ZAKAH AND SPENDING

These are two qualities which are stark opposites of each other—one is beloved to Allah SWT, the other hated by Him SWT. The sign of generosity is spending freely with good manners. There are many verses and ahadeeth that give glad tidings to those who have this quality. Stinginess is often combined with arrogance in a person. These two characteristics can be found in a disbeliever or a hypocrite but cannot exist in a believer. Among the signs of the Day of Judgment is that stinginess will increase in the world. There are many warnings against it in the Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet SAW.

The life of this world is but play and amusement: and if you believe and guard against Evil, He will grant you your recompense, and will not ask you (to give up) your possessions.

If He were to ask you for all of them, and press you, you would covetously withhold, and He would bring out all your ill-feeling.

Behold, you are those invited to spend (of your substance) in the Way of Allah: But among you are some that are niggardly. But any who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allah is free of all wants, and it is you that are needy. If you turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you! (Muhammed 47:36-38)

Such persons as are covetous and commend covetousness to men. And if any turn back (from Allah's Way), verily Allah is Free of all Needs, Worthy of all Praise. (Al Hadid 57:24)

And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah Hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks Like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do. (Aal Imran 3:180)

Many verses in the Qur’an combine the spenders with believers and hypocrites with those who delay in spending. Not withhold spending, just delay and slow down!

When you read these verses carefully and read the stories behind the revelation of some of them, you will be scared. They were revealed in Medina for some of the Companions of the Prophet SAW who delayed spending in the cause of Allah and were later on labeled as hypocrites. Remember the abode of hypocrites is the lowest part of hell fire.

The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. (Tawba 9:71)

The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "You have no faith; but you (only) say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' For not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: Such are the sincere ones. (Hujurat 49:14-15)

The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching Allah, but He will over-reach them: When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance; (An Nisa 4:142)

Except for those who repent, mend (their lives) hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion as in Allah's sight: if so they will be (numbered) with the believers. And soon will Allah grant to the believers a reward of immense value. (An Nisa 4:146)

It is only the Evil One that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: Be you not afraid of them, but fear Me, if you have Faith. (Aal Imran 3:175)

Say: "Spend (for the cause) willingly or unwillingly: not from you will it be accepted: for you are indeed a people rebellious and wicked."

The only reasons why their contributions are not accepted are: that they reject Allah and His Messenger; that they come to prayer without earnestness; and that they offer contributions unwillingly. (At Tawba 9:53-54)

O you who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when you are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. (At Tawba 9:38)

And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty-

On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, their flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure) which you buried for yourselves: taste you, then, the (treasures) you buried!" (At Tawba 34-35)

When you read these verses, you will find Allah SWT promising glad tidings to certain people with certain quality. He assures them that they will receive a happy ending, He SWT will take care of them in their journey after this life, and will even take care of their progeny that they leave behind. Read these verses and ask yourself whether you have the quality to be among those who might be granted the happy ending. Note: My intention is to prepare you to understand the Qur’anic message, because if we really understand what it means, our attitudes will change. We will be more serious and will take the word of Allah SWT more earnestly than we do now.

Verily those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and remain firm (on that Path),-on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Such shall be Companions of the Gardens, dwelling therein: a recompense for their (good) deeds.

We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as You may approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to You and truly do I bow (to You) in Islam."

Such are they from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and pass by their ill deeds: (They shall be) among the Companions of the Garden: a promise! of truth, which was made to them (in this life). (Al Ahqaf 46:13-16)

In the case of those who say, "Our Lord is Allah", and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear you not!" (they suggest), "Nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), the which you were promised! (Fussilat 41:30)

"A hospitable gift from one Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!" (Fussilat 41:32)

When you read the verses mentioned before and these following verses, you will notice the amount of warnings for those who indulge in duniya and forget akhirah, and its dire consequences. Meanwhile you will also see the promises of Allah SWT for those who believe and do good deeds and strive with whatever He SWT gives them in His cause.

Then, when they saw the (Penalty in the shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys, they said, "This cloud will give us rain!" "Nay, it is the (Calamity) you were asking to be hastened!- A wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty!

"Everything will it destroy by the command of its Lord!" Then by the morning they - nothing was to be seen but (the ruins of) their houses! thus do We recompense those given to sin!

And We had firmly established them in a (prosperity and) power which We have not given to you and We had endowed them with (faculties of) hearing, seeing, heart and intellect: but of no profit to them were their (faculties of) hearing, sight, and heart and intellect, when they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah; and they were (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at!

We destroyed aforetime populations round about you; and We have shown the Signs in various ways, that they may turn (to Us). (Al Ahqaf 46:24-27)

And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire, (It will be said to them): "You received your good things in the life of the world, and you took your pleasure out of them: but today shall you be recompensed with a penalty of humiliation: for that you were arrogant on earth without just cause, and that you (ever) transgressed." (Al Ahqaf 46:20)

Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode.

And how many cities, with more power than your city which has driven you out, have We destroyed (for their sins)? and there was none to aid them. (Muhammed 47:12-13)

And among them are men who listen to you, but in the end, when they go out from you, they say to those who have received Knowledge, "What is it he said just then?" Such are men whose hearts Allah has sealed, and who follow their own lusts.

But to those who receive Guidance, He increases the (light of) Guidance, and bestows on them their Piety and Restraint (from evil).

Do they then only wait for the Hour,- that it should come on them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens thereof, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their admonition? (Muhammed 47:16-18)

Then, is it to be expected of you, if you were put in authority, that you will do mischief in the land, and break your ties of kith and kin?

Such are the men whom Allah has cursed for He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.

Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them?

Those who turn back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them,- the Evil One has instigated them and busied them up with false hopes.

This, because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed, "We will obey you in part of (this) matter"; but Allah knows their (inner) secrets.

But how (will it be) when the angels take their souls at death, and smite their faces and their backs?

This because they followed that which called forth the Wrath of Allah, and they hated Allah's good pleasure; so He made their deeds of no effect.

Or do those in whose hearts is a disease, think that Allah will not bring to light all their rancor?

Had We so willed, We could have shown them up to you, and you should have known them by their marks: but surely you will know them by the tone of their speech! And Allah knows all that you do. (Muhammed 47:22-30)

He SWT knows what you have in your heart, in your bank account, where your money is coming from and what you are spending it on. You are your best judge. Ask yourself how much you spent for Allah SWT last year, and how much you spent on yourself. Remember, He SWT knows the truth and once you drop dead, your chance is gone!

It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.

Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left.

Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it).

And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): "This was the thing which you were trying to escape!"

And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given).

And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness.

(It will be said:) "You were heedless of this; now have We removed your veil, and sharp is your sight this Day!" (Qaf 50:16-22)

And the Garden will be brought nigh to the Righteous,- no more a thing distant.

(A voice will say:) "This is what was promised for you,- for everyone who turned (to Allah) in sincere repentance, who kept (His Law),

"Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious Unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):

"Enter you therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!"

There will be for them therein all that they wish,- and more besides in Our Presence. (Qaf 50:31-35)