Monday, April 2, 2018

Giving in the Way of God

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.