Zakat, which Islam has enjoined upon Muslims, marks the lowest limit of the expression of human sympathy, kindness and compassion. It is a duty, the disregard or violation of which is not in any circumstances tolerable to God. The Shariah is emphatic in its insistence upon its observance. It has prescribed it as an essential requirement of Faith for Muslims.
But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then they are your brethren (Al-Tawba:11)
The Straight Path has been laid out. Our job is only to follow it, not to try to discover new paths.
By Khalid Baig
Once some Jewish scholars said to Sayyidna Umar bin Khattab, Radi-Allahu unhu, “The Qur’an contains a verse that if it had been revealed to us, we would have designated a day to celebrate its revelation.” Upon enquiry they mentioned the verse: “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Al-Maida 5:3] “Yes, I know, the time and place when it was revealed,” he replied.
It is a fact that Makkah is a blessed city. Every inch and every rock or bit of sand is blessed. We have already mentioned those places of special blessing. Now there are a few more to which attention should be drawn.
1. Firstly there is a place where the house of Hazrat Khadija R.A. used to be; and where Hazrat Fatima Zahraa R.A. was born; and where all the children of Rasulullah Sal’am were born except Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. up to the Hijrat Rasulullah Sal’am live here. The Ulama are of the opinion that second to the Holy Masjid, this place is the most virtuous in Makkah.
Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz saheb (Rah) of Delhi; the famous scholar of hadith and tafseer; says in his commentary of the Qur’an ‘Fathe Azizee’: ‘Whosoever deals lightly; and discards, the aadaab of any duty shall be deprived of the sunnah by way of punishment, and whosoever thinks lightly of the sunnah and discards it shall be deprived of the obligatory duties (Fardh) by way of punishment, and whosoever deals lightly with obligatory duties shall as punishment be deprived of the true knowledge and recognition of Allah’. The above quotation is a reason why we find in the hadith that a verdict of kufr (disbelief or rejection of faith); is given against some people, because disregard of proper procedure in action leads to it. In the light of this it is deduced that importance of following the proper etiquette and aadaab of any Islamic injunction is necessary. Should one be forced to neglect any etiquette for a special reason; then there shall be no blame attached to that; although one should never loose the sight of the importance of that point. Under no circumstances should such action be left aside willfully as if it is of no consequence. The Ulama of Islam have divided the duties of a Muslim into various stages of importance, and with great care did they preserve and compile them. Careful study of these compilations and to seek and avail oneself of the company of the learned ones will bring all these things home to us. Here I only wish to mention some of the aaddaab of Haj in broad outlines.
Hazrat Ibn Abbas R.A. reports: ‘On the day of Arafaat a young man; Fadhl; was Rasulullah’s sal’am companion, sharing his camel; when the young man cast his eyes, staring at the women. Whereupon Rasulullah sal’am said: ‘O so of my brother, this is such a day when whoever controls his hearing, his sight and the tongue; he shall certainly be forgiven by Allah’. The young man here referred to was Fadl Ibn Abbaas.
Hazrat Ali R.A. says Rasulullah’ (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Whoever possesses the provisions (for the journey) and the means of transport to bring him to the Hose of Allah yet he does not perform Hajj, then there is no difference in him dying as a Jew or as a Christian.”
To substantiate this, Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) recited the verse “Pilgrimage to the House (of Allah) is a duty.”
This Hadith according to the strict code of the Muhadditheen (experts in Hadith) has a weak sanad, yet the verse of the Qur’an quoted above as well as numerous Ahaadith substantiate the contents of this Hadith.
Allah, Most High, says,
{And fulfill (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into on the day of reckoning} (Al-Isra: 34)
{O ye who believe! Fulfill (all) obligations?} (Al-Ma’idah: 1)
Az-Zajjaj said engagements include all what Allah commands or forbids. Al-Wahidi also said obligations include what Allah made lawful or unlawful in the Qur’an. Muqatil Ibn Hayyan added, it is also included the covenants held among Muslims or between Muslim and non-Muslims.
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
Allah Most High describes the hypocrites saying,
{When they stood up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to see of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance.} (An-Nisa’: 142)
He Most High also says,
{So woe to the worshipers who are neglectful of their prayers, those who (want but) to be seen, but refuse (to supply) even) neighborly needs.} (Al-Ma’un: 4-7)
{O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury-like those who spend their wealth to be seen of men.} (Al-Baqarah: 264)
Allah, Most High says;
“Those who witness no falsehood and if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honorable (avoidance)” (Al-Furqan: 72)
“And shun the word that is false” (Al-Hajj: 30)
It was narrated that,
“Bearing false witness is mentioned twice as equal as associating others with Allah (in the Qur’an)” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
“On the Day of Judgement, the feet of the person who bore false witness will not stir from their place before their owner is condemned to Hell.” (Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim)
Allah, the Almighty says,
“The blame is only against those who Oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land defying right and justice: for such there will be a chastisement grievous.” (Al-Shura: 42)
The Qur’an also states,
“Think not that Allah doth heed the deeds of those who do wrong. He but giveth them respect against a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror, they running forward with necks outstretched, their heads uplifted; their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts a (gaping) void!” (Ibrahim: 42-43)
And,
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