When one ponders about the nature of the rulings of Shariah on personal and social affairs, two things become clear:
- All these rulings cannot be realised unless people implement them.
In other words, to realise the Shariah rulings, individuals and societies must play their part in implementing them.
Allah Most High says:
“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) a judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (Qur’an 4:65)
2. Allah Almighty has told us that He sent the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him & give him peace) as both “a Mercy to the worlds” (Qur’an 21:107), as well as the “best of all judges” (Qur’an 33:6). The mercy of Allah Almighty upon His creation is evident in the revelation of the beloved Messenger (Allah bless him & give him peace), who brought guidance and mercy to humankind.
3. The Qur’an tells us that when people follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him & give him peace), they will receive immense rewards not only in this life but also in the next life:
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“That Home of the Hereafter We shall give to those who intend not high-handedness or mischief on earth: and the End is (best) for the righteous.” (Qur’an 28:83)
4. Allah Most High has commanded His servants to take recourse to patience, forgiveness, forbearance and deliberation before taking any action, as a principle of Shariah. Allah Almighty says:
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not practise? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not practise.” (Qur’an 61:2-3)
And the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “The strong man is not the one who throws people in wrestling (i.e. around), rather the strong man is the one who has control over his anger.” [Sunan Abu Dawud]
5. The following verses and prophetic traditions explain to us clearly why we should spend money for good causes:
- Imam al-Bukhari records in his Sahih that Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “A man expressed his intention to give in charity, so he came out with a handful of gold. Then he sat down saying to himself, ‘The Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) forbade us to sit between two persons.” So, the Messenger of Allah (Allah Bless Him & Give Him Peace) then said to him: ” either give it all in charity or go away” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
- Imam Muslim records in his Sahih from Bukair ibn Abdullah that when he asked the Messenger of Allah about voluntary charity, he said: “One dirhams charity is superior to one hundred thousand dirhams as it does not decrease wealth. And anything above that decreases the portion of a person just as a camel that has been hobbled and then released into the pasture.” [Sahih al-Muslim]
- Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: “And they ask you what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever you spend with a good heart, give it to parents, relatives, orphans, the helpless and travellers in need. And whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well.” (Qur’an 2:215)
- The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say: ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
- In another hadith, Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah said: “Zakat is a right upon your wealth…those who have been collecting it [and do not distribute it], they are in fact in possession of a satan’s property. They (should) either distribute it or else, it is (to be taken from them).” [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Sunan Abu Dawud]
6. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) has also taught us that the best type of wealth is that which remains after one’s death, and whoever gives charity continually will have his charity increase in size daily till the day of judgement. He said: “One dirham which a person spends in charity while sincerely hoping for Allah’s reward will be made up to seven hundred dirhams.” [Sunan Abu Dawud]
Give your zakat today: https://www.sktwelfare.org/ramadan/pay-your-zakat/
