AN AYAH A DAY — Day 28
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
I trust we’re savouring these last days of the blessed month and making the most of it. May Allah grant us the reward for our acts of Ibadah.
The theme for today In shaa Allah is “Giving Charity and spending in Allah’s cause- Zakatul Fitr”
Allah has encouraged us in several verses of the noble Quran to give charity and spend in His cause because this helps us attain His Pleasure and helps our Du’as get answered. We are in the final days of Ramadan and is there any better time to give than this? When the rewards for giving are in multiple folds.
Allah says in the above Ayah through the blessed lips of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), “Verily, those who give Sadaqât (i.e. Zakât and alms), men and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and theirs shall be an honourable good reward (i.e. Paradise)“Allahu Akbar!
Giving charity and spending in the way of Allah is like a loan offered to him which Allah (azza wa’jal) has promised to repay in multiple folds. Subhanallah!
Let us try to understand the magnitude of this act of charity. Allah is not in need of our deeds or money for He is AL-GHANIYY (The Self-Sufficient), free of all needs but yet has promised to not only double the reward but an even greater reward, Al-Jannah. What a great way to achieve Allah’s reward. Imagine giving out a loan and getting paid back double/multiple times what was given. This shows the degree of Generosity of Our Creator.
It is reported by Abu Huariara that the Prophet (SAW) said: “charity never decreases anything form wealth”. In this blessed month of Ramadan, Allah has blessed us with yet another means by which we can earn more reward and make up for the shortcomings in our actions and deeds during the month of Ramadan in the form of “Zakaatul Fitr”.
Before I proceed, it is important to state that Zakaatul Fitr is different from Zakaah on wealth- which is a pillar of Islam. Whereas whoever denies the Zakaah on wealth when He is able to do so is committing a major sin (as it is a pillar of Islam) and renders the person a kaafir, denying Zakaatul Fitr does not render the person a kaafir. Zakaatul fitr is not a pillar of Islam.
Zakaatul Fitr is obligatory upon every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of their needs. It was reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that whoever gives it before Eid prayers, it is valid as Zakaatul Fitr and whoever gives it after Eid prayer it is valid as Sadaqah (chairty). As such it is best to offer Zakaatul Fitr before Eid prayer. In terms of what to give, it is recommended to give Zakaatul Fitr in form of the staple food most common to in a particular place such as rice, wheat, millet, dates. The ruling is to give one sa’a of that food item.
Zakaatul Fitr should be given to the poor and needy in the community as it was the teaching of The Prophet (SAW) to do so. One reason for this is to meet the needs of those in need on the day of Eid and by so doing have them participate in the joyous occasion of Eid-ul-fitr. “Wouldn’t we love to put a smile on the faces of our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters and their families and by so doing earn Allah’s reward?”Remember, the reward is in multiple folds! Subhanallah! Surely, we wouldn’t want to miss out on this.
To wrap up, dear brothers and sisters, let us endeavour to do our bit and make the best out of the wonderful act of charity in these final days of the glorious month of Ramadan.
May Allah grant us the reward for it. Ameen.
JazakaAllah Khayr 💕
We meet again tomorrow In Sha Allah.
Maa’Salaam.
