Zakat: The Purification Tax

  

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.

The Month of Fasting

  

Ramadan is here once again. This blessed month is filled with many blessings and offers a unique opportunity to every Muslim. To fully benefit from it, it is essential to understand what this month symbolizes and what we can gain from it to come closer to Allah and His paradise.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“O you who believe! Fasting has been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing (attain Taqwa)” (Al-Baqara 2:184).

 

Divine commandments, including fasting during Ramadan, aim to instil piety (taqwa) in the hearts of believers. They help purify the soul, develop patience, seek forgiveness for sins, and obtain divine rewards. Fasting during Ramadan, in particular, is a way to draw closer to Allah, strengthen one’s faith, and engage in deep spiritual reflection. It also instils values such as discipline, empathy towards the less fortunate, and gratitude for the blessings received.

The Spring of Revelations @ 25

 

'Spring is here again: Once again, God's Word is fulfilled’- a Divine revelation received by the Promised Messiah (as).

For perceptive minds, Islam is the enduring path and faith of ‘Tawheed’; the religion taught by all prophets from the dawn of history, and perfected by the holy Prophet Muhammad (sa); a pure path that remains alive through a chain of saints and reformers who follow in the footsteps of the holy Prophet (sa) till the Day of Judgement, Insha Allah. Most certainly, the appearance of heavenly-imbued souls in every era of Islam takes place through the Will and Grace of Allah (swt)- a moment of spiritual rejuvenation and celebration for the spiritual seekers, Subhaan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar!    

 

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, 07 March 2025 marks an important day in the spiritual life and Divine mission of Hazrat Imam Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, the holy founder of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International. For, it was on this day and month in the year 2000 that an important, mystical dream was experienced by Hazrat Munir Saheb, a dream that foretold, in its own unique settings, the commencement of a special Divine Manifestation in the present era; the emergence of a ‘luminous moon’ [Qamaram Munira] in the darkened heavens of Islamic spirituality.

 

By the grace of Allah, a narration of Hazrat Munir’s spiritual dreams and visions of March 2000 is publicly available through the writings of an important direct witness-participant, Zafrullah Domun Saheb. In an official declaration dated 23 November 2005, Domun Saheb also wrote about other, related spiritual experiences reflecting on the nature of the mystical experiences and the early shaping of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius.  Anyone who is interested in understanding spiritual phenomena would profit by paying attention to this extract from the Declaration below:

Al-Fatiha: A Commentary

 

The Quran is an ocean of knowledge and guidance for humanity. It’s very first chapter, an ardent invocation to Allah, embodies the essence of the Quran and the connection between man and his Creator. Surah Al-Fatiha, the opening of the Quran, is also referred to as Ummul-Quran (the Mother of the Quran). Indeed, Surah Al-Fatiha is so significant that without its recitation in every Rakah (cycle) of our prayers (Salat), those prayers are considered incomplete.

 

Therefore, Surah Al-Fatiha can be seen as a chapter enclosing the entire Quran, with the remaining chapters serving as commentaries on this exalted Surah. We must always bear in mind the profound importance of this Surah, as it holds the key, the solution, and the remedy to many seemingly insurmountable challenges, hardships, problems, and ailments. Reflect also on how, in Surah Al-Baqara, Allah declares: This is a perfect Book, containing no doubt, and it is guidance only for the “Muttaqi” (those who are pious, fear Allah and are conscious of Him).