Does Zakat Really Belong to You?

Alhamdulillah.

[Silence]

Continuing in the final sentences of chapter number 74 of the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala the supreme Quran verse number 20 here we have Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala commanding the establishment of prayer. And we mentioned before that the difference between making prayer praying and establishing prayer is that in order for a person to be considered to have established prayer, they have to have prayed fulfilling all of what conditions ish conditions aren and pillars and wajibet obligations. Correct. Those three conditions, pillars, obligations. When a person fulfills those conditions, pillars and obligations, they have now established prayer. Allah Subhanahu Wa'ta'ala then says, This is a repeating statement in the Quran. Allah subhanahu wa ta uses this language very consistently. It could be translated as give zaka. But the question here especially for those Arab speakers because the details is where the precision and beauty comes and where the dynamics and nuances come out. This is what inspires action. This is what is truly the point of reflecting on the book of Allah. What is another word for? If we wanted to word it differently for the Arab speakers, how would we word it? Right? So here we have two words. Those are two words. But you notice that in the Quran, these two words are not used interchangeably. They are used in very specific ways because they both carry different connotations. just any group of synonyms, all synonyms, if we were to take a five synonyms, let's say, of a single word, they all meet at a common intersection of meaning. Correct? But then each of them carries an additional meaning that the other doesn't. That's the point of synonyms and that's how synonyms work especially in the Quran. So we have for instance they both intersect and are both common commonly to mean used to mean to give. But what is the difference between them? If we look through the Quran and we try to focus on the places where Allah uses the word that root word and any of its derivatives and and that root word of any and any of its derivatives, we start to see a pattern. And this pattern articulates a main difference between is that is to give something and that thing does not necessarily that is not something that you are giving as a gift. Let's say if I were to give someone a gift, I would not use the word I would use the word. Notice this in the Quran Allah says so Allah uses with the book that was sent to but then when he speaks about something specific he says so here he's speaking to the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam saying we have given you Muhammad the Kther the kar is the river one of its meanings is the river from paradise that the prophet sallallah alaihi wasallam described to us now what's the difference between those two in his book he mentions that one of the differences between is that is not necessarily the recipient doesn't necessarily own that and is able to dis you know able to use his own discretion it's for him only that is not the way is used that is used for when I use the word it means it's for you you can do anything you want for with it and And it's something that you weren't necessarily owed and it's something that is very personal and it's used with gifting contrary to Allah says first of all received the zab it's guidance from Allah and it is not just for him to his discretion he has to distribute it. He has to show it. He has to reveal it. He has to teach it to others. It's not his personal property. It doesn't belong to him. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala uses the same language with respect to the Quran. He says subhanahua that we have given you seven oft repeating verses and the rest of the Quran with it. Here we see the same language. It's not for you. It's not your property. It's not to your discretion. This is a responsibility. It's given to you and it is for a very particular reason. It's to be shared with others. But that's usually used to articulate what? Total discretion. When I give you a a present, a gift, this now means that it's your property. You can do with it whatever you want. What's the point of all this? We are to say, okay, great. Those are nice points. But what is the point of that with respect to the language of often carries the connotation of doing something extra, something that you didn't really have to do, something that you know belongs to you and you're doing it as a favor to someone else. But no, not necessarily a zaka. Let's say I have some zaka to give that zaka when I earn my money and I fit the conditions and pillars of zaka. So now zaka's obligated that 2.5%. Does that 2.5% belong to me? The person who earned it. I earned it. It's my sweat. It's my sweat and my blood and my tears. How can you tell me it's not mine? Does it belong to me? No, it never did belong to me. It never did belong to me. I am acting as a conduit for that two 2.5% in this in this instance doesn't belong to me. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says that it belongs to the recipients belongs to the poor. that these these they belong they are the right of the poor and the needy etc. the eight different types of people that receive zaka the prophet sallallah alaii wasallam he tells us or Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala he tells us with respect to He says regarding the believers, they are the ones who have in their wealth, in their accumulation of wealth, a set percentage that is known that is the belonging of those who are in need. It doesn't belong to him. And so there the use of the word this carries the connotation of doing someone a favor. It's a gift. I'm giving it to someone. It's I'm so great because I'm doing this for people that never belonged to me. I am doing the bare minimum by giving zak. This is what is understood from the meaning of deliver. That is a better translation than give zakat or pay alms. Often times it is translated as give those who give zaket. It's okay. Better yet those who deliver zaket because it never belonged to them. It wasn't theirs in the first place. And if they were to keep it, they didn't keep their own wealth. They kept wealth that belonged to someone else. It is the same as stealing out of people's pockets. And so the prophet sallallah.aii alaihi wasallam commands us with giving zaka and then he said Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala commands us saying establish prayer and deliver a zak and give to Allah a good loan a good loan. A pure loan. Give to Allah a pure loan. What does this mean? What is meant by alone here? Why does Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala use this language? Because a loan is something that essentially if you give a loan to a trustworthy person, did you really lose any money? You get it? You get back exactly what it is you gave correct. That money didn't go anywhere. Didn't disappear. You didn't lose any money. That money was merely used for something. and then give him back to you. That's how a loan works. And so that loan is something that is guaranteed for you to get that loan back to get that money back or that that is something which is guaranteed for you. And so Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala uses the language of loaning not because Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is in need but to articulate the guarantee of Allah that not one dime will go unreturned, not one penny will go unreturned, not one cent will go unrewarded. and unreturned. And another point of a loan is that this loan is usually what out of goodness when I loan someone something, this is a favor that I'm doing for someone. Correct? And so because of this, because of the meanings that the connotations that the word loan carries, some of the scholars of TS say the meaning of this verse is establish prayer, deliver a zaka, and give additional charity to be that which is beyond a zaka. And that loan has to be what? It has to be good. Allah says it has to be a good loan, a pure loan. What is a pure loan? Who could tell us what are the descriptions of a pure loan? something that is hass What what distinguishes a good loan from a bad loan?

[Arabic recitation]

Good. He mentions so the money itself has to be pure halal. Okay, that's correct as well. Huh? Meaning that it's something that is not used for bad. Correct. Isn't that a descriptions of sincere? When you give it sincerely, that's the money itself is pure. it hasn't come from a bad source. Number three, that it is not used for a bad thing. Correct? This as well is all of these things fall into the generality of a pure and good loan. What about also having giving it in if I were to give it disgruntledly? I don't want to give this but you know just whatever take it. Is that good? Huh? Right. That the that the heart is pure in giving it. It's not disgrunt disgruntled. The heart is not begrudgingly giving this loan. It is something that you are giving and you're giving it with enthusiasm. Correct? All of these meanings that were just mentioned now are all meanings that the scholars and have mentioned with respect to the meaning of the prophet sallallah.aii wasallam tells us Allah is good and pure and he only accepts that which is good and pure. And our prophet sallall.aii wasallam tells us that whoever gives something for other than the sake of Allah then Allah will forsake him and whatever he has worshiped with that intention of his. Correct? And likewise as Allah as Abu Ali mentions for instance that it be used for a good thing. The prophet sallallah or Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says all of these meanings and more all fall into the generality of we have learned today the difference between and that we understand that it's just something we're delivering one Another important part point of that is that if I understand if I'm giving zakat and I understand that this zaka this money that I'm giving never belonged to me. It belongs to the person who receives it. It belonged to them. Always did. As soon as it was eligible for zaka immediately it was belonging to them. Would I ever reproach someone for giving them zaka? No.

[Arabic recitation]

You know, I gave you a lot of zak. What' you do with it? Tell me. I just gave you a bunch of zak. You're already broke again. Come here. Let's talk about that. What' you do with it? You know that was a that was a big chunk of money I gave you. What' you do with that? Huh? What' you do? You spend a little something on yourself. What' you do with it? Right. All of this behavior, this all comes from what? A heart that doesn't understand what it's doing. Or you know, I'm going to give you this and you need me. I don't need you. I'm doing you a big favor. No. Let me ask you a question. The wealthiest man on earth, does he have to give zakia? He has to, right? He has to. His wealth will not be purified without giving it correct. What if there's not a single person on the earth eligible for zaka? What's he going to do then? Huh? What's he going to do? How is he going to give zak? There's no one to accept it. built things.

[Arabic recitation]

Here that is made and this is the exact point that the prophet made sallam to drive home that the relationship between the one giving the zakah and the recipient of the zakah is mutual need of one another. The wealthy need the poor. They need them. They need them to give them zak. If they don't exist, there's no one to give charity to. Their wealth is as good as useless. What are you going to do with it? How are you going to get it to Allah if there's no one to receive it? And the poor need the wealthy. There is no you need me more than I need you or that doesn't exist. The Muslim are one body. You know, one time and I'll end with this. I was having a question and answer session in an area was in Philadelphia and there is a huge chasm between the wealthy and the poor. The area I was in was a very bougie, high-end place. A lot of rich people there. And literally a few blocks down the road were some of the poorest Muslims you've ever seen. And we were having our questions answers and it was a a fatwa a melus fetwa on on the issue of zak and the issue came up of can we give we want to give our zak and send it all back home to our respective countries not keep it here. And this is highly differed upon amongst the scholars on whether that's even valid or not. All of the scholars agree that belongs where in the place that it's taken from in the community that it's taken from it's to be circulated amongst that community. when I take the zaka and ship it out, what does that do with my relationship with the Muslim mean in my own community? Right? So he said, she but this is a moot point in this day and age in this country. Mood point is said because the government takes care of them. The government takes care of our Muslim brothers that are in need. We don't have to give them anything. We send it overseas. The government takes care of them. They got welfare. They got food stamps. They got wick. They got As a as a man, would you be okay with another man coming into your household and taking care of your family?

[Arabic recitation]

You feel about that? You really need it. But he steps in. He says, "Don't worry. I I don't want your wife or your kids, but I'm going to take care of them from now on. You can keep all your money. Is there any amount of money in the world that is worth that kind of hit to your dignity? That's my family. I take care of mine. Even if I have to sweat and cry and bleed, I will take care of my family. No one else does. Right? What happened to that feeling that the Muslim had or have that the Muslim are one body? If one part of the body is in pain, the rest of the body suffers with sleeplessness and fever. Who what what what person is going to come and take care of my brother? That's my brother. You don't come and take care of my brother. He's my responsibility. I have too much dignity to allow anyone to take care of my brother other than myself. And this is what goes to a deeper problem that we are experiencing.

[Arabic recitation]