What is Allah’s wisdom behind fasting?

• The first wisdom:

To feel that we are in need of Allah. We are prevented from eating and drinking, there is no prohibition on days other than in the month of Ramadan, so when you feel hungry and thirsty you realize that you are a servant of Allah, and you are in need of a sip of water. Actually, the more you feel that you need Allah, the more will Allah raise your station. As the poet said:

I have no way (to be close to You) except my dire need of You; By my need for You I push away my poverty (my need for other things).
There is no door to knock except Yours (I ask no one but You). But if you drive me away, on which door shall I knock! (there is no other one to help me)

So first, it accustoms us to feel the dire need of Allah.

• The second wisdom:

Fast convinces us that we are loyal to Allah (we are doing righteous deeds only for His sake ) because no law of the world will call you to account if you eat during the day in Ramadan. It is specifically related to the deen. You may come home ( while you are fasting) feeling extremely thirsty, while there is cold water in the refrigerator, and there is no one else in the house, i.e. no one is watching you, nevertheless you never put a drop of water in your mouth (because you believe that Allah watches you).  So:

“Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward him for it.”

Verily, fasting is worshiping with devotion.

• The third wisdom:

There is another thing: fasting strengthens the will, i.e. if you avoid permissible things during the days of Ramadan, that is all the more reason to abandon the illicit  ones. you go against the very bases of the spirit of Ramadan when you refrain from eating and drinking, nevertheless you lie; you go against the very bases of the spirit of Ramadan when you refrain from eating and drinking, nevertheless you fill your eyes with the beauty of a woman who is not permitted to you; you go against the very bases of the spirit of Ramadan when you refrain from eating and drinking, nevertheless you swear a false oath while buying or selling! Actually, when Allah deprives you of the licit during your fast, that is all the more reason to abandon the illicit. It seems as if Allah wanted to strengthen your will and your determination in this noble month.

• The fourth wisdom:

There is something else; Allah wants us to experience the situation of the poor. In fact, you either face the reality or perceive it by your mind, and there is a big difference between the two cases. Just for clarification, if a friend of yours had a quarrel with his wife and consequently she has left home and went to her parent’s  house, you’ve got a notion that your friend’s wife has abandoned him. Your own wife is at home (you have a successful marriage), your food is ready, your children are well looked after, their food is good, their clothes are clean, all your needs are taken care of, and your house is clean. So you do not live the reality of being without a wife, but you realize that your friend’s wife has left him. Thus, perceiving reality is totally different from experiencing it. As the saying goes:

No one knows the feeling of yearning except who has experienced it; and no one knows the burning love except who has experienced it.

Thus, in Ramadan, Allah the Almighty wants us to experience the suffering of the poor.  On ordinary days (other than the days of Ramadan), we eat and drink, and we do not appreciate the value of cold water, and hot (good) food. We always eat and drink, while the poor have nothing to eat.

By Allah, one of my friends told me that he went to the house of one of his relatives,  and he swore that he opened the fridge and found it completely empty, there wasn’t a piece of bread to eat in that house. Hence, when you become hungry (due to fasting) you should remember that there are those who have nothing to eat.Once a woman went to a shop and bought chicken legs, which are only given to dogs. So due to her severe poverty, she bought those chicken legs, and cooked them in order to give just the taste of meat to their food.

One of Ramadan advantages is that it is the month of generosity Brothers, Ramadan is the month of spending on the poor, of righteousness, of  benevolence, of sadaqah, and of zakat. Moreover, the Self-Sufficient and the Judge (Allah the Almighty) never accepts fasting unless zakat al-fitr is paid. Actually, Imam Shafi’i has established that it is preferable to pay zakat al-fitr starting from the first day of Ramadan, because it is food for the poor and an expiation of sins. So Allah wants everyone to give sadaqah in Ramadan, even the poor, i.e. it is imposed upon whoever has his daily food, the food that is sufficient just for one day, so that the poor man may enjoy the taste of spending even if only once a year.

Dear brothers, fasting in Ramadan remains suspended between the heaven and earth (is not accepted) unless zakat al-fitr is paid.

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Zakat (alms) is the name of what a believer returns out of his or her wealth to the neediest of Muslims for the sake of the Almighty Allah. It is called Zakat because the word Zakat is from Zakaa which means, to increase, purify and bless.

The obligation is to give 2.5% of one’s wealth to those in need. Zakat is essentially an act of worship through which Muslims can purify their wealth, cleanse their souls and benefit themselves as well as others – it is a symbol of Islamic social justice.

The obligatory nature of Zakat is firmly established in the Qur’an, the Sunnah (or hadith), and the consensus of the companions and the Muslim scholars.

Allah states in Surah at-Taubah: “O ye who believe! there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in Falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah. announce unto them a most grievous penalty – On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, their flanks, and their backs.- “This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!”

(The Holy Qur’an 9:34-35).

Who should pay Zakat?

Every sane, adult Muslim who possesses equal to or more wealth than the Nisab for one lunar year is eligible to pay Zakat.“Nisab” is an Arabic word which means the minimum value of wealth that one must own to become eligible to pay Zakat; in its current monetary value is equal to 87.48grams of gold or 612.36grams of silver.

Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this nisab.

How To Give Zakat?

Make a record of all money earned, either daily or monthly, which has reached the nisaab and remains in the treasury. The Zakat of that money would be due one year later on the same day the money was earned and reached nisaab. This means every month’s income must be set aside and assessed for Zakat and so will be the case for the rest of  the months.

The best way is to set a day or a month, preferably Ramadan, for your annual Zakat return calendar, say Ramadan 1st. One year later on the same day of Ramadan, your Zakat is due and payable. Whatever is in the savings is due for Zakat, regardless of whether all the amount in the savings reaches a year or not. This method is the best because it is easy to assess, meets one’s obligation and relieve one’s conscience.

TYPES OF WEALTH ON WHICH ZAKAT IS IMPOSED:

• Gold and silver, in any form.
• Cash, bank notes, stocks, bonds etc.
• Merchandise for business, equal to the value of Nisaab.
• Live stock.
• On income derived from rental business.

TYPES OF WEALTH ON WHICH ZAKAT IS NOT IMPOSED:

• On any metals other than gold or silver.
• Fixtures and fittings of a shop, car, trucks or any delivery vehicle etc., which is used in running business.
• Diamonds, pearls, other precious or semi precious stones which are for personal use.
• There is no Zakat on personal residence, household furniture, pots and pan, personal clothing, whether they are in use or not.
• There is no Zakat on a person whose liabilities exceed or equal his assets.
• Home Mortgage is not to be counted as personal liability for the Zakat purpose.

Who is eligible to receive it?

Knowing who qualifies as recipient of Zakat is an important aspect of Zakat collection in Islam. Fortunately, Allah (SWT) has been merciful to us in that He Himself spelled out the people eligible to receive Zakat.

In Surah Tawbah He stated:
“Alms are for the poor and the needy; and those employed to administer (the funds); for  those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.”

(Surah 9: Verse 60 )

• People who are in complete poverty and have nothing.
• People who have some wealth, but not enough to meet their basic needs.
• The people who collect Zakat to distribute to the poor and needy.
• People who are sympathetic towards Islam or wish to enter to Islam, and are needy.
• Zakat may be used to free a person from slavery.
• Zakat can be given to those who are in debt and unable to pay off their debt.
• The people who work in God’s way and strive to give Dawah.
• Travellers and/or wayfarers who are needy.

It is, however, permissible to give Zakat to a wife or family member, provided it is not part of their daily living expense money, but is needed to pay off a debt for one’s wife if she can not pay it. So is the case for one’s parents if they can not pay their debt.

PUNISHMENT FOR NOT GIVING ZAKAT:

Allah says in the Quran: “And there are those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, announce to them a most grievous penalty (when) on the Day of Judgment heat will be produced out of that wealth in the fire of Hell. Then with it they will be branded on their forehead and their flanks and backs. (It will be said to them) This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves, taste then the treasure that you have been hoarding.”

(Al-Quran 9:34-35)

THE concept of charity assumes new dimension in the blessed month of  Ramadan, especially because the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to be most  generous during this month.

Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur’an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) waxed faster than the rain bearing wind.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Imam Ahmad added to this narration, “And nothing he was asked for but he would give it.”

Furthermore, Al-Bayhaqi reported that ‘Aaishah, may Allah be pleased with her, had said, “When Ramadhan would start, the Prophet would release all prisoners of war and  fulfill the need of every person who would ask him for something.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Spend and don’t count lest Allah counts for you, and don’t hoard up lest Allah withhold from you. Spend what you can.”

If you keep strict account of your charity, Allah will also keep strict account of  His gifts and wealth on you. This principle applies everywhere.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w said: “The Almighty Allah says: O son of Adam! Spend, you will then be spent for.”

You will be given wealth and rewards from the treasures of Allah, in case you give away  in charity, because a cistern when vacated is usually filled up and that which remains filled up without consumption is not at all filled up. The Qur’an says: “And whatever thing you spend, it will be given in exchange.”

Abu Omamah reported that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w said: “O son of Adam! That you spend wealth is good for you and that you withhold it is bad for you, and you should not be backbitten for miserliness. Begin with those who are in you family.”

First of all, every man should provide the necessities to his family members and then there is the question of charity in case of surplus. In such a case, a gift to family members will bring greater rewards than a gift to strangers.

For Muslims the joy of giving in this holy month knows no bound. And it is during this month that the obligatory charity, called Zakat, is distributed to the poor and needy. It enables them to spend the fasting month in peace and comfort.

Spending out of whatever has been given to man stands for charity in a broad sense, i.e., for acts of benevolence to humanity in general. For what Allah has given to man is not only the wealth, which he possesses but all the faculties and power with which he has been gifted.

The most frequently recurring words for charity in the Holy Quran are ‘Infaq’, which means spending benevolently, ‘Ihsan’, which means the doing of good, Zakat which means growth or purification, and ‘Sadaqah’ which is derived from the root ‘Sidq’, meaning truth, and comes to signify a charitable deed.

Charity, in the sense of giving away one’s wealth, is of two kinds, voluntary and obligatory. Voluntary charity is generally mentioned in the Quran as ‘Infaq’ or ‘Ihsan’ or ‘Sadaqah’, and though the Holy Book is full of injunctions on this subject, and hardly a leaf is turned which does not bring to mind the grand object of the service of  humanity as the goal of man’s life.

A charitable deed must be done as a duty which man owes to man, so that it conveys no idea of the superiority of the giver or the inferiority of the receiver. Love of Allah should be the motive of all charitable deeds, so that the every doing of them fosters the feeling that all mankind is but a single family. Only good things and well-earned money should be given in charity.

Charity has value only if something good and valuable is given, which has been honorably earned or acquired by the giver or which is produced in nature and can be referred to as bounty of Allah.

Charitable deeds may be done openly or secretly, although the latter form is better.  Those who do not beg should be the first to receive charity.

Zakat is wealth which is taken from the rich and given to the poor, being so called because it makes the wealth grow, or because the giving away of wealth is a source of  purification. In fact, both these reasons hold true.

It is however, true that the same stress has not been laid on this principle in previous religions, and, moreover the institution of charity, like every other principle of religion, has been brought to perfection, along with the perfection of
religion, in Islam.

It is narrated from Sahl bin Sad (radiyAllaahu anhu): Allah’s Apostle (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam) said: “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.” [Bukhari: Book 3 Vol 31 #178; Muslim: Book 6 #2417]

It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllaahu anhu) that The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam) said: “Religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.” [Dawud: Book 13 #2346]

Abu ‘Atiyya (radiyAllaahu anhu) reported: I and Misruq went to ‘A’isha (radiyAllaahu anha) and Masruq said to her: “There are two persons among the Companions of Muhammad (may peace be upon him) none of whom abandons the good, but one of them hastens to observe sunset prayer and break the fast, and the other delays in observing the sunset prayer and in breaking the fast”, whereupon she said: “Who hastens to observe sunset prayer and break the fast?” He said: “It is ‘Abdullah.” Upon this she said: “This is how the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to do.” [Muslim: Book 6 #2419, 2420]

Saying the Pious Predecessors:

Sa’id b. Al-Musayyib reports from his father, “I was once sitting with ‘Umar when a group of people arrived from Al-Sham. ‘Umar enquired about them and how they were; he asked, ‘Do the people of Al-Sham hasten to break the fast.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ [‘Umar] said, ‘They will not cease to remain upon good as long as they do this, and do not wait for the stars [to come out] as the people of Iraq do.’” [‘Abd Al-Razzaq Al-San’ani, Al-Musannaf 4:225.]

‘Amr b. Maymun Al-Awdi reports, “The Companions of Muhammad – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to be the quickest to break the fast and the slowest in taking the pre-dawn meal.” [Ibid. p226.]

Ibn Al-Musayyib also reports that ‘Umar wrote to the commanders of the various regions, ‘Do not be of the procrastinators when breaking the fast, and nor of those who wait for the stars before they start praying [al-maghrib].’ [Ibid. p225.]

Musa b. Anas reports that Anas [ibn Malik] used to have his slave-girl go to the top of his house, instructing her, ‘When the horizon becomes even (evenly lit, marking sunset), tell me.’ [Ibn Abi Shaybah, Al-Musannaf 2:430.]

Abu Al-Tiyah Al-Daba’i reports that “he used to break fast with Ibn ‘Abbas during Ramadan. When evening approached he would send a girl from his household to the roof [to look out], and when the sun set he would make the call to prayer (adhan). He would eat with us, and when he had finished, the call for the commencement of prayer (iqamah) would be given, and he would pray, and we would pray with him.” [Ibid. p429.]

Source: navedz.wordpress.com

Misconception # 1
I pray, dont I?
Whats the big deal if I dont give Zakaah?

Zakaah is one of the PILLARS of Islam and NOT an option. It is just as important to ones faith as Salaah. In fact, anyone who denies it is a Kaafir and the Prophet (pbuh) and his Sahaba waged war against such persons even though they uttered the Shahadah and prayed Salaah.
About such people Abu Bakr said: “By God! I shall certainly wage war against the people who discriminate between Salaah and Zakaah.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Misconception # 2:
But it will decrease my wealth!

Abu Hurayra said that the Prophet (pbuh) said,
“Whoever is given wealth by Allaah and does not pay the Zakaah due thereupon shall find that on the Day of Arising it is made to appear to him as a hairless snake with two black specks, which chains him, and then seizes him by his jaw and says, -I am your wealth! I am your treasure!’

Then he recited the verse, Let not those who are miserly with what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Arising. [3:180] (Bukhaari)

Misconception #3:
I dont have to pay Zakaah every year.

Zakaah is an obligation that must be paid each year. The Prophet (pbuh) used to send the zakaah-collectors to the tribes and cities, and they did not differentiate between those who had paid their zakaah the previous year and those who had not, rather they used to take the zakaah that was due on all the “zakaatable” wealth that people possessed.

Misconception # 4:
I never paid Zakaah before.
I will just repent and that should be enough

The one who never paid Zakaah before should repent to Allaah first. Then he should estimate the amount of Zakaah that was due on him over the years as best he can, and pay it as soon as possible

Misconception # 5:
I dont have to pay Zakaah if I owe a debt

The one who has any “zakatable” wealth must pay zakaah on it, when one year has passed since he acquired it, even if he has debts, according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions. The Prophet (pbuh) used to command his agents to take zakaah from those who owed zakaah, and he did not tell them to ask them whether they had any debts or not. (Majmoo Fataawa -Abd al-Azeez ibn Baaz)

Misconception # 6:
I will waive my debt and count that as Zakaah

The Prophet (pbuh) said to Muaadh ibn Jabal, when he sent him to Yemen: “Teach them that Allaah has enjoined upon them zakaah on their wealth, to be taken from their rich and given to their poor.”
He (pbuh) explained that zakaah is something which is to be taken and given, so on this basis it is not permissible to let off someone who owes you money and count that as zakaah, because letting someone off a debt does not involve taking and giving.
(Fataawa Manaar al-Islam by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen)

Shaykh al-Islam said: “letting someone off a debt does not relieve one of the obligation of zakaah, and there is no scholarly dispute on this matter. But you can give this needy person some of your zakaah and he can meet his needs using what you give him as zakaah; and Allaah will help him to pay off his debt in the future, inshaAllaah.”

Misconception #7:
I have lent someone some money. I dont have to pay Zakaah on it.

In this situation, there can be two scenarios;
1. If the borrower is rich and is known to repay debts promptly: The lender has to pay Zakaah annually on the money lent, because it is possible to recover the money readily and it is like money that is in ones possession.

2. If it is unlikely that the lender will get his money back or the borrower is known to delay repayment: Then the lender does not have to pay zakaah before he gets the money back, because it is not readily accessible and is not like money that is in ones possession.

Misconception # 8:
I pay my taxes so I dont have to pay Zakaah!

The taxes we pay are to Uncle Sam/govt , not to Allaah to Whom the Zakaah is due. And this Zakaah money is to be only spent according to the rules of Shareeah in certain specific ways. Thus, it is not permissible for the taxes we pay on our wealth to be counted as part of Zakaah. The obligatory Zakaah must be paid separately.

Misconception # 9:
I will use the money that I receive from my bank as interest to pay off Zakaah

First of all, putting money in the bank in return for interest is a kind of riba which Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden, and it is a major sin. The Prophet(pbuh) cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who pays it. (Muslim)
This money cannot be used to pay Zakaah or other kinds of charity since it is impure and a haraam form of wealth.

Misconception # 10:
I will pay Zakaah on whatever is OVER the Nisaab

If ones wealth surpasses the amount of nisaab, then Zakaah is due upon it ALL, and not upon the surplus only.

Misconception #11:
Zakaah is due on precious gems, stones and diamonds

No zakaah is due on gems, precious stones, diamonds, etc. unless they are prepared for trade, in which case they come under the same ruling as all other trade goods

Misconception # 12:
I will buy diamonds so that I dont have to pay Zakaah

Some people try to get out of Zakaah by investing in diamonds, since no Zakaah is due on them, and think they can outsmart Allah.
Doesnt Allaah know whats in our hearts and minds?
They forget that Zakaah is due on them if they are prepared for trade. “They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive none except themselves, though they do not sense it.“ (Surah al-Baqarah: 9)

Misconception # 13:
The husband HAS to pay Zakaah on the wifes jewelry and wealth

It is NOT the husbands duty to pay Zakaah on his wifes jewelry, wealth, etc. Rather, it is her responsibility, since she is the possessor of the wealth. If her husband or someone else pays zakaah on her behalf with her permission, that is o.k., and he will be rewarded for this voluntary action.

Misconception # 14:
I only have gold, but I do not have any money. So, I dont have to pay Zakaah….

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said:“ Zakaah must be paid on jewelry if it reaches the nisaab (minimum threshold), which is 85 grams. If it reaches this amount, zakaah must be paid on it. If she has other wealth and pays from that, there is nothing wrong with it. If her husband or one of her relatives pays it on her behalf, there is nothing wrong with that. If neither of these options is available to her, then she should sell some of it and pay zakaah with that money.”

Misconception # 15:
I will use my Zakaah money on my immediate family

Shaykh Ibn Baaz said: “The Muslim cannot give his zakaah to his parents or to his wife and children; rather he is obliged to spend on them from his wealth if they need that and he is able to spend on them.”

Misconception # 16:
I cannot give Zakaah to my poor relatives

It is actually preferable for a person to give their zakaah to a brother, sister, paternal uncle, paternal aunt or to any other relative, if they are poor. This is because, giving zakaah to them is both an act of charity and upholding family ties.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Charity given to the poor is charity and charity given to a relative is charity and upholding of family ties.” (Ahmad, al-Nasaa’i)

Misconception # 17:
A woman cannot give Zakaah to her Husband

It is okay for a woman to give zakaah to her husband, if he is qualified to receive zakaah, because she is not obliged to spend on him. Also, the Prophet (pbuh) gave permission to the wife of Abd-Allaah ibn Masood to give her zakaah to her husband

Misconception # 18:
Zakaah can be given to Non-Muslims if they are poor

It is not permissible to give Zakaah to any kaafir except the one who is inclined towards Islam, in the hope that he will become Muslim if you give him zakaah (al-Tawbah:60).

Misconception # 19:
I will use Zakaah to build hospitals, masjid and orphanages

That is not permissible, because this is not included in the eight categories on which zakaah may be spent.

Allaah tells us that Zakaah may be spent on the following:
“As-Sadaqaat (Zakaah) are only
for the Fuqaraa (poor),
and Al-Masaakeen (the poor)
and those employed to collect (the funds);
and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam);
and to free the captives;
and for those in debt;
and for Allaah’s Cause (Mujaahidoon — those fighting in a holy battle),
and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything)” [al-Tawbah:60]

But if the intention in giving the money to an orphanage is so that this money will be spent on the poor orphans, then this is permissible, if the orphans are poor.
Similarly, Zakaah cannot be used to print Quraans and other Dawah material.

Misconception # 20:
Zakaah is the same as Zakaat ul-Fitr

Zakaat al-Fitr is NOT the same as Zakaah. These are two separate entities and whoever paid Zakaah is NOT relieved of paying Zakaat al-Fitr and vice-versa.

Misconception # 21:
I have to inform the one I am giving, that it is Zakaah

You do not have to tell the recipient that it is zakaah.

Must watch…

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Source:sunniforum