Mufti Menk – Ramadan 2023 – Reviving the Spirit #13

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			Assalamu alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Smilla Rahmanir Rahim Al hamdu lillah wa Salatu was
Salam ala Rasulillah he wa Allah, Allah, he was rbh mine. We all love to give during the month of
Ramadan. It's part of Allah's plan that as we fast in this beautiful month of Ramadan, we become
compassionate towards those who don't have, I am staying away from food and drink for the pleasure
of Allah in a way that he has told me to stay away from it. At the same time, I'm thinking of those
who don't have it at all. And I'm asking myself, What should I do as a believer to be able to be
there for those type of people, automatically, my hand goes into my pocket, and I come up with
		

			anything, I can be it a small amount, a larger amount, and I want to feed. So the Hadith says if you
assist someone to open their fast at the end of the day, you will get a full reward of their fast as
well. That's the reason why so many people go out and they want to feed they call it Iftar saw him
to give Iftar to the one who's fasting to give Iftar to the one who's fasting because they know by
me giving them the first few things that they're going to put in their mouths. At the end of the
day, when they're opening the fast I'm going to get a full reward of that entire fast. However,
let's also think of those who are less privileged. Many people love to work too many people love to
		

			actually give this zakat out during the month of Ramadan because of the multiplication of reward.
And if we take a look at it, yes, indeed the reward is multiplied. And it is not wrong to calculate
your zakat during the month of Ramadan, to pledge it and to start giving it out. However, something
of importance if there is a need prior to Ramadan, you must remember that you will get a full reward
when you are meeting that desperate need. Even though it is not in the month of Ramadan when you
have already intended that I'm going to work this out in Ramadan and give it in Ramadan. Because
Allah Almighty rewards you by your intention. So if I planned I'm going to calculate my Zakat and
		

			Ramadan and give it out. But just before Ramadan, that earthquakes, the floods, whatever else and I
need to give, we must give at the time of need. You can give you as the cat in advance as well. And
you can say that oh Allah this is my zakat in advance. I have not yet calculated the amount but when
I do calculate it, I'm going to deduct the amount I've just given as part of my zakat. It's not
wrong to do that. And this is an important piece of information because Allah rewards you with your
intention. If we are going to delay when there is a need, we could have delayed and caused loss of
life in an indirect way. Because there was a need and we are saying wait and hang on. We cannot wait
		

			and we cannot hang on. My brothers and sisters. This is the Mercy of Allah. Imagine he rewards us
with our intention. That's how blessed Allah Almighty is in normal, Mr. Lubin, yet all actions are
judged by their underlying intentions. So in the month of Ramadan, it's good to calculate your
zakat. What do you do, you check how much you've had in terms of your savings in terms of your
business stock, in terms of your gold, silver and cash, you add on to that what people owe you. And
you deduct from that what you owe people and you work out two and a half percent of it on condition
that you held it for one entire year, only two and a half percent of that savings that you've had
		

			through the entire year, or the stock that you've kept for your business, whatever stock you're you
have
		

			imagined Allah has not asked you for much two and a half is a very, very small percentage for every
$100 97.5 are actually yours. When we say yours, you're still not allowed to use it in a way that is
displeasing to Allah. Two things I cannot earn in a way that displeases Allah and I cannot spend in
a way that displeases Allah, over and above the Zakat, it doesn't mean because it's mine. I can do
anything with it. One of the first things you're going to be asked about is where did you earn and
where did you spend your money? So may Allah may
		

			Make it easy for us. by you being charitable, you're cleansing your wealth. What that means is
sometimes there might be a few factors regarding your wealth. Number one,
		

			the inclination of a human beings heart towards wealth to a degree where it comes in the way between
you and Allah is considered filthy. It's considered dirty because materialism has made you develop a
gap between you and Allah. That is not clean, it's unclean, impure. So Allah says, the terms zakat
hoodman, a morally him sadaqa cotton to the Hebrew take from their wealth, a charity referring to
zakat that will cleanse them, how does it cleanse you in many ways, one of them is, it removes from
the heart, the love for the wealth beyond a certain point. Why I say beyond a certain point,
everyone loves material things, or wealth to a certain extent and that extent varies from person to
		

			person. Some people are prepared to do anything in everything, just to earn what we call a quick
buck. But at the same time, there are others who will never do anything displeasing to Allah no
matter how it seems to be glaring them in the face, how much it seems to be clearing them in the
face. If it is displeasing to Allah, it's not going to happen. So this is the type of human being we
should be. We ask Allah for blessings. We ask Allah for wealth, we work towards it, we would like to
earn we want to do the business deals or we want to get a good job you make dua, may Allah bless you
bless all of us with that goodness. But make sure that whatever you do, you have not compromised
		

			halal and haram.
		

			In the interim, they may be a little bit of something that might have crept into your wealth
unknowingly. Your circuit will purify that for you, too. It cleanses it. And that's why the Prophet
Muhammad says sallallahu alayhi wa sallam indeed, in wealth, there is a duty that is over and above
the Zakat. What is it? It is for you to give something voluntary from your pocket? Why is it that
people only give the two and a half percent that did not belong to them in the beginning, because
for every $100, like I said, 97.5 is yours the other two and a half belongs to Allah, you have to
get it out of your system anyway. So by you giving it Yes, you've done the right thing, you will
		

			earn a great reward you fulfill the pillar of your faith, but at the same time, by you living beyond
that, that is from you, your pocket your love of Allah, your love for the good causes, you're
reaching out in your own way with your own money that has nothing to do with the car. This is called
Charity,
		

			the sadaqat the charities that are totally voluntary, make it a habit to give a lot because the
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him tells us that this charity extinguishes calamity. So if calamity
is coming in your direction, and you've been a very charitable person, it will be diminished or
extinguished to a great degree. And that calamity will not hit you as badly as it would have had you
not been a charitable or a good person. So therefore keep giving charities and reach out to people.
Another very interesting factor. Each time you make life easy for someone, Allah makes life easy for
you. When you've given someone who owes you money, a little bit more time to pay that money. Allah
		

			will give you more time on the Day of Judgment. In fact, Allah will make easy for you your
reckoning, that is something that we really need to consider when it comes to the issue of Zakat and
charity.
		

			So my brothers and sisters, it is not compulsory for you and I to work out the Zakat in the month of
Ramadan. It could be any other month of the lunar calendar, but let it be consistent. Ramadan is
very convenient. Most people actually like to do it in Ramadan, they have time and they know they
won't forget it. And similarly they enjoy the giving. Because when you're hungry, and when you know
that you're holding back for the sake of Allah, there is the element of compassion that definitely
comes about and you start feeling empathy, you want to come out and reach to people reach out to
them. Allah is telling you give, give, no one has ever lost wealth because they gave a charity. No
		

			one's wealth was ever depleted because of a charity that they have given. Those are the words of the
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. So my brothers and sisters while we are giving remember,
consider yourself fortunate for having been given the opportunity by Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			Allah to witness a cause that is needy. Many people waste their wealth. It doesn't mean because I
have a lot of money, I can throw it and waste it and be extravagant. Allah says extravagance is
actually
		

			the handiwork of the devil or those who are extravagant. The wording is, those who are extravagant
other brethren have Shavon. So let's not be that Allah is telling you, no matter how much you have,
you are allowed to have something that might be slightly luxurious, it might be expensive, if you
can afford it, for as long as you're not wasting. And for as long as it has not affected your
character, your conduct, and the general human being that you are. Some people the moment they see a
lot of wealth, they become arrogant and haughty. They become very loud and aggressive. When Allah is
telling you, your test is now that we've given you are you going to be the opposite, the opposite,
		

			meaning you're going to be humble, you're going to be serving people, you're not going to be loud
and aggressive, you're going to speak to them with humility. If that's the case, it was a gift, and
you're passing your test. Don't let your position, your power, your wealth, whatever else it may be,
that Allah has blessed you with. Don't ever let it make you develop negative traits. Because if
that's the case, you are failing the test. If you've developed positive traits as a result of the
blessings and favors of Allah upon you, you have indeed become an immaculate human being and a good
Muslim, and you will be closer to Allah than ever before. And he will bestow you with much more than
		

			you can imagine. May Allah Almighty have mercy on all of us, me except our charities. I was a cat as
well as that which is voluntary, and may he help us to calculate our zakat in the correct way and to
give it out, in a timeless in a timeless manner. May Allah Almighty also grant every one of us
baraka and blessings in the wealth He's given us such that we intention to fill those in paradise as
a result of having achieved the Mercy of Allah Almighty, my brothers and sisters spent, for indeed,
Allah will spend on you Akula Kohli have sallahu wa salam ala Nabina Muhammad, Laila to call the
reifying
		

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