah SWT has blessed this community with a base that is a welcome haven for all. This masjid, like
masjids all throughout the world are the houses of Allah SWT but benefit us all in different ways.
For some, this is a place of worship alone. They visit to carry out their congregational prayers. For
others, it is a place of knowledge, somewhere to learn more on Islam. For some it is a place to meet
like-minded people, to socialise and to build community bonds.
Dear brothers and sisters, we need to understand that this place is a blessing for us all and full of
potential to be great for the whole community – muslim and non-muslim alike.
And with any base such as this, we need the energy and the strength of the youth as well as the
experience and the wisdom of the elders. As with all things in Islam, it is about finding the balance
and this is no exception.
Naturally when it comes to interaction, there is a big difference between the two groups in terms of
their thinking and therefore there is a potential for conflict.
Allah SWT has therefore laid down some rules to avoid this and we should aim to adhere to these
rules so that we can best work together in a productive way.
One such advice is found through the 41st to 49th Ayats of Sura Maryum in the Quran. It is translated
to have said:
Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Abraham. He was a man of truth, a prophet. He said
to his father, ‘Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor
benefit you in any way? Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so
follow me: I will guide you to an even path. Father, do not worship Satan— Satan has
rebelled against the Lord of Mercy. Father, I fear that a punishment from the Lord of Mercy
may afflict you and that you may become Satan’s companion [in Hell].'”
His father answered, ‘Abraham, do you reject my gods? I will stone you if you do not stop
this. Keep out of my way!’ Abraham said, ‘Peace be with you: I will beg my Lord to forgive
you— He is always gracious to me—but for now I will leave you, and the idols you all pray to,
and I will pray to my Lord and trust that my prayer will not be in vain.’
Dear brothers and sisters, if you analyse, you will see the etiquette and manners by which the
Prophet of Abraham addressed his father. Despite him being an idol-worshipper, there was love and
respect shown at all times.
We can dedicate hours just to this passage and still not get the full benefit of the wisdom in this
passage but for the purposes of this khutba, it demonstrates the level of decorum we must show to
our elders. We must in essence glorify them at all times. This is the position the elders hold in Islam.
But to do this we need the youth to attend the masjid. And this is the ultimate challenge.
And so this khutba ends with 5 practical steps we can all do to achieve this.
1. Understand their world. For example, most youth now have a smart phone. Are we telling
them that this masjid has its own app? An app with times of prayer, both start and
congregational, an app that allows it to send questions and request for advice straight to the
masjid? One that shows not only this masjid but all participating masjids in the country?
For those who aren’t aware it’s called My Mosque and it is on the Play and App store. We
also have Facebook and Twitter account. And even a website. We will put details up soon
insh’Allah on the notice boards and walls but it is already there to connect with the youth.
2. Tell them of our classes. This isn’t just a place to pray. We can learn here too. There are
classes run throughout the week and we welcome ideas for more classes. Again, use the
forums mentioned earlier to get the ideas across.
3. Youth have an overwhelming desire to change the world for the better. The energy is there.
Why not connect that with the more senior brothers who are already making this happen?
We have links now with projects that involve feeding the needy, such as the food collection
box at the back. We also are involved in projects feeding the homeless, donating blood,
visiting the sick, visiting the elderly, spreading the word of Islam and many more. All with
local people making a difference. Again, connect with the masjid and you can get all that
information and make that impact in the community.
4. Have a say in how your masjid is run. Whether it is an idea for a future khutba or whether
it’s an idea for some way this masjid can help you and the community, come to the masjid
with it and make it happen. It all starts with the idea and the energy to do it. We even have
social events here where everyone is invited, so attend those to connect with the masjid.
5. Involve the Muslim women. This is particularly important and can’t be overstated. We need
to establish a position for our sisters to have a say in how our masjids are run. Again, it all
starts with participation and involvement so contact us to get started.
Dear brothers and sisters, let’s make this masjid a community hub that attracts experience and
youth alike. We can only do that if we all make an effort to make it happen.
May Allah SWT bring the youth to the masjid. May Allah SWT make this masjid a central base for our
community and may Allah SWT rewards us all for our efforts in making this happen.
Ameen wa Alhamdullilahi Rabil-alameen.
Read MoreCharity of Eid-ul-fitr
Allah SWT says in the Glorious Quran:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.
So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days.
Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are reaching the end of this amazing month of blessing and reward insh’Allah and with it comes the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr.
And prior to that is a charity that Muslims are obliged to give and that is Zakah-al-Fitr also known as Fitrana amongst the Asians amongst us or Sadaqa al-Fitr.
The word Fitr comes from the word Iftar which we know is breaking of the fast and thus this name is given to a charity which is distributed at the end of the fasts of Ramadan.
So what is the purpose of this charity and why is is compulsory or wajib on each Muslim, male or female, young or old?
Well, the primary practical purpose of this is to provide those who fasted with a means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. After all, this month is a challenge and none of us are perfect. Allah SWT therefore provides us with an ability to perfect ourselves over the course of the month by the act at the end of the month. SubhanAllah!
However, there is even a more significant practical purpose and in this we see the bond that this ummah is blessed with. By paying this charity, we are providing a means for the poor to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Throughout the year, we give khutbas on how as Muslims we shouldn’t celebrate Easter, Christmas and other non-Muslim festivals. Allah SWT has only made permissible for us to celebrate Eid and therefore with this charity nobody is left out of this festival.
This is mentioned in the following Hadith in which Ibn Abbas reported:
The Prophet SAWS made Zakah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and shameful talk (committed during Ramadan) and so that the poor may be fed.
Whoever gives it before the Salah will have it accepted as Zakah, while he who gives it after Salah has given Sadaqah.
Dear brothers and sisters, this brings us onto the final point on this important topic and that is the conditions on giving this particular charity.
We already know that it is obligatory. But how much do we give and when is it meant to be given?
Well, in answer to the first point. We go back to the time of the Prophet SAWS then it was calculated as one Sa’ of dried dates or barley. However, this isn’t literal and so in today’s age we have Zakat al-Fitr calculated for us by the local masjid.
Ours is £x.xx and we are collecting for it at the back of the masjid should you wish to pay.
Secondly, and more importantly, we want to be sure that we don’t miss the deadline for paying it. If one misses the time period without good reason, then he has sinned and cannot make it up.
So when to pay? This charity becomes obligatory from the sunset on the last day of the fasting until the beginning of Eid prayers. Anything paid after the prayer is considered a charity and not specifically this obligatory charity.
However, it can be paid prior to this time also as has been reported by many companions of the Prophet SAWS and so the collection is there at the back for those who dont want to miss the deadline.
Dear brothers and sisters, Alhamdullilah we were given the opportunity to taste Ramadan again this year. Let’s sign off in the best possible way and insh’Allah use it as a springboard for the year ahead.
May Allah SWT enable us to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr, may Allah SWT accept our Zakat-ul-Fitr, and May Allah SWT perfect our Ramadan with Zakat-ul-Fitr.
Ameen walhamdulilahirabilalameen
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