Financial Sacrifice-Part 1
For
today I have chosen to speak on financial contribution in the way of Allah
(swt). It is very very sad to know that despite the fact that the Jamaat Ul
Sahih Al Islam has been established and registered officially in many countries
around the world, yet many members in these countries are not making financial
sacrifices in the way of Allah (swt). In this field there is no progress and
very few members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam are contributing financially
to the cause of Allah.
It
is very sad that despite recognising and accepting the Khalifatullah of this
age and integrating the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, yet there is no real effort
being made concerning financial contributions. Seeing this situation, I have
decided to focus my sermon today on this subject.
It
should be remembered that Allah is Independent of all needs but we are
dependent on Him for our needs. There are thousands of ways by which God
provides required needs. The need and value of making contributions in the way
of God have been repeated many times in the Holy Quran. By so doing people are
cleansed and purified. It is a means by which a devotee grows in righteousness,
becomes reformed and discards many harmful ways, such ways which shall not
bring him any salvation.
I
want to explain the philosophy of making financial sacrifices. Allah says in
the Holy Quran:
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with
your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining to spend in the way of Allah].
And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
(Al-Baqara 2: 196).
It
is for your benefit otherwise you would be the losers. I have had much
experience in this matter and its non observance will incur the individual
losses of many types. The Holy Quran links the payment of Zakaat with financial
sacrifice.
According
to the Holy Quran the best solution for the economic improvement of a nation is
that the people should give contribution in the way of God. Their condition
always continues to improve. Our community (Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam) shall
thus improve, spreading in other countries where there is extreme poverty.
I
have made many appeals to you all to help the cause of Allah and the poor
countries through your contributions, each according to his or her means (for
Allah never seeks to overburden anybody beyond his or her means). Only Allah (swt)
can change the economic situation of these poor countries and help us establish
securely there and throughout the rest of the world.
The
Holy Quran, in its wisdom, teaches that God blesses abundantly the wealth of
those who make financial sacrifices in His cause. During the time of the Holy
Prophet (pbuh) the Muslims lived in poverty and even he and his wives often
suffered hunger despite the fact that they belonged to respectable Meccan
families. Only a few of the Muslims possessed wealth. The truly rich were those
who accepted and practised the Divine Message which the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
conveyed to mankind.
Even
after migrating from Mecca to Medina they remained more or less in the same
position. They subsisted with difficulty. Later on, after a few years, God
filled their homes with great wealth and you will not find such a remarkable
change in history. It is not in accordance with the teachings of Islam to
decorate mosques with gold. Nevertheless the time came when Muslim rulers and
governments possessed so much wealth that they did not know what to do with it
even after helping the poor, building universities and improving the economy in
many ways. All wealth is in the hands of God Who is Self-Sufficient. It is we
who are in need.
There
were only a few rich people in Arabia during the early days of Islam, so the
financial sacrifices of the majority were only small offerings. Later God gave
the Muslims so much wealth that Baghdad (in Iraq) was the richest town in the
world. I have mentioned this one example to show that by making sacrifices in
the way of Allah, there follows prosperity and success. If religious nations
fail to make financial sacrifices in the way of God then they are punished with
poverty. If, however, they remain in the fore-front in this matter (i.e.
contribute generously in the cause of Allah) then God bestows wealth and
prosperity upon them. We should clearly understand the efficacy of this secret
and put it into practice in order to build national economy.
The
Holy Quran teaches that we should not do a favour to somebody with the thought
of receiving a favour in return (Al-Baqara 2: 265). Our sacrifice to God is a
humble gift. If He accepts it that will be our good fortune and reward. It is
the duty of those who have national responsibilities to encourage and raise the
spirit of sacrifice of the nation. Financial sacrifice is a remedy which has
been tried and tested in the past especially in the time of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and then later on Allah blessed this land so much as to make it
become a source of oils worth billions. It was through their earlier sacrifices
that all this came to be.
It
is one of the laws of all true religions of Allah (be it in the past and with
the rise of Islam) that great wealth comes to those who sacrifice their wealth
in the service of Allah (swt). I was very pleased to learn that even in the
poorest regions of some poor countries there exists the spirit of making
financial sacrifice and responding to such appeals for the cause of Allah. If
all the members of our Jamaat contributed according to their ability then I can
affirm that the whole destiny of poor countries, that of our Jamaat and their
own conditions would change for the better. Insha-Allah. Here lies the
solution of all their economic and other problems. The people should learn to
donate in the way of God Almighty (Allah). This is the remedy for overcoming
poverty and all kinds of difficulties and problems.
For
today I stop my sermon here and I pray to Almighty to give me the Tawfeeq
to continue the same subject of my sermon next Friday. Insha-Allah.
May
Allah help you all to fully understand the importance of financial sacrifice.
Remember that giving in the way of Allah will not render you poor if you are
rich or poorer if you are poor or having middle-class revenues. On the
contrary, when you contribute in the way of God, you are only paving your way
to a life of intense security, peace, faith, trust in Allah and lastly opening
the treasury of Allah's mercy and wealth to be bestowed upon you when you least
expect it.
Allah
says in the Holy Quran:
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah
is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred
grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is
all-Encompassing and Knowing. (Al-Baqara 2: 262).
So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and
spend [in the way of Allah]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is
protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the
successful. (At-Taghabun 64: 17).
May
Allah awaken your consciousness for financial sacrifices in His path, for the
progress of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam worldwide and to help all those who,
remember, are poorer than you all. Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 30 March 2018 (11 Rajab 1439 AH) delivered by Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.
