الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي الْحَمْدُ هّ لِلَّ الهذّي هَدَانَا لّهََٰذَا وَمَا كُنها لّنَهْتَدّيَ لَوْلََ أَنْ هَدَانَا ه اللَُّ ، نحمده
ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات
أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، ونشهد أن لَ إله إلَ الله وحده
لَ شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير،
ونشهد أن سيدنا ومولَنا محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرًا ونذيرًا بين يدي الساعة، من
يطع الله ورسوله فقد اهتدى، ومن يعصهما فإنه قد ضل، وإنه لَ يضر إلَ نفسه ولَ يضر
الله شيئًا. أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولَ تموتن إلَ وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين
ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولَ سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم، ۞ إّ ه ن ٱلۡمُ ه ص دقّينَ
وَٱلۡمُ ه ص دقََٰتّ وَأَقۡرَضُواْ ٱ ه لِلََ قَرۡضًا حَسَنٗا يُضََٰعَفُ لَهُمۡ وَلَهُمۡ أَجۡ ٞ ر كَرّي ٞ م
Last week we discussed the hallmark of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz’s reign, namely Zakah – the fact that it needs amirate and cannot be implemented properly without it and the power of its proper implementation in effecting real change not only for the ummah but the world at large. A proven method to cure the world of poverty. So, it is understandable that today’s khutbah should focus on understanding what exactly zakah is, it’s place in our Deen and its conditions.
In the Arabic language, zakah signifies both growth and purification. It is derived from the root word زكا (z-k-a), meaning to grow or to increase. For instance, زكا الزرع (the crop grew) and وزكا المال (the wealth increased) are expressions used when something flourishes or expands.
Beyond its meaning of growth, zakah also represents purification. Allah جل جلاله refers to the obligatory sadaqah as zakah because the giver purifies their wealth and self. Through this act, the individual elevates in status and cleanses their nafs from harmful traits like envy, greed, miserliness, and being consumed by a love for wealth.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Qur’an:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةٌ تُطَهِِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِِّيهِم بِهَا
“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase in righteousness.” (9:103) In Islamic jurisprudence, zakah is defined as:
هي جزء مخصوص، يؤخذ من مال مخصوص، إذا بلغ قدراً مخصوصاً، في وقت مخصوص ، يُصرف
في جهات مخصوصة
“A specific portion taken from specific wealth, upon reaching a specific threshold, at a specific time, to be distributed to specific categories of recipients.”
The Key Elements from this definition are:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
2
Specific Portion (Al-Juz Al-Makhsus): Referring to the fixed percentage set by Shariah for zakah, depending on the type of wealth. For example, one-quarter of a tenth (2.5%) for gold, silver, or the value of trade goods.
Specific Wealth (Al-Mal Al-Makhsus): This refers to assets that are subject to zakah, such as gold, silver, livestock, crops, fruits, goods and more.
Specific Amount (Al-Qadr Al-Makhsus): This is the minimum amount set by Islamic law for zakah to become mandatory. This minimum amount is called Nisab, and it applies to silver, gold, the value of trade goods, livestock, and harvested crops. Each category has its own Nisab,
Specific Time (Al-Waqt Al-Makhsus): The time when zakah becomes due varies depending on the type of wealth. For gold, silver, and trade goods it is after the completion of one lunar year (Hawl). For livestock: After one lunar year, or when the zakah collector (Sai’) arrives, this is assuming of course that leadership has been established. For fruits at the time of ripening (tib) and for harvested crops at the time of drying (yubs). So one could pay zakah twice in 1 year on crops and fruits.
Specific Recipients (Al-Jihat Al-Makhsusa): Zakah must be distributed among the eight categories mentioned in the Qur’an.
It is one of the five pillars of Islam. It serves as an act of financial worship, a means of purification, and a tool for the social and economic well-being of the community, ensuring material solidarity. Zakah is a fard ʿayn which means that it is an obligation on every single individual who meets the necessary conditions, and its obligation is firmly established by the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus (ijmāʿ).
The Evidence is irrefutable
وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ
“And those in whose wealth there is a recognised right (for the needy).” (70:24-25)
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلوةَ وَءَاتُوا الزَّكَوة “And establish salah and give zakah.” (24:56) There are numerous verses in the Qur’an affirming zakah’s obligation. And even more evidence from the Hadith: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
3
بني الإسلام على خمس، شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدًا رسولُ الله ، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة،
والحج، وصوم رمضان
“Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no ilah but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing salah, giving zakat, performing Hajj, and fasting in Ramadan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
There is a unanimous consensus (ijmāʿ mutawātir) among scholars on the obligation of zakah, from the time of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم until today. Zakah was made obligatory in the second year after Hijrah. Scholars agree that anyone who denies zakah’s obligation and rejects its mandatory nature is considered a disbeliever, as they are rejecting the Qur’an and Sunnah and denying what is clearly known in Islam.
However, if someone acknowledges zakah’s obligation but refuses to pay, it is permissible to take it by force, even if this requires punishment. Withholding zakah is a grave sin with severe consequences. Even if a person is killed in the process, it is not considered an unjust killing, but if they kill someone, retaliation (qiṣāṣ) will be enacted.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم warned that those who withhold zakah will face drought and hardship. Allah has commanded zakah in thirty-two places in the Qur’an, and there is no verse commanding salah without mentioning zakah alongside it.
Abu Bakr (RA) and the Companions unanimously agreed on fighting those who withhold zakah. Zakah does not expire even with death. Scholars have established guidelines for paying zakah from the estate of a deceased person.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور
ال ه رحيم
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
4
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لَ إله إلَ الله وحده لَ شري ك له وأشهد أن محمد اً
عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة اللهم ص لّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله
وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين .
أما بعد ! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم . يا
عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
Zakah, as a fard ʿayn, is an individual obligation upon every Muslim meeting specific conditions. First, it is exclusively required from Muslims, as it is an act of worship, and without Islam, zakah remains invalid. Second, freedom is essential, as those enslaved or lacking full control over their wealth are exempt. Third, full ownership is required, ensuring zakah is only due on completely and legally possessed assets, excluding stolen property, disputed assets, even undelivered mahr. Fourth, only zakatable wealth is liable, such as gold, silver, trade goods, certain agricultural produce, and livestock meeting specific criteria. Fifth, zakah is only due on wealth exceeding the minimum threshold (nisab), ensuring it is levied on surplus wealth Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) explains: “Give one-quarter of one-tenth for every forty dirhams, but there is no zakah on less than two hundred dirhams. Once it reaches two hundred, zakah is five dirhams. Anything above that is calculated accordingly.”(which is 72 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver the gold nisab (ZAR 120,068.64) and the silver nisab ZAR 11,186.00). Sixth, a lunar year (ḥawl) must pass for most assets, except for crops and minerals. In other words let say you have R20 000 and a year has passed – you must pay R500 zakah. Seventh, in Islamic governance, livestock zakah was collected by appointed officials (ʿāmil al-zakah); however, in their absence, individuals must consult scholars and local masajid, this masjid does collect zakah using best practice in line with the Fiqh. Lastly, assets tied to outstanding debts are exempt until full ownership is restored.
Once these conditions are fulfilled, a Muslim is required to discharge zakah, adhering to four key principles for its validity. Firstly, intention (niyyah) is crucial, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: إِنَّمَا
الأَعْمَالُ بِالن يَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُ لِ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى (“Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.”). Zakah must be intended at the time of payment or when set aside, and loss without negligence absolves the obligation. However, giving to the poor without intending it as zakah renders it invalid, and forcibly taken zakah remains valid through the authority’s intention.
Secondly, zakah must be dispensed in its obligatory place. According to the principle, وَصُرِفَتْ
فِي مَحَلِ هَا، فَلََ يُجَوَّزُ نَقْلُهَا إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ، إِلََّّ لِمَصْلَحَةٍ كُبْرَى (“It should be distributed in its place, and it is
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
5
not permissible to transfer it to another location except for a greater benefit.”). Zakah on crops and livestock should be given where they are located if a collector is present, or where the owner resides if there is no collector. Transfer beyond 88 km is generally impermissible unless local recipients are unavailable, recipients elsewhere are equally or more in need, or significant necessity exists.
Thirdly, zakah must be paid only after its due time. For crops, it is due when grains ripen and fruits become edible, as commanded by Allah: وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ (“And give its due on the day of its harvest.” [Surah Al-An‘am 6:141]). For currency, trade goods, and livestock without a collector, it becomes obligatory after one lunar year (ḥawl). If a collector is involved, zakah on livestock is due upon their arrival post-ḥawl. Delaying zakah without valid reason is sinful, as Fuqaha state: وَإِذ ا تَأخََّرَ الْوَاجِبُ عَنْ وَقْتِهِ وُجُوبًا، أَثِمَ وَبَقِيَ فِي ذِمَّتِهِ (“If an obligation is delayed beyond its due time while one has the ability to pay, it results in sin and remains a liability on him.”
Lastly, zakah must be distributed among the eight categories specified in the Qur’an: إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ
لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي ال رقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سبِيلِ اللََِّّ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً منَ اللََِّّ وَاللََُّّ
عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ (“Zakah is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect [zakah], those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for freeing slaves, for those in debt, for the cause of Allah, and for the stranded traveller—an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [Surah At-Tawbah 9:60]).
In light of this, fulfilling zakah is not merely a financial obligation but an act of submission, a means of purifying our wealth and selves. May Allah grant us sincerity in our intentions, bless us with the ability to fulfill our obligations with excellence, and make our zakah a source of benefit and mercy. O Allah, purify our wealth through zakah, make it an intercession for us on the Day we meet You, and grant us pure hearts and contentment.
Dear brothers and sisters, It is with great sadness that I have been asked to announce that
Abdul Kareem, who has served the Jam’ah and the masjid for the past 8 years as caretaker, mu’athin, and Imam Ratib, has made the decision to return to his family and children in Malawi. He has been a pillar of support at The Jumu’a Mosque, and many of you will recognize him as one of the mu’athins during Jumu’a on Fridays. As he prepares for this journey, we are organizing a collection to help cover the expenses of his departure.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
6
Abdul Kareem has four children in Malawi, and his wife and young child, who are currently in Cape Town with him, will also be returning home. We kindly appeal to all of you to contribute, especially in the blessed month of Sha’baan, to assist him in this transition.
For those wishing to contribute, you can find the bank details either from me directly or on the notice board at the entrance. If you need further information, please feel free to speak to Hajj Rhomeez or Hajj Zahir.
Jazakumullahu Khairan for your support.
إّ ه ن الله وَمَلَائّكَتَ هُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النهبّ يّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذّينَ آمَنُو اْ صَلُّو اْ عَلَيْهّ وَسَلّ مُو اْ تَسْلّيم اً .
اللههُ ه م صَ ل وَسَلّ مْ وَبَارّكْ عَلَيْ ه وَعَلَى آلّهّ وَصَحْبّهّ أَجْمَعّينَ . وَارْ ض اللههُ ه م عَنّ الْخُلَفَاءّ ال ه راشّدّينَ أَبّي بَكْ ر
وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلّ ي ، وعن أم المومنين عائش ة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائّرّ
ال ه صحَابَةّ أَجْمَعّينَ، خُصُوص اً اّلأَنْصَارَ مّنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجّرّينَ ، وَعَنّ التهابّعّينَ وَتَابّعّي التهابّعّينَ وَمَنْ تَبّعَهُمْ
بّإّحْسَا ن إّلَ ى يَوْمّ ال دينّ .
اللههُ ه م طَ هرْ أَمْوَالَنَا بّال ه زكَاةّ، وَاجْعَلْهَا شَفَاعَةً لَنَا يَوْمَ نَلْقَاكَ، وَارْزُقْنَا قُلُوبًا صَافّيَةً وَنَفْسًا رَاضّيَةً، اللههُ ه م اهْ د
وُلََة أُمُورّ المُسْلّمّينَ لّمَا يُرْضّي ك وَلَّت بَا عّ سُنهةّ نَبّي ك صَله ى الله عَلَيْهّ وَسَلهمَ، وَثَب تْ أَقْدَامَهُ م عَلَى ال صرَاطّ
المُسْتَقّيمّ ، وَأَصْلّحْهُ م ي ا رَ ه ب الْعَالَمّينَ .
اللههُ ه م بَارّ ك عَلَى شُيُوخّنَا ، وَعَلَى رئيسنا ، وَعَلَى أَمّيرّنَا، وَعَلَى جَمّيع أُمَرَاءّ وَزُعَمَاءّ المُسْلّمّينَ .
اللههُ ه م بَارّ ك عَلَى المُسْلّمّينَ فّي هَذّ هّ المَدّينَةّ ، وَوَف قْهُمْ لّمَا تُحّبُّ هُ وَتَرْضَاه ي ا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمّينَ .
اللههُ ه م أَعّ ه ز الإّسْلَا م وَالمُسّ لْْمّينَ . ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار.
إّ ه ن الله يَامُرُ بّالْعَدْلّ وَالإّحْسَانّ وَإّيتَاءّ ذّي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنّ الْفَحْشَاءّ وَالمُنكَرّ وَالْبَغْي،ّ يَعّظُكُمْ لَعَلهكُ م
تَذه ه كرُونَ، وَلَذّكْرُ الله أَكْبَرُ وَالله يَعْلَمُ مَ ا تَصْنَعُونَ . وَقُومُو اْ إّلَى صَلاتّكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ الله .