The
purification of the heart is very important. A believer cannot perfect their
(i.e. his or her) faith in Islam without purifying their heart and soul. With
the month of Ramadan, which serves as a training for the upcoming 11 months,
Allah has provided several means in a believer’s life to not only purify their
wealth but also their heart. One of these means is Zakat.
The Creator (Allah) and His beloved Messenger (pbuh) have
always linked the purification of the body with that of the heart. Zakat
purifies the heart and has several meanings. According to the root of its
letters (Ze, Kaaf, Waw), Zakat means ‘to purify,’ ‘the purification of the
heart,’ or even ‘the complete purification of the heart,’ which includes the
purification of our soul and inner self. The purification of the heart involves
the purification of all the members of our body.
Allah has established Zakat to purify our hearts and our possessions. Through Zakat, Allah illuminates our hearts as well as all the other members of our body. When we give Zakat in the way of our Creator, our possessions and our souls are purified. Why? Because of the joy it brings, and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to do it wholeheartedly, helping the needy, which brought him much contentment as he spread wealth to the poor to eradicate poverty and give the needy the chance to live with dignity. This joy of the Prophet (pbuh) was translated into a radiant smile, his heart flooded with contentment for helping others, especially Muslims - those who believed in the one true God and in him (pbuh) as the Prophet of Allah.
Thus,
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) experienced great joy in helping the poor and the
needy. When this joy manifested as a smile on his lips, it also illuminated his
heart. We can understand this better through the Hadith where Hazrat Umar Ibn
Al-Khattab (ra) congratulated ‘Adi bin Hatim (ra) for the great action he did
when he collected Sadaqa from his people (the Tayy tribe) and
presented it to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
It is mentioned in Musnad Ahmad that Hazrat Umar said to ‘Adi
bin Hatim (ra): “The first Sadaqa (Zakah) that brought a smile to the face
of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the faces of his companions was the Sadaqa
(Zakah) of Tayy that you brought before the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).”
So, that was the very first Sadaqa of Islam. The greatness
of the Sahaba (companions) is that when the Holy Prophet (pbuh) experienced
joy, they too were very happy. The same attitude applied in times of sadness.
If the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was sad, the Sahaba also felt deep sorrow, without
even trying to understand why Muhammad (pbuh) was sad, and when he (pbuh) was
joyous, they too showed happiness without trying to understand the reason for
the Prophet’s joy. For them, their emotions were connected to those of the Holy
Prophet (pbuh).
Once, Hazrat Usman (ra) smiled while performing Wudu. This
smile appeared on his face because he had once seen Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)
smiling while performing Wudu. Despite not knowing the reason why Muhammad (pbuh)
smiled, due to his love for the Prophet (pbuh), Hazrat Usman (ra) also smiled
while performing Wudu.
So, believers should think that material possessions are
nothing compared to the precious smile of the Holy Prophet (pbuh).
It was a principle of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) to pray for
all those who presented Sadaqa (Zakat) before him (pbuh) to be placed in
the treasury of Islam (Bait’ul-Maal). When the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
raised his hands to pray, all the members of that person’s body and soul were purified
– their heart, their soul, and their inner self, like their ego (Nafs),
their instincts, and the different parts of their body. A glance from the Holy
Prophet (pbuh) at them was enough to bring about such purification.
As for the status of the Sahaba and the family members of
our beloved Prophet (pbuh) who remained pious and sacrificed for Islam, their
statuses are very high. The Muslims who were born after them cannot even
compare with the Awwaleen (the first believers) in their ranks and
greatness. But today, the light of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has come again in
this era, to provide its illumination to those whom Allah has chosen to deserve
this light. Allah has given the chance to all of you to benefit from this
light. Now it is up to the people to recognize this light and to acquire divine
illumination, spiritual illumination through this Light of Allah. Blessed are
those who have found this light, have recognized it (this humble servant), and
have stayed in the illumination of this light. Alhamdulillah.
In a Hadith from Abu Dawud, also reported by Ibn Majah,
there is mention of a prayer that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) made for Hazrat
Abdullah bin Abu Awfa (ra) when he presented Sadaqa before him (pbuh). The
Hadith goes as follows:
Abdallah bin Abu Awfa (ra) said: “Every time a person
brought Sadaqa before the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he (pbuh) sent blessings
upon them. I brought Sadaqa from my wealth, and he (pbuh) said: ‘Allahumma,
Salli ala ‘Aali Abi Awfa (O Allah! Send blessings upon the family of Abu Awfa).’”
Here, ‘Salat’ means ‘Rahmat’ (Grace), and the
prayer of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is so specific that Allah accepts it from him
(pbuh) 100%. So, it was a rain of blessings that poured upon Abu Awfa (ra) and
his family. How fortunate were the Sahaba Karaam (noble companions) who
lived in the era of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). The moment our Aka [master] (pbuh)
raised his hands to pray, his prayers were accepted.
During the date harvest, the Sahaba Karaam presented it
before the Holy Prophet (pbuh) as Zakat. Once, a woman came accompanied by her
little girl who wore two heavy gold bracelets on her [two] hands. The Holy
Prophet (pbuh) asked her if she gave Zakat on such jewelry. When the woman said
‘No’, then Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said to her: “Would you like Allah to put
two bracelets of fire on your hands?” Upon hearing this, she removed those
bracelets and gave them to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: “This is for Allah
and His Prophet.” (Abu Dawud)
So, Zakat must be given for the pleasure of Allah and that
of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), and not for people’s eyes. May Allah accept our
Zakat, out of love for Him (Allah) and His Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Ameen.
----Friday Sermon of 05- April 2024~ 25 Ramadan 1445 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.