THE REAL POSITION OF 'ZAKAT'

Brethren-in-Islam!

I have stated in my last lecture that next to Salah, Zakat is the greatest pillar of Islam. And it is a factor of such great importance that just as one who refuses to say Salah is judged as a disbeliever, in the same way those who deny Zakat are also not only considered disbelievers but, over and above it, they are such people against whom the companions of the Holy Prophet unanimously waged Jihad. Now in today's discourse I shall explain to you the real position of Zakat so that you may know what actually it implies and why so much importance is given to it in Islam!

HOW NEARNESS TO ALLAH IS ACHIEVED

1.      Test of wisdom and prudence

Some among you are so simple-minded that you befriend any Tom, Dick, and Harry, and, while doing so, you never test whether or not he is really fit to become your friend. Such simpletons, in most cases, are deceived in this friendship and later face much disappointment. But those who are wise sift the people they meet and examine them critically in all possible manner. Then whoever is found true, sincere and faithful, he alone is befriended and the useless ones are discarded. Almighty Allah is the Wisest and most Prudent of all. How can it be expected of Him that He will make anybody His friend, and will include him in His party and will accord him a place of honour in His court. When the wisdom and prudence of man demands that he should not befriend anybody without trying and testing him, it is impossible that Allah, Who is the fountainhead of all wisdom and prudence, will grant the status of friend to every person without testing and trying him. All these crores of human beings spread all over the earth and composed of all sort of people, good and bad, cannot be fit to be included in that party of Allah and in that Hizbullah' whom Allah wants to grant the status of vicegerent in this world and a position of honour in the Hereafter. Allah in His supreme wisdom has fixed a few examinations, a few trials, a few criteria to test and judge the real worth so that whoever emerges successful out of these tests may enter Allah's party and whosoever fails to come up to the mark may automatically be eliminated from this party and he may also himself realize that he was unfit to join this party. What are these criteria? Since Allah is Wise and Prudent, He first of all tests man's wisdom and prudence. Allah will see whether this particular man has some power of understanding or not ? Is he a congenial idiot? The reason is that an ignorant and stupid fellow can never befriend with the wise and the prudent. The qualifications of a man who passes the examinations of wisdom are : One who recognizes that only Allah is his Master and Creator, that no other being than His is the object of worship, nor his sustainer, nor listener to his prayers, nor helper; and by hearing Allah's Word comes to know that this is his Master's Word and of no other body, further, he properly understands the difference between the lives of a true prophet and a false claimant to prophethood as also the disparity between their morals, dealings, teachings and achievements; also he recognizes that of those who claim to be prophets which particular individual has been really entrusted by God with the function of guidance and which one is a Dajjal and a cheat. Such a person passes the examination of wisdom and prudence. Then after sorting him out of the motley crowd of human beings, Allah includes him in the selected candidates of His party. Those who have failed in the very first round of the test are left to wander wherever they like.

2.      Test of moral strength

Those who pass this first test successfully, have to appear in their second examination. Here the moral strength of a man is also tested along with his wisdom. It is verified whether or not he possesses enough strength, after knowing what is truth and righteousness, to accept it and follow it in his practical life; and to discard falsehood and evil after realizing them. It will also be checked if he is a slave of corporeal urges, and a follower of forefather's ways, family rituals and the usual concepts and modes. Further, it will be scrutinized if he has any such weakness in him that even after finding out that a particular thing is contrary to Divine guidance and knowing it to be wrong, still clings to it, while, on the other hand, being aware that the other thing is just and right and so pleasing to God, still refuses to accept it? Those who fail in this examination are also debarred from Allah's party and he picks up only those whose definition is:

"And he who rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped a firm handhold which will never break." (AI-Qur'an 2 256)

That is to say they should abandon with courage every such path and system as runs counter to God's guidance; they should not care for anything and should be prepared to follow only that path which is shown by Allah, no matter if anybody is pleased with it or displeased

3.      Test of obedience and dutifulness

Those who come out successful from this examination have to appear again in a third examination. In this round, the test is about obedience and dutifulness. Here it is ordained: When a call of duty is sounded from Our side, sacrifice your sleep and present yourself before Us. Interrupt your work and come. Give up your pursuits which may be interesting, beneficial and entertaining to you, and report on duty. It may be hot, cold or any kind of climate. In any circumstances, come running when summoned for duty, unmindful of every travail." Then it is ordered : "Be hungry and thirsty from morning till evening and curb your corporeal urges". These injunctions must be fully and totally carried out, no matter whatever may be the suffering in hunger and thirst and no matter if heaps of delectable dishes and delicious syrups are in front of you. Those who get plucked in this examination are also dropped. Only those persons are selected who get through this examination because they alone can be expected to obey those laws which will be framed for them and the instructions issued on behalf of God and will adhere to them in all conditions, both overtly and covertly, whether there may be profit or loss, comfort or discomfort.

4.      Test of financial sacrifice

After this, the fourth examination relates to financial sacrifice. The successful candidates of the third examination are not yet competent to be regularly recruited in the service of God. It has still to be checked whether they are small-little minded, low-calibered, timid and petty natured? Do they belong to that class of people who make tall claims of friendship and affection but when an occasion arises to tap their pocket to help a friend, they declare as a poet says: "If you want money, that is a questionable matter". Does their condition not resemble that to a person who chants "Mataji", "Mataji" (i.e. mother cow) and quarrels for her sake with the whole world, but when the same "Mataji" attempts to gulp the contents of his grain bag or of his bundle of vegetables, he chases her with a lathi and beats her by continuous blows? A man of even ordinary intellect does not befriend such a selfish and mean money-worshipper, while a large-hearted person would not like even to sit alongside such a despicable creature. As such, how can that Almighty and Supreme God, Who is incessantly showering His treasures lavishly on His limitless creatures, regard that person befitting of His friendship who is stingy in spending in the path of God that very money which is His own gift? And how can that God Whose wisdom and prudence are supreme, include such a person in His party whose friendship and affection are confined to mere verbal jugglery and on whom no reliance can be placed ? Therefore those people also who fail in this fourth examination are told point-blank:

"Go away. There is no room for you in Allah's party. You are also useless. You are not capable of undertaking that great responsibility which is entrusted to the vicegerent of God. Only those persons are included in this party who sacrifice their love of life, wealth, children, family, country, everything, for the love of God".

"You will not attain unto piety until you sacrifice those things in the path of Allah which you love." (Al-Qur'an 3: 92)