Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ تَتَّقُوا اللہَ یَجْعَلۡ لَّکُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَّیُکَفِّرْ عَنۡکُمْ سَیِّاٰتِکُمْ وَیَغْفِرْ لَکُمْ ؕ وَاللہُ ذُوالْفَضْلِ الْعَظِیۡمِ ﴿۲۹﴾
‘O believers! If you will fear Allah, He will grant you that by which you may be able to distinguish between right and wrong and will remove off your evils and will forgive you. And Allah is the owner of great Grace.
(Al-Anfal 8, Verse 29)
Hadeeth:
عَنْ اَبِیْ اُمَامَۃَ صُدَیِّ بْنِ عَجْلَانَ الْبَاھِلِی رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہُ قَالَ:سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللہِ صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ یَخْطُبُ فِیْ حَجَّۃِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ:اِتَّقُوااللہَ،وَصَلُّوْاخَمْسَکُمْ ،وَصُوْمُوْا شَہْرَکُمْ ،وَأَدُّوْا زَکَاۃَ اَمْوَالِکُمْ، واَطِیْعُوْا اُمَرَآئَکُمْ تَدْخُلُوْاجَنَّۃَ رَبِّکُمْ۔
(ترمذی، کتاب السفر ، باب ما ذکر فی فضل الصلوۃ، ۲/۱۱۹، حدیث:۶۱۶، بتغیر قلیل)
Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah Sudaiy ibn ‘Ajlaan al-Baahili – may Allah be pleased with him – reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – delivering a sermon during his farewell Hajj, he stated, “Fear Allah, pray your five times Salah, keep your fasts of Ramadan, pay the obligatory charity of your wealth and obey those in authority among you, and you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.”
(Tirmidhi)
Commentary:
The Hadeeth emphasizes the importance of five things:
- Fear Allah
- ray your five times Salah
- Keep your fasts of Ramadan
- Pay the obligatory charity of your wealth
- Obey those in authority among you
Then as a result you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.
Fear of Allah:
His Back was Bent in the Fear of Allah
It is reported about Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu that his back had already bent while he was still quite young. Many people tried in vain to ask him how this had happened but Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu – refused to tell anyone what had happened or when it had happened. There was one student of his though, who kept insisting but Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu remained silent.
One day, when this student kept insisting Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu revealed, “Once, one of my teachers who was considered among the eminent teachers of his era and from whom I had learnt many branches of knowledge, when his time of death approached, he said to me, ‘O Sufyan! Do you know what has transpired with me? For fifty years, I have educated people about obeying Allah azza wajal and have also educated them about refraining from sinning. However, now the light of life is about to come to an end and Allah azza wajal has informed me that I am not fit to enter His Divine Court.’
“When I heard this declaration of my teacher, with the fear of Allah azza wajal, my back actually broke. Many people had in fact heard my back breaking. I continued to weep, and it came to a state where, even blood appeared in my urine and I became extremely ill. As I became very sick, I visited a doctor who was a Christian. At first, he did not know what I was suffering from and began to examine me closely. He then checked my pulse and said, ‘It is my opinion that among the Muslims there is no young man like this today whose internal organs have burst through the fear of Allah azza wajal.’”
(Hikaayatus Saaliheen, 46)
Five Times Salah
وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوۃَ طَرَفَیِ النَّہَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ ؕ اِنَّ الْحَسَنٰتِ یُذْہِبْنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ ذِکْرٰی لِلذّٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۴﴾ۚ
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in parts of the night. No doubt, good deeds obliterate evil deeds. This is admonition for the persons accepting admonition.
(Hood 11, Verse 114)
As it is our real goal of being created and sent in this world to worship Allah Almighty, as He states in the Holy Quran:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۵۶﴾
And I have created the Jinn and the men only for this that they may worship Me.
(Al-Dhaariyaat 51, Verse 56)
The most important of it being the Salah in the court of Allah Almighty.
This following Hadeeth is a good way to learn the fundamentals of Islam and strengthen our core practices of Islam.
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بُنِيَ الإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ:
شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ
وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ
وَالحَجِّ
وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – reported that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
Islam is founded upon five:
- Testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and indeed Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.
- Establishment of Salah
- Payment of Zakah
- Hajj
- Fasts of Ramadan
(Bukhari, Muslim)
The Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has in fact presented Islam by the example of a tent. Every tent is based upon five pillars; one in the middle to erect the tent and four on four sides. Shahadah is the main pillar of Islam whereas the other four acts as supporting pillars. If the middle pillar collapses then the entire tent will collapse and if one of the four corner pillars were to collapse, then although it may not completely collapse the tent but it will definitely make it weaker and out of shape. Salah, Zakah, Hajj and Fasts act as the supporting pillars without which the foundation of one’s Islamic spirit will be weakened.
وَرُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: خُلِقْتُمْ مِنْ سَبْعٍ، وَرُزِقْتُمْ مِنْ سَبْعٍ، فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ عَلَى سَبْعٍ .
Hadeeth: You were created from seven, sustained by seven, so make Sajdah to Allah on seven.
(Tafsir Qurtubi)
Establish your Salaah
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “Look, if there is a river which is flowing at the doorway of someone and he bathes in this river five times a day, will there remain any dirt on him?” They answered, “No”. He then explained, “Likewise, this is the example of the five daily Salaah in that through the Divine Barakah of Allah Almighty, the sins of the person are cancelled.” (Jamia Tirmidi, Sahih Bukhari Shareef, Nisaa’i Shareef, Daarimi, etc)
Imam Baghwi – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions, “I once heard Ubaidulllah Al Qawaariri mention that, ‘My ‘Isha Salaah with congregation was never missed. However, one day, I received some visitors and I became busy taking care of them. I then left my house so that I could perform my Salaah with certain tribes in Basrah. When I saw the people, I realized that they had completed the Salaah. I then said to myself, ‘Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “Reading Salaah in congregation is twenty-five times more superior than reading Salaah alone.’ And he had also stated that, ‘Reading Salaah with congregation is twenty- seven times greater in reward than reading Salaah alone.’ (Sahih Bukhari Shareef).
“I then returned home, and I performed the ‘Isha Salaah twenty- seven times that evening. In my dream, I noticed that I was on the company of people who were racing their horses. Each one was racing against the other. However, their horses were always before me. I then began to whip my horse so that it could go faster. However, the last person among them turned around and said to me, ‘Do not tire your horse, you will not be able to catch us.’ I asked the person why I would not be able to catch them, he replied, ‘We had performed our ‘Isha Salaah with congregation and you had not done so.’” (As Sayr)
It is mentioned that Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – was extremely fond of making Jihad in the Path of Allah Almighty and because of this, he used to love horses. He had very powerful and speedy horses and one of the amazing attributes of these horses is that it had wings on their side. This meant that they could also fly. They also numbered about twenty thousand.
It is reported that once while he was busy inspecting these horses which were necessary for battle and Jihad in the path of Allah Almighty, he missed the Asr Salaah. Bear in mind that this was not done deliberately because we all know that the Prophets are sinless. However, he was extremely embarrassed and sad about what had happened. He realised that it was through his attention for his horses that he had missed his Salaah. He then made a promised to himself that from today, these horses would never become an obstacle in his Ibadah. He had their heads and feet cut with a sword.
In Surah Saad, verse 30 to 33, the Qur’an states:
وَ وَہَبْنَا لِدَاوٗدَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ ؕ نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ؕ اِنَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿ؕ۳۰﴾ اِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَیۡہِ بِالْعَشِیِّ الصّٰفِنٰتُ الْجِیَادُ ﴿ۙ۳۱﴾ فَقَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَیۡرِ عَنۡ ذِکْرِ رَبِّیۡ ۚ حَتّٰی تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ ﴿۳۲﴾۟ رُدُّوۡہَا عَلَیَّ ؕ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢابِالسُّوۡقِ وَالْاَعْنَاقِ ﴿۳۳﴾
And We bestowed Sulaiman to Dawud; what an excellent bondsman! He is indeed most inclined. When eager, fast footed steeds were presented to him at evening, Sulaiman said, “I cherish the love of these horses *, out of remembrance of my Lord”; he then ordered them to be raced until they vanished in a curtain out of sight. (To be used in holy war.) He then ordered, “Bring them back to me”; and he began caressing their shins and necks.
When Allah Almighty saw that Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – was extremely regretful and sad at what had happened and he was also extremely fearful of the Divine Punishment of Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty blessed him with the power of being able to control the wind and air. The Jinns were also placed under his command. Whenever Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – wanted to go anywhere, these elements were ever ready to transport him. Such was his power after that, that he could complete a month’s journey in only one day. This was certainly mightier and speedier than the horses he once cherished.
In fact, when we look at the blessed words of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – the meaning of this would become apparent and clear. He has stated that, “If you restrict yourself from anything out of the fear for Allah Almighty, then Allah Almighty would give you something better in return.”
(Musnad Imam Ahmed; Bahiqi Shareef)
They Sought Help through Salaah
It is reported that the son of Hadrat Sayyidah Asma binte Umais -may Allah be pleased with her, namely Hadrat Muhammad bin Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him, was martyred in Egypt in the 37th year of Hijrah. After he had been killed, the heretics also tied his body on a donkey and had it burnt. When Hadrat Sayyidah Asma – may Allah be pleased with her – heard about this news, she displayed immense patience and continued to stand on her Musallah. (Usaabah)
Allah Almighty declares in Surah Baqarah (2), verse 45:
وَاسْتَعِیۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلٰوۃِ ؕ وَ اِنَّہَا لَکَبِیۡرَۃٌ اِلَّا عَلَی الْخٰشِعِیۡنَ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾
“And seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity.”
The pious Muslims of the past, besides been steadfast in practising on the various laws of Islam, they continued their level best to obey the command of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This also proves that these blessed people continued to remember Allah Almighty even in such difficult times and never allowed themselves to be swayed from the remembrance of Allah Almighty. They never thought of their sadness as something which came in between their Ibadah. If only our thinking and outlook in life can be the same, certainly Muslims would be able to recreate another revolution in this world.
They valued their Salaah
It is reported that the great Saint, Sayyidah Rabia Basariyyah – may Allah be pleased with her – used to perform one thousand Nafil Salaah every day. She used to also say to people that she did not perform these Salaah with the intention of acquiring any Thawaab but only with the intention of pleasing Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. At the same time, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – would also be able to inform the other Prophets on the Day of Judgement that here is a female in his Ummah who had performed so much of Ibadah.
Imagine the status of Sayyidah Rabia Basariyyah – may Allah be pleased with her – and her immense love for Ibadah. She understood the secret of all secrets which was that if she wanted to achieve the Divine Pleasure of Allah Almighty, she had to make sure that she achieved the pleasure of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has also stated that, “Salaah has also been made a coolness for my eyes.”
It is reported that the famous Muhaddith and scholar, Hadrat Muslim bin Bashaar – may Allah be pleased with him, used to perform immense Ibadah in his house. One of the amazing qualities of his Ibadah was that his family were allowed to speak as loud as they wanted while he was in Salaah and this did not disturb him in the least. It is reported that when Hadrat Muslim bin Bashaar – may Allah be pleased with him – used to enter the house, his family remained silent. However, when he began his Salaah his family spoke as much as they wanted, and he was not in the least bit disturbed. Once, while Hadrat Muslim bin Bashaar – may Allah be pleased with him – was in Salaah, the house caught on fire and he was completely unaware of what was happening around him even though people ran all around him. Eventually, the fire was extinguished while he remained in his Salaah.
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Zubair – may Allah be pleased with him – was also someone who used to perform Salaah in the Haram Shareef. He was so still that pigeons used to sit on his head thinking he was another pillar in the Haram Shareef.
In the same manner, another famous Muhaddith, Ebrahim bin Shuraik – may Allah be pleased with him, used to perform such long Sajdahs that birds used to sit on his back like they sat on a wall or some other structure.
From these examples, we can deduce the immense intent which was shown by the eminent Saints when they were in Ibadah. Yet, when we perform Ibadah, all types of thoughts and ideas play around our head. In fact, people actually plan their programs and other events while they are in Salaah. Least do we realise that we are in the Divine Presence of Allah Almighty.
The famous saint, Hadrat Haatim Asam – may Allah be pleased with him, once said that, “When I had missed my Salaah with congregation on one occasion, only one person, Abu Ishaq Bukhari came to sympathise with me. Yet, if my son had died, over ten thousand people would have come to sympathise with me.” This proves that the concern people have for wordily losses far surpasses the concern they have for religious loss. It was the habit of the eminent Saints that if some among them missed even the first Takbeer in Salaah, they used to visit that person for three days sympathising with him.
Fasts of Ramadan:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُتِبَ عَلَیۡکُمُ الصِّیَامُ کَمَا کُتِبَ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبْلِکُمْ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَتَّقُوۡنَ﴿۱۸۳﴾ۙ
O Believers! Fastings have been made obligatory upon you as were made obligatory upon those before you, so that you may become pious.
(Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 183)
Hazrat Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that if Allah Almighty wanted to punish the Ummah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – He would not have granted the Ummah the month of Ramadan and Surah Ikhlas.
(Nuzhatul Majaalis)
The loss of Missing a Single Fast without a Valid Reason
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – narrated that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
If one abandons one fast of Ramadan without a valid reason or sickness then even the fast of a lifetime cannot make up for that one missed fast, even if he makes Qada of it afterwards.
(Bukhari, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood Vol. 1, p, 326)
Gate of Jannah dedicated to the ones who fast
Our beloved Master – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that there are eight gates in Paradise. One of them is named “Rayyaan”. The only people to enter through this gate will be the ones who kept fast.
(Bukhari, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood Vol. 1, p, 326)
Fasts are a shield and strong fort
Our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that the fasts are a shield and strong fort to provide protection from hell.
(Musnad Ahmed Vol. 3, p. 367; Baihaqi)
Fasting is the Zakaat of the body
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
There is Zakaat for everything, and the Zakaat of the body is fasting, and fasting is half portion of Sabr.
(Ibn Majah Vol. 145)
There is no action parallel to fasting
Hazrat Umaamah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that he asked the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – to advise him on a virtuous action. He replied, “Make the fasts a compulsory action upon yourself, for there is no action parallel to it.” He repeated the question for the second and third time and he replied the same.
(Sunan Nasa’i Vol. 1, p. 240; At-Targheeb Wal Tarheeb Vol. 2, p. 52)
There is a distance of 100 years journey between the fasting person and hell
Hazrat Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that there is a distance of, 100 years journey between the fasting person and hell.
Hazrat Mu’adh ibn Anas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that whoever fasts in times other than Ramadan he will be at a distance of 100 years journey which can be measured by only a fast running horse.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that Allah Almighty will create a trench between the fasting person and hell equivalent to the distance between the earth and the sky.
(Muslim Vol. 1, p. 364; Tirmidhi Vol. 1, p. 292; Ibn Majah, Tabrani Awsat Vol. 2, p. 268)
Allah Almighty keeps the fasting person away from punishment and it is for this reason that He has shut the hell upon the fasting person by keeping at the distance equivalent to that between the earth and the sky. It is important to bear in mind that the fasting person must be a Sunni Muslim with sound beliefs because there are other Jews, Christians, shias and wahabies and deobandis who also keep fast but their eternal abode is hell. AlaHazrat – may Allah be pleased with him – has described it in such an excellent manner:
Tujh se aur Jannat se kya matlab wahaabi door ho
Hum Rasoolullah ke Jannat Rasoolullah ki
O wahaabies, do you think you deserve Jannah? Just buzz off!
We have connection with Rasoolullah and Jannah belongs to him.
The odour of the fasting person’s mouth
The beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
I swear by the One in whose hand my life is:
وَلَخَلُوْفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ اَطْیَبُ عِنْد اللّٰہِ مِنْ رِیْحِ الْمِسْکَ
The odour of the fasting person’s mouth is more revered to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 255; Muslim Vol. 1, p. 363)
Two happy occasions for the fasting person
Hadeeth:
There are two happy occasions for the fasting person; one, at the time of Iftar, and the second, when he will see Allah Almighty.
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 255; Muslim Vol. 1, p. 363)
Du’a at the time of Iftar is not rejected
Hazrat Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
The Du’a of a fasting person is not rejected at the time of Iftar.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that the Du’a of three persons are not rejected:
- Dua of a fasting person at the time of Iftar
- Dua of a just king
- Dua of an oppressed
Allah Almighty allows it to be raised above the horizon and the gates of heavens are opened for it, and then Allah Almighty states:
I swear by My Dominance and Jalaal, I will most definitely assist you even if it happens after some time.
(Musnad Ahmed, Tirmidhi, Baihaqi, Ibn Majah)
Payment of Zakat:
وَ اَقِیۡمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ اَطِیۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
And establish prayer and give the poor-due (Zakat) and obey the Messenger haply; you may be shown mercy.
(Al-Noor 24, Verse 56)
In this Quranic verse, Allah Almighty has commanded all the believers to establish Salah and pay Zakaat, as if the people who offer Salah are being taught that if we want the acceptance of Salah in Allah’s Court then we ought to pay Zakaat from the wealth we have been given by Allah. Allah Almighty will have mercy upon us in return.
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ood – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that we have been commanded to establish Salah and pay Zakaat, and the one who does not give Zakaat, his Salah is not accepted.
Guidance and Mercy through Zakaat
Through the blessings of Zakaat Allah Almighty grants us the wealth of true guidance on His path:
ہُدًی وَّ رَحْمَۃً لِّلْمُحْسِنِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۳﴾
These are a guidance and mercy for the righteous.
الَّذِیۡنَ یُقِیۡمُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ یُؤْتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَہُمۡ بِالْاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمْ یُوۡقِنُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۴﴾
Those who establish the prayer and pay the poor-due (Zakat) and have firm faith in the hereafter.
اُولٰٓئِکَ عَلٰی ہُدًی مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمْ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
They only are upon the guidance from their lord and they are successful.
(Luqman 31, Verse 3-5)
Those who pay Zakaat are free of Fear and Grief
It is better than any insurance plan ever that guarantees the tranquility of those who pay Zakat:
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَاَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتَوُا الزَّکٰوۃَ لَہُمْ اَجْرُہُمْ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہِمْۚ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَیۡہِمْ وَلَا ہُمْ یَحْزَنُوۡنَ﴿۲۷۷﴾
No doubt, those who accepted faith and did good deeds and established prayer and paid the Zakat, (poor-due) their reward is with their Lord and there is neither any fear nor any grief to them.
(Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 277)
Extraordinary Virtues for the ones who pay Zakaat
Allah Almighty grants them great reward, SubhanAllah!
وَالْمُقِیۡمِیۡنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَالْمُؤْتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُوۡنَ بِاللہِ وَالْیَوْمِ الۡاٰخِرِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ سَنُؤْتِیۡہِمْ اَجْرًا عَظِیۡمًا ﴿۱۶۲﴾٪
And the establishers of prayer and giver of poor due (Zakat) and the believers in Allah and the Last Day; to such, We shall soon give a great reward.
(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 162)
Those who pay Zakaat have been granted Eternal Abode in Paradise
وَالَّذِیۡنَ ہُمْ لِلزَّکٰوۃِ فٰعِلُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۴﴾
And those who are active in paying poor-due (Zakat).
(Al-Muminoon 23, Verse 4)
اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الْوٰرِثُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۰﴾
They are indeed the inheritors.
الَّذِیۡنَ یَرِثُوۡنَ الْفِرْدَوْسَؕ ہُمْ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
Who shall inherit the Paradise, they shall abide therein.
(Al-Muminoon 23, Verse 10-11)
The Punishment of those who do not pay Zakaat
وَالَّذِیۡنَ یَکْنِزُوۡنَ الذَّہَبَ وَالْفِضَّۃَ وَلَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَہَا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللہِ ۙ فَبَشِّرْہُمۡ بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
And those who hoard up gold and silver and spend not in the path of Allah, give them the good tidings of a painful torment.
یَّوْمَ یُحْمٰی عَلَیۡہَا فِیۡ نَارِجَہَنَّمَ فَتُکْوٰی بِہَا جِبَاہُہُمْ وَجُنُوۡبُہُمْ وَظُہُوۡرُہُمْ ؕ ہٰذَا مَاکَنَزْتُمْ لِاَنۡفُسِکُمْ فَذُوۡقُوۡا مَاکُنۡتُمْ تَکْنِزُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
The day when they shall be heated in the fire of the Hell, then their foreheads and sides and backs shall be branded therewith. This is what you had hoarded for yourselves, now taste the hoarding.
(Al-Taubah 9, Verse 34-35)
The torment of a Bald Snake
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that the one whom Allah Almighty has granted wealth and he does not pay its Zakaat, the same wealth will appear in the form of a bald snake on the day of Judgment bearing two signs on its head, and it will be worn in his neck as a chain. It will grab him by his jaw and say to him, “I am your wealth. I am your treasure.”.
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 188)
This bald snake will sting its owner on the day of Judgment. There will be no one to help for whom he would have hoarded all this wealth. Do not underestimate the punishment of the bald snake. When a poisonous snake becomes 1,000 years old hair grow up on its head and when it turns 2,000 years old the hair falls off due to the increased toxins of its venom.
(Bahare Shariat Part 5, p. 4)
Death Sentence against the one who refuses to pay Zakaat
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – became Khalifah after the departure of our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – some villagers became kafir (by refusing the Fard of Zakaat). Hazrat Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – declared war against them and said, “By Allah! I will continue to fight with those who separate the Salah and Zakaat (Who, one hand, believe in Salah being Fard and on the other hand, refuse Zakaat), for the Zakaat is the Islamic tax from their wealth. By Allah! Even if they refuse to offer the cattle which they used to offer to the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – I will still fight with them on this ground.”
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 188, Muslim)
Islamic Law:
One who rejects Zakaat is kafir and the one who does not pay it is a faasiq (transgressor) and deserves the death sentence (under Islamic rule), and the one who delays in its payment, his testimony is not to be accepted.
(Fatawa Alamgiri, Bahare Shariah Part 5, p. 10)
The Curse of unpaid Zakaat Destroys the Rest of the Wealth
Mother of the believers Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – narrated that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that Zakaat will not add to the wealth but destroy it.
(Shu’abul Imaan Vol. 3, p. 273)
Islamic Law:
One upon whom Zakaat was Fard and instead of giving it to its recipients, he rather hoarded it along with other monies he owned, the money of Zakaat will destroy the rest of the wealth.
(Bahare Shariat Part 5, p. 6)
Negligence in paying Zakaat is one of the Reasons for Drought
Hazrat Buraidah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
“A nation that does not pay Zakaat, Allah Almighty will afflict them with drought.”
(Tabrani Awsat Vol. 3, p. 275)
Ameerul Mumineen Sayyindua Umar ibn al-Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that wherever the wealth that is destroyed, it is due to negligence in paying Zakaat.
(Tabrani, Al-Targheeb Wal-Tarheeb Vol. 1, p. 308)
The First Person to be thrown into hell will be the one who does not pay Zakaat
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that three people will be the first to go to hell, and one of them will be the wealthy person who does not pay the Fard of Allah (Zakaat) from his wealth.
(Ibn Khuzaimah Vol. 4, p. 4, Ibn Hibbaan Vol. 6, p. 254)
Lesson:
- Fear of Allah is the key to all wisdom
- Salah is the key to Paradise
- Zakah is purification of the wealth
- Fasting is a secret between the servant and Allah, He only knows the reward of it.
- Obeying the Islamic ruler is crucial to our success as one nation.
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MUSJIDUL HAQ
Riyadus Saliheen – Hadeeth No. 73 (Sunnah Formula for the Membership of Paradise)
Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ تَتَّقُوا اللہَ یَجْعَلۡ لَّکُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَّیُکَفِّرْ عَنۡکُمْ سَیِّاٰتِکُمْ وَیَغْفِرْ لَکُمْ ؕ وَاللہُ ذُوالْفَضْلِ الْعَظِیۡمِ ﴿۲۹﴾
‘O believers! If you will fear Allah, He will grant you that by which you may be able to distinguish between right and wrong and will remove off your evils and will forgive you. And Allah is the owner of great Grace.
(Al-Anfal 8, Verse 29)
Hadeeth:
عَنْ اَبِیْ اُمَامَۃَ صُدَیِّ بْنِ عَجْلَانَ الْبَاھِلِی رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہُ قَالَ:سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللہِ صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ یَخْطُبُ فِیْ حَجَّۃِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ:اِتَّقُوااللہَ،وَصَلُّوْاخَمْسَکُمْ ،وَصُوْمُوْا شَہْرَکُمْ ،وَأَدُّوْا زَکَاۃَ اَمْوَالِکُمْ، واَطِیْعُوْا اُمَرَآئَکُمْ تَدْخُلُوْاجَنَّۃَ رَبِّکُمْ۔
(ترمذی، کتاب السفر ، باب ما ذکر فی فضل الصلوۃ، ۲/۱۱۹، حدیث:۶۱۶، بتغیر قلیل)
Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah Sudaiy ibn ‘Ajlaan al-Baahili – may Allah be pleased with him – reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – delivering a sermon during his farewell Hajj, he stated, “Fear Allah, pray your five times Salah, keep your fasts of Ramadan, pay the obligatory charity of your wealth and obey those in authority among you, and you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.”
(Tirmidhi)
Commentary:
The Hadeeth emphasizes the importance of five things:
Then as a result you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.
Fear of Allah:
His Back was Bent in the Fear of Allah
It is reported about Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu that his back had already bent while he was still quite young. Many people tried in vain to ask him how this had happened but Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu – refused to tell anyone what had happened or when it had happened. There was one student of his though, who kept insisting but Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu remained silent.
One day, when this student kept insisting Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri Radi Allahu ‘Anhu revealed, “Once, one of my teachers who was considered among the eminent teachers of his era and from whom I had learnt many branches of knowledge, when his time of death approached, he said to me, ‘O Sufyan! Do you know what has transpired with me? For fifty years, I have educated people about obeying Allah azza wajal and have also educated them about refraining from sinning. However, now the light of life is about to come to an end and Allah azza wajal has informed me that I am not fit to enter His Divine Court.’
“When I heard this declaration of my teacher, with the fear of Allah azza wajal, my back actually broke. Many people had in fact heard my back breaking. I continued to weep, and it came to a state where, even blood appeared in my urine and I became extremely ill. As I became very sick, I visited a doctor who was a Christian. At first, he did not know what I was suffering from and began to examine me closely. He then checked my pulse and said, ‘It is my opinion that among the Muslims there is no young man like this today whose internal organs have burst through the fear of Allah azza wajal.’”
(Hikaayatus Saaliheen, 46)
Five Times Salah
وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوۃَ طَرَفَیِ النَّہَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ ؕ اِنَّ الْحَسَنٰتِ یُذْہِبْنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ ذِکْرٰی لِلذّٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۴﴾ۚ
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in parts of the night. No doubt, good deeds obliterate evil deeds. This is admonition for the persons accepting admonition.
(Hood 11, Verse 114)
As it is our real goal of being created and sent in this world to worship Allah Almighty, as He states in the Holy Quran:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۵۶﴾
And I have created the Jinn and the men only for this that they may worship Me.
(Al-Dhaariyaat 51, Verse 56)
The most important of it being the Salah in the court of Allah Almighty.
This following Hadeeth is a good way to learn the fundamentals of Islam and strengthen our core practices of Islam.
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بُنِيَ الإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ:
شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ
وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ
وَالحَجِّ
وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – reported that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
Islam is founded upon five:
(Bukhari, Muslim)
The Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has in fact presented Islam by the example of a tent. Every tent is based upon five pillars; one in the middle to erect the tent and four on four sides. Shahadah is the main pillar of Islam whereas the other four acts as supporting pillars. If the middle pillar collapses then the entire tent will collapse and if one of the four corner pillars were to collapse, then although it may not completely collapse the tent but it will definitely make it weaker and out of shape. Salah, Zakah, Hajj and Fasts act as the supporting pillars without which the foundation of one’s Islamic spirit will be weakened.
وَرُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: خُلِقْتُمْ مِنْ سَبْعٍ، وَرُزِقْتُمْ مِنْ سَبْعٍ، فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ عَلَى سَبْعٍ .
Hadeeth: You were created from seven, sustained by seven, so make Sajdah to Allah on seven.
(Tafsir Qurtubi)
Establish your Salaah
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “Look, if there is a river which is flowing at the doorway of someone and he bathes in this river five times a day, will there remain any dirt on him?” They answered, “No”. He then explained, “Likewise, this is the example of the five daily Salaah in that through the Divine Barakah of Allah Almighty, the sins of the person are cancelled.” (Jamia Tirmidi, Sahih Bukhari Shareef, Nisaa’i Shareef, Daarimi, etc)
Imam Baghwi – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions, “I once heard Ubaidulllah Al Qawaariri mention that, ‘My ‘Isha Salaah with congregation was never missed. However, one day, I received some visitors and I became busy taking care of them. I then left my house so that I could perform my Salaah with certain tribes in Basrah. When I saw the people, I realized that they had completed the Salaah. I then said to myself, ‘Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “Reading Salaah in congregation is twenty-five times more superior than reading Salaah alone.’ And he had also stated that, ‘Reading Salaah with congregation is twenty- seven times greater in reward than reading Salaah alone.’ (Sahih Bukhari Shareef).
“I then returned home, and I performed the ‘Isha Salaah twenty- seven times that evening. In my dream, I noticed that I was on the company of people who were racing their horses. Each one was racing against the other. However, their horses were always before me. I then began to whip my horse so that it could go faster. However, the last person among them turned around and said to me, ‘Do not tire your horse, you will not be able to catch us.’ I asked the person why I would not be able to catch them, he replied, ‘We had performed our ‘Isha Salaah with congregation and you had not done so.’” (As Sayr)
It is mentioned that Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – was extremely fond of making Jihad in the Path of Allah Almighty and because of this, he used to love horses. He had very powerful and speedy horses and one of the amazing attributes of these horses is that it had wings on their side. This meant that they could also fly. They also numbered about twenty thousand.
It is reported that once while he was busy inspecting these horses which were necessary for battle and Jihad in the path of Allah Almighty, he missed the Asr Salaah. Bear in mind that this was not done deliberately because we all know that the Prophets are sinless. However, he was extremely embarrassed and sad about what had happened. He realised that it was through his attention for his horses that he had missed his Salaah. He then made a promised to himself that from today, these horses would never become an obstacle in his Ibadah. He had their heads and feet cut with a sword.
In Surah Saad, verse 30 to 33, the Qur’an states:
وَ وَہَبْنَا لِدَاوٗدَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ ؕ نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ؕ اِنَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿ؕ۳۰﴾ اِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَیۡہِ بِالْعَشِیِّ الصّٰفِنٰتُ الْجِیَادُ ﴿ۙ۳۱﴾ فَقَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَیۡرِ عَنۡ ذِکْرِ رَبِّیۡ ۚ حَتّٰی تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ ﴿۳۲﴾۟ رُدُّوۡہَا عَلَیَّ ؕ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢابِالسُّوۡقِ وَالْاَعْنَاقِ ﴿۳۳﴾
And We bestowed Sulaiman to Dawud; what an excellent bondsman! He is indeed most inclined. When eager, fast footed steeds were presented to him at evening, Sulaiman said, “I cherish the love of these horses *, out of remembrance of my Lord”; he then ordered them to be raced until they vanished in a curtain out of sight. (To be used in holy war.) He then ordered, “Bring them back to me”; and he began caressing their shins and necks.
When Allah Almighty saw that Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – was extremely regretful and sad at what had happened and he was also extremely fearful of the Divine Punishment of Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty blessed him with the power of being able to control the wind and air. The Jinns were also placed under his command. Whenever Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – wanted to go anywhere, these elements were ever ready to transport him. Such was his power after that, that he could complete a month’s journey in only one day. This was certainly mightier and speedier than the horses he once cherished.
In fact, when we look at the blessed words of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – the meaning of this would become apparent and clear. He has stated that, “If you restrict yourself from anything out of the fear for Allah Almighty, then Allah Almighty would give you something better in return.”
(Musnad Imam Ahmed; Bahiqi Shareef)
They Sought Help through Salaah
It is reported that the son of Hadrat Sayyidah Asma binte Umais -may Allah be pleased with her, namely Hadrat Muhammad bin Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him, was martyred in Egypt in the 37th year of Hijrah. After he had been killed, the heretics also tied his body on a donkey and had it burnt. When Hadrat Sayyidah Asma – may Allah be pleased with her – heard about this news, she displayed immense patience and continued to stand on her Musallah. (Usaabah)
Allah Almighty declares in Surah Baqarah (2), verse 45:
وَاسْتَعِیۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلٰوۃِ ؕ وَ اِنَّہَا لَکَبِیۡرَۃٌ اِلَّا عَلَی الْخٰشِعِیۡنَ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾
“And seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity.”
The pious Muslims of the past, besides been steadfast in practising on the various laws of Islam, they continued their level best to obey the command of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This also proves that these blessed people continued to remember Allah Almighty even in such difficult times and never allowed themselves to be swayed from the remembrance of Allah Almighty. They never thought of their sadness as something which came in between their Ibadah. If only our thinking and outlook in life can be the same, certainly Muslims would be able to recreate another revolution in this world.
They valued their Salaah
It is reported that the great Saint, Sayyidah Rabia Basariyyah – may Allah be pleased with her – used to perform one thousand Nafil Salaah every day. She used to also say to people that she did not perform these Salaah with the intention of acquiring any Thawaab but only with the intention of pleasing Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. At the same time, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – would also be able to inform the other Prophets on the Day of Judgement that here is a female in his Ummah who had performed so much of Ibadah.
Imagine the status of Sayyidah Rabia Basariyyah – may Allah be pleased with her – and her immense love for Ibadah. She understood the secret of all secrets which was that if she wanted to achieve the Divine Pleasure of Allah Almighty, she had to make sure that she achieved the pleasure of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has also stated that, “Salaah has also been made a coolness for my eyes.”
It is reported that the famous Muhaddith and scholar, Hadrat Muslim bin Bashaar – may Allah be pleased with him, used to perform immense Ibadah in his house. One of the amazing qualities of his Ibadah was that his family were allowed to speak as loud as they wanted while he was in Salaah and this did not disturb him in the least. It is reported that when Hadrat Muslim bin Bashaar – may Allah be pleased with him – used to enter the house, his family remained silent. However, when he began his Salaah his family spoke as much as they wanted, and he was not in the least bit disturbed. Once, while Hadrat Muslim bin Bashaar – may Allah be pleased with him – was in Salaah, the house caught on fire and he was completely unaware of what was happening around him even though people ran all around him. Eventually, the fire was extinguished while he remained in his Salaah.
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Zubair – may Allah be pleased with him – was also someone who used to perform Salaah in the Haram Shareef. He was so still that pigeons used to sit on his head thinking he was another pillar in the Haram Shareef.
In the same manner, another famous Muhaddith, Ebrahim bin Shuraik – may Allah be pleased with him, used to perform such long Sajdahs that birds used to sit on his back like they sat on a wall or some other structure.
From these examples, we can deduce the immense intent which was shown by the eminent Saints when they were in Ibadah. Yet, when we perform Ibadah, all types of thoughts and ideas play around our head. In fact, people actually plan their programs and other events while they are in Salaah. Least do we realise that we are in the Divine Presence of Allah Almighty.
The famous saint, Hadrat Haatim Asam – may Allah be pleased with him, once said that, “When I had missed my Salaah with congregation on one occasion, only one person, Abu Ishaq Bukhari came to sympathise with me. Yet, if my son had died, over ten thousand people would have come to sympathise with me.” This proves that the concern people have for wordily losses far surpasses the concern they have for religious loss. It was the habit of the eminent Saints that if some among them missed even the first Takbeer in Salaah, they used to visit that person for three days sympathising with him.
Fasts of Ramadan:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُتِبَ عَلَیۡکُمُ الصِّیَامُ کَمَا کُتِبَ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبْلِکُمْ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَتَّقُوۡنَ﴿۱۸۳﴾ۙ
O Believers! Fastings have been made obligatory upon you as were made obligatory upon those before you, so that you may become pious.
(Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 183)
Hazrat Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that if Allah Almighty wanted to punish the Ummah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – He would not have granted the Ummah the month of Ramadan and Surah Ikhlas.
(Nuzhatul Majaalis)
The loss of Missing a Single Fast without a Valid Reason
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – narrated that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
If one abandons one fast of Ramadan without a valid reason or sickness then even the fast of a lifetime cannot make up for that one missed fast, even if he makes Qada of it afterwards.
(Bukhari, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood Vol. 1, p, 326)
Gate of Jannah dedicated to the ones who fast
Our beloved Master – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that there are eight gates in Paradise. One of them is named “Rayyaan”. The only people to enter through this gate will be the ones who kept fast.
(Bukhari, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood Vol. 1, p, 326)
Fasts are a shield and strong fort
Our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that the fasts are a shield and strong fort to provide protection from hell.
(Musnad Ahmed Vol. 3, p. 367; Baihaqi)
Fasting is the Zakaat of the body
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
There is Zakaat for everything, and the Zakaat of the body is fasting, and fasting is half portion of Sabr.
(Ibn Majah Vol. 145)
There is no action parallel to fasting
Hazrat Umaamah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that he asked the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – to advise him on a virtuous action. He replied, “Make the fasts a compulsory action upon yourself, for there is no action parallel to it.” He repeated the question for the second and third time and he replied the same.
(Sunan Nasa’i Vol. 1, p. 240; At-Targheeb Wal Tarheeb Vol. 2, p. 52)
There is a distance of 100 years journey between the fasting person and hell
Hazrat Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that there is a distance of, 100 years journey between the fasting person and hell.
Hazrat Mu’adh ibn Anas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that whoever fasts in times other than Ramadan he will be at a distance of 100 years journey which can be measured by only a fast running horse.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that Allah Almighty will create a trench between the fasting person and hell equivalent to the distance between the earth and the sky.
(Muslim Vol. 1, p. 364; Tirmidhi Vol. 1, p. 292; Ibn Majah, Tabrani Awsat Vol. 2, p. 268)
Allah Almighty keeps the fasting person away from punishment and it is for this reason that He has shut the hell upon the fasting person by keeping at the distance equivalent to that between the earth and the sky. It is important to bear in mind that the fasting person must be a Sunni Muslim with sound beliefs because there are other Jews, Christians, shias and wahabies and deobandis who also keep fast but their eternal abode is hell. AlaHazrat – may Allah be pleased with him – has described it in such an excellent manner:
Tujh se aur Jannat se kya matlab wahaabi door ho
Hum Rasoolullah ke Jannat Rasoolullah ki
O wahaabies, do you think you deserve Jannah? Just buzz off!
We have connection with Rasoolullah and Jannah belongs to him.
The odour of the fasting person’s mouth
The beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
I swear by the One in whose hand my life is:
وَلَخَلُوْفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ اَطْیَبُ عِنْد اللّٰہِ مِنْ رِیْحِ الْمِسْکَ
The odour of the fasting person’s mouth is more revered to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 255; Muslim Vol. 1, p. 363)
Two happy occasions for the fasting person
Hadeeth:
There are two happy occasions for the fasting person; one, at the time of Iftar, and the second, when he will see Allah Almighty.
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 255; Muslim Vol. 1, p. 363)
Du’a at the time of Iftar is not rejected
Hazrat Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
The Du’a of a fasting person is not rejected at the time of Iftar.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that the Du’a of three persons are not rejected:
Allah Almighty allows it to be raised above the horizon and the gates of heavens are opened for it, and then Allah Almighty states:
I swear by My Dominance and Jalaal, I will most definitely assist you even if it happens after some time.
(Musnad Ahmed, Tirmidhi, Baihaqi, Ibn Majah)
Payment of Zakat:
وَ اَقِیۡمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ اَطِیۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
And establish prayer and give the poor-due (Zakat) and obey the Messenger haply; you may be shown mercy.
(Al-Noor 24, Verse 56)
In this Quranic verse, Allah Almighty has commanded all the believers to establish Salah and pay Zakaat, as if the people who offer Salah are being taught that if we want the acceptance of Salah in Allah’s Court then we ought to pay Zakaat from the wealth we have been given by Allah. Allah Almighty will have mercy upon us in return.
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ood – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that we have been commanded to establish Salah and pay Zakaat, and the one who does not give Zakaat, his Salah is not accepted.
Guidance and Mercy through Zakaat
Through the blessings of Zakaat Allah Almighty grants us the wealth of true guidance on His path:
ہُدًی وَّ رَحْمَۃً لِّلْمُحْسِنِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۳﴾
These are a guidance and mercy for the righteous.
الَّذِیۡنَ یُقِیۡمُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ یُؤْتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَہُمۡ بِالْاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمْ یُوۡقِنُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۴﴾
Those who establish the prayer and pay the poor-due (Zakat) and have firm faith in the hereafter.
اُولٰٓئِکَ عَلٰی ہُدًی مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمْ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
They only are upon the guidance from their lord and they are successful.
(Luqman 31, Verse 3-5)
Those who pay Zakaat are free of Fear and Grief
It is better than any insurance plan ever that guarantees the tranquility of those who pay Zakat:
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَاَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتَوُا الزَّکٰوۃَ لَہُمْ اَجْرُہُمْ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہِمْۚ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَیۡہِمْ وَلَا ہُمْ یَحْزَنُوۡنَ﴿۲۷۷﴾
No doubt, those who accepted faith and did good deeds and established prayer and paid the Zakat, (poor-due) their reward is with their Lord and there is neither any fear nor any grief to them.
(Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 277)
Extraordinary Virtues for the ones who pay Zakaat
Allah Almighty grants them great reward, SubhanAllah!
وَالْمُقِیۡمِیۡنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَالْمُؤْتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُوۡنَ بِاللہِ وَالْیَوْمِ الۡاٰخِرِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ سَنُؤْتِیۡہِمْ اَجْرًا عَظِیۡمًا ﴿۱۶۲﴾٪
And the establishers of prayer and giver of poor due (Zakat) and the believers in Allah and the Last Day; to such, We shall soon give a great reward.
(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 162)
Those who pay Zakaat have been granted Eternal Abode in Paradise
وَالَّذِیۡنَ ہُمْ لِلزَّکٰوۃِ فٰعِلُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۴﴾
And those who are active in paying poor-due (Zakat).
(Al-Muminoon 23, Verse 4)
اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الْوٰرِثُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۰﴾
They are indeed the inheritors.
الَّذِیۡنَ یَرِثُوۡنَ الْفِرْدَوْسَؕ ہُمْ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
Who shall inherit the Paradise, they shall abide therein.
(Al-Muminoon 23, Verse 10-11)
The Punishment of those who do not pay Zakaat
وَالَّذِیۡنَ یَکْنِزُوۡنَ الذَّہَبَ وَالْفِضَّۃَ وَلَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَہَا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللہِ ۙ فَبَشِّرْہُمۡ بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
And those who hoard up gold and silver and spend not in the path of Allah, give them the good tidings of a painful torment.
یَّوْمَ یُحْمٰی عَلَیۡہَا فِیۡ نَارِجَہَنَّمَ فَتُکْوٰی بِہَا جِبَاہُہُمْ وَجُنُوۡبُہُمْ وَظُہُوۡرُہُمْ ؕ ہٰذَا مَاکَنَزْتُمْ لِاَنۡفُسِکُمْ فَذُوۡقُوۡا مَاکُنۡتُمْ تَکْنِزُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
The day when they shall be heated in the fire of the Hell, then their foreheads and sides and backs shall be branded therewith. This is what you had hoarded for yourselves, now taste the hoarding.
(Al-Taubah 9, Verse 34-35)
The torment of a Bald Snake
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that the one whom Allah Almighty has granted wealth and he does not pay its Zakaat, the same wealth will appear in the form of a bald snake on the day of Judgment bearing two signs on its head, and it will be worn in his neck as a chain. It will grab him by his jaw and say to him, “I am your wealth. I am your treasure.”.
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 188)
This bald snake will sting its owner on the day of Judgment. There will be no one to help for whom he would have hoarded all this wealth. Do not underestimate the punishment of the bald snake. When a poisonous snake becomes 1,000 years old hair grow up on its head and when it turns 2,000 years old the hair falls off due to the increased toxins of its venom.
(Bahare Shariat Part 5, p. 4)
Death Sentence against the one who refuses to pay Zakaat
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – became Khalifah after the departure of our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – some villagers became kafir (by refusing the Fard of Zakaat). Hazrat Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – declared war against them and said, “By Allah! I will continue to fight with those who separate the Salah and Zakaat (Who, one hand, believe in Salah being Fard and on the other hand, refuse Zakaat), for the Zakaat is the Islamic tax from their wealth. By Allah! Even if they refuse to offer the cattle which they used to offer to the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – I will still fight with them on this ground.”
(Bukhari Vol. 1, p. 188, Muslim)
Islamic Law:
One who rejects Zakaat is kafir and the one who does not pay it is a faasiq (transgressor) and deserves the death sentence (under Islamic rule), and the one who delays in its payment, his testimony is not to be accepted.
(Fatawa Alamgiri, Bahare Shariah Part 5, p. 10)
The Curse of unpaid Zakaat Destroys the Rest of the Wealth
Mother of the believers Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – narrated that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that Zakaat will not add to the wealth but destroy it.
(Shu’abul Imaan Vol. 3, p. 273)
Islamic Law:
One upon whom Zakaat was Fard and instead of giving it to its recipients, he rather hoarded it along with other monies he owned, the money of Zakaat will destroy the rest of the wealth.
(Bahare Shariat Part 5, p. 6)
Negligence in paying Zakaat is one of the Reasons for Drought
Hazrat Buraidah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated:
“A nation that does not pay Zakaat, Allah Almighty will afflict them with drought.”
(Tabrani Awsat Vol. 3, p. 275)
Ameerul Mumineen Sayyindua Umar ibn al-Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that wherever the wealth that is destroyed, it is due to negligence in paying Zakaat.
(Tabrani, Al-Targheeb Wal-Tarheeb Vol. 1, p. 308)
The First Person to be thrown into hell will be the one who does not pay Zakaat
Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that our beloved Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated that three people will be the first to go to hell, and one of them will be the wealthy person who does not pay the Fard of Allah (Zakaat) from his wealth.
(Ibn Khuzaimah Vol. 4, p. 4, Ibn Hibbaan Vol. 6, p. 254)
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