Mirza Yawar Baig – Investment Not Charity
AI: Summary ©
The speaker discusses the importance of charity and investing in Islam, as it is not restricted to just selling or buying. They stress the importance of valuing investment and profit, evaluating ROI, and being rewarded for one's actions. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of not believing in Islam and not disbeliving, as it is not a matter of whether one is rewarded or not.
AI: Summary ©
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of
the worlds.
And peace and blessings be upon the honourable
Prophets and Messengers.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him and his family and
companions.
Peace and blessings be upon you all.
My brothers and sisters, the title of this
khutba is investment, not charity.
I say that because charity is seen as
a zero-sum game because we see charity
as only giving.
All giving is to lose something.
When you give, you are saying that you
didn't receive anything in return.
That is why if you give a thousand
dollars in charity, you say, I gave a
thousand dollars.
I donated a thousand dollars.
But when you buy Tesla shares, for example,
for one thousand, you don't say, I gave
Elon Musk or Wall Street or Nasdaq or
whatever, one thousand dollars.
You say, I invested a thousand dollars in
Tesla.
And that is because you expect a return
on your investment.
You didn't give, you invested.
Anything that you expect a return on is
an investment, not charity.
Therefore, what do you say about spending in
the path of Allah?
Ask because this is the real retirement planning.
What have you saved for your retirement?
I ask myself and I ask you.
Allah created us for a purpose and told
us what that purpose is.
He said, Allah
said, Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala commanded us to rush,
to obey the command to pray and to
leave our work for this.
And when we have completed the prayer, he
permitted us to search for our sustenance.
Not before, not instead of, but after fulfilling
the command to pray.
Only then do we have permission to search.
Permission to search implies that we have been
told to search for something which is already
there.
The command to pray, Allah told us, to
leave whatever we are doing, to leave our
work, to rush to the prayer.
After the prayer, he permitted us to search
for sustenance.
Not before, not instead of, but after completing
the prayer.
Command to leave everything and rush to pray.
And after that, permission, not command, to search.
Permission implies that what we have been permitted
to search for is already there.
When Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala permitted us
to search for sustenance, we know it is
there.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us, Those
who believe, when they are called to pray
on the day of Jum'ah, then rush
to the remembrance of Allah and leave all
other business.
That is better for you, if you only
knew.
And when the prayer is completed, then disperse
in the land and seek from the bounty
of Allah.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, which means,
O believers, when the call to prayer, when
the adhan is made on Friday, then proceed
diligently, rush, sincerely, leave everything, to the prayer,
to dhikrullah, which is salah, remembrance of Allah,
and leave your business.
Allah says, leave your business.
That is best for you, if only you
knew.
Once the salah is over, once the prayer
is over, then disperse through the land and
seek the bounty of Allah and remember Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala often, so that you
may be successful.
My brothers and sisters, I remind myself and
you, that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala used
the word al-bay'ah.
The command to leave is for al-bay
'ah, which is selling.
Applies to both selling and buying, but Allah
is mentioning specifically selling, because you see profit,
when you sell something, you get profit.
It is not restricted, this command is not
restricted to the Friday prayer, but applies to
all the five Salawat.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala did not use
the word shar'ah, which is buying, which
is also part of business, but sale, ba
'a, and ordered us to leave that for
prayer.
The implication is to leave something which is
profitable, for something else in which there is
much more profit.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us to
search for sustenance, not to create it.
If we are alive, our sustenance has already
been created, but we have the choice of
getting it from a halal source or a
haram source, which is an open book exam,
open book test, because we have also been
told the consequences of getting it from either
of the sources.
If we pick the right source, not only
will our investment be protected, but we will
be rewarded for making that choice.
But if we fall into the trap of
shaitan and choose from the wrong place, then
not only will we lose everything, but we
may also be punished for choosing the wrong
way, when the correct way had already been
shown to us.
That is why the example of the bird
in the nest, which searches for its sustenance,
it doesn't make the food, it doesn't plant
the food and grow the food, it doesn't
manufacture the food.
It searches for what Allah subhanahu wa ta
'ala has already provided and finds it.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala ordered us to
spend in charity more than 66 times in
the Quran, but did not ask us to
accumulate wealth or to save for a so
-called rainy day even once.
That is because He jalla shanuhu is the
provider and we trust Him and rely on
Him and not on our effort, our smarts
or our accumulated wealth.
This is not a prohibition on saving or
earning.
It is a correction of focus, correction of
tawakkul, correction on reliance.
From tawakkul ala al maal to tawakkul ala
Allah.
The proof of this tawakkul on Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala is to see what we
do with our maal, with our wealth, when
we have a chance to give it to
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala figuratively speaking.
Because when we are given charity, we are
really investing our wealth with Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala.
That is the secret of charity.
It is really investment with Allah.
The sahaba understood this and so we have
these amazing stories about people who seem very
strange if we use our current day standards
in the way they spent in the path
of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
They spent like there was no tomorrow so
to speak.
The truth is that they spent that way
because they understood the real meaning of tomorrow.
A smart business person is one who invests
in the place that gives them the maximum
ROI, the maximum return on investment.
Therefore for the one who has iman, when
he is presented with a choice of investing
in a place which not only promises a
minimum ROI of 1000%, 10 times and that
return is guaranteed by the one who controls
everything, the choice is a no-brainer.
The real question is not the ROI but
whether we believe in the hereafter or not.
Whether we believe in Allah subhanahu wa ta
'ala's promise or not.
In business to evaluate ROI we use two
parameters, percentage of return and risk factor.
Therefore we have high-risk, high-return businesses
or low-risk, low-return investments.
Obviously this is a high-risk and low
-return, it's not an investment, it's throwing money
away.
And that is why government bonds for example
or real estate and gold are chosen over
investments in startups and futures because the returns
of those of government bonds and so on
are guaranteed though they are lower.
Using the same standards, how about a high
-return, no-risk option?
Doesn't exist in this world but Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala said about ROI, مَنْ جَاءَ
بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا
يُجْزَى إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala said, whoever comes with a
good deed will be rewarded tenfold, 10 times,
1000%.
But whoever comes with a bad deed will
be punished only one time, for only once
and none will be wronged.
See the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta
'ala.
And then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala promised
even more incalculable returns.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ
يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ
سَبَعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ ثُمْبُلَةٍ مِيَتُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ
يُضَعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala said which means, the example
of those who spend in the path of,
spend their wealth in the cause of Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala, the example of those
who invest with Allah, is like that of
a grain, a single grain, which is planted
and then it sprouts into corn, which has
seven ears, each ear bearing one hundred grains.
So that is one grain you planted, you
got seven hundred grains.
And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala then multiplies
even more, يُضَعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ He increases as
He wishes to whoever He wills, for Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala is all-bountiful and
all-knowing.
But once again, question, do we believe Him?
SubhanAllah, this is the, it sounds like a
difficult question, it sounds like an uncomfortable question,
but it's a question which we have to
ask.
If I say, لا إله إلا الله, if
I say, I believe in Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala, then do I believe Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala, do I believe the promises
of Allah?
Add to that the fact that whatever we
earn and accumulate in this life, will remain
here, no matter who we are and what
we earned.
It remains here when we die, but we
will account for it when we meet Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala.
There are no exceptions to this rule, none
at all.
But what we send ahead will be preserved
for us and will multiply and we will
get it in its enhanced state when we
meet Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, which we
all must, there is no escape from this,
even for those who want to escape.
We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to
put the shawq, the love of wanting to
meet Him in our hearts.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, مَا عِنْدَكُمْ
يَنْفَضُوا وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا
أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ Allah said, whatever
you have will end, whatever you have will
finish.
But whatever is with Allah is everlasting.
And we will certainly reward the steadfast according
to the best of their deeds.
Imagine, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, may Allah
make this true for us, Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala will take one deed, which was
the best of our deeds in our entire
life, which pleased Allah, and Allah will estimate
a reward for that, and Allah will reward
all the good deeds according to that reward.
So even something which was done half-heartedly,
something which was really not up to standard,
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will reward that,
equal to the best of those deeds, subhanAllah.
I mean only and only Allah can be
this generous, wallahi.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala then ordered us
and advised us and commanded us, and He
said, وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةِ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةِ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُمْ
مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا
تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ Allah said establish the salah, establish
prayer and pay zakat.
Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you
will certainly find its reward with Allah.
Surely Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is all
-seeing of what you do.
As I remind myself and you, it's a
matter of transferring assets from a current account
into a savings account.
It really is that simple.
If we believe, the key thing is, do
we believe?
I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to
give us complete and total yaqeen in His
promises, in His word, so that when we
see Him, we will not be humiliated.
We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to
save us from humiliation.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ
وَآتُوا زَكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا
لِأَنفُسِكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا
وَأَعْظَمَ عَجْرًا وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
Allah said continue to establish salah, to continue
to pray and continue to pay zakat and
continue to lend to Allah subhanahu wa ta
'ala a good loan.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said, أَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ
قَرْضًا حَسَنًا Continue to lend Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala a good loan.
Imagine Allah is calling it a loan what
we are giving him subhanAllah.
This is the way of honoring the generous.
Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you
will find it with Allah subhanahu wa ta
'ala far better and more rewarding and seek
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's forgiveness.
Surely Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is all
forgiving, most merciful.
Please note that in this ayah, Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala has differentiated between zakat and
sadaqah, giving more than the compulsory charity of
zakat and called it khard hasana, good loan
and promised to increase its return.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala comforted those who
are nervous about spending in his path.
May Allah keep us steadfast.
Allah said, قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن
يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ Allah
said, say, O Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam, surely it is my Rabb, it is
my Rabb who gives abundant or limited provisions,
who expands your provision or who restricts it
to whoever He wills.
But most people do not know this, most
people do not understand this.
Then He said, قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ
لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ إِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهِ وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ
مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala said, say, O Muhammad
sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, surely it is my
Rabb jalla jalaluhu who gives abundant or limited
provisions to whoever He wills of His slaves
and whatever you spend in charity, He jalla
jalaluhu will compensate you for it.
It won't go away, for He is the
best provider.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala showed us that
He controls the return on our effort for
good reason.
Allah said, وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِيَبَادِهِ لَيَلَبَغَوْ
فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدْرٍ مَّا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ
بِبَعْدِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ Allah said, had Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala given abundant provisions, lots of
money to all His slaves, they would have
certainly transgressed throughout the land.
How true this is, subhanAllah.
But He sends down whatever He wills in
perfect measure, in measured quantities.
He truly sees and is all aware of
His slaves.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala ordered us to
spend in His way before the Day of
Judgment.
He said, يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْفِقُوا مِمَّا
رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَا بَيْعٌ
فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَعٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
Allah said, O believers, donate and spend from
what we have promised for you before that
day comes.
Donate from what we have promised, what we
have provided for you before the arrival of
a day, before that day comes, when there
will be no bargaining and no friendship and
no intercession.
Those who disbelieve are truly the wrongdoers.
And for those who are still stingy and
tight-*, He warned them.
And He said, وَأَنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ
أَنْ يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّي لَوْلَا أَخْرْتَنِي
إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَسْصَدَّقَ وَأَكُمْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ Allah
said, and donate from what we have provided
for you before death comes to one of
you.
And you say, my Rab, if only you
delayed me for a short time, if you
only postponed my death and gave me a
little bit more life for a short while,
I would give in charity and be one
of the righteous.
It's interesting how in this ayah, Allah SWT
says that those who realize the evil of
stinginess too late will ask to be returned
to this life not to pray and not
to fast and not to do other things
but to give in charity.
How important it is to spend in the
path of Allah.
I remind myself and you that the key
to success is to anticipate and be prepared.
As they say, success is where opportunity meets
preparedness.
When the opportunity, that is the meeting with
Allah SWT is predetermined and certain then all
that remains is to prepare for it.
Allah SWT removed all uncertainty about what to
do and showed us the certain path.
The sunnah of Rasulullah SAW Siratal Mustaqeem.
If one is still unprepared when the promised
time comes then one will have only oneself
to blame.
Blaming will not solve anything.
We need to act.
And now I ask Allah SWT for His
mercy for all of us.