ZAKAAT ALFITR: A MEANS OF PURIFICATION

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ZAKAAT AL-FITR A MEANS OF PURIFICATION
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Let us improve our piety (taqwa) and good deeds
by obeying Allahs entire commands and omitting
all the forbidden.
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Blessed Muslims, The blessed month of Ramadhan is
a very special gift for us from Allah s.w.t. It
is a month in which plentiful of wisdom and
benefits are guaranteed for those who aspire for
the success of this world and the hereafter.
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This is the month of mercy, forgiveness and
freedom from the intense torment of hellfire. In
this month, Allah s.w.t prescribes fasting and
zakaat al-fitr (alms/charity at the end of
Ramadhan) upon us and encourages us
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to increase our ibadah (worship) with acts such
as praying tarawih, tadarrus (reading) Al-Quran,
giving sadaqah (charity) and performing itiqaf
because of the great rewards promised in this
month that surpasses others.
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Allah also instructs us to pay a special zakaat,
Zakaat al-Fitr, in this month, which is intended
for the purification of our souls, hearts and as
a compensation for the mistakes that we might
have committed while fasting.
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It also indicates that our love for Allah exceeds
our love for anything/anyone else. These are
among the qualities of a believer as mentioned in
Al-Quran
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Allah S.W.T says in Al-Quran-
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?????????????? ?????????? (?) ?????????????? ????
?????????????? ????????? ??????? ?????????? ?????
????????? ????????????? ????????? ???????? (?)
(Al-Anfal 3 - 4)
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(The believers are those) Who establish worship
and spend of what We have bestowed upon them. (3)
Those are the believers, truly. For them are
degrees (of honor) with their Lord, and
forgiveness, and bountiful provision. (4)
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Blessed Muslims, Zakaat al-Fitr is an obligation
due at the end of Ramadhan upon Muslims who
are 1- Free man or slave 2- Male or female
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3 - Old or young 4 - Rich or poor who lived
through Ramadhan and Syawal This is
based from a hadith related by Abdullah Ibn Umar
r.a (in Sahih Muslim)
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Rasulullah s.a.w had prescribed Zakaat al-Fitr
of one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley upon
every individual among the Muslims (whether) free
man or slave, male or female, young or old.
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The hadith clearly informs us that paying Zakaat
al-Fitr is a duty upon all Muslims, just like the
duty of solat, fasting, zakaat al-maal
(alms/charity due on wealth) and others.
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Moreover, those who fulfill the requirements of
paying Zakaat but knowingly ignore this
obligation could be considered as kuffar
(non-Muslims). Imam An-Nawawi rahimahullah said
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Anyone who disobeyed the obligation of Zakaat
has indeed made himself a kaafir, according to
majority of the scholars. The knowledge
concerning the obligation of zakaat has spread
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among the Muslims, such that the lay-people and
the seekers of knowledge, the scholars and the
ignorant, know it. Therefore, any interpretation
of disobeying it is inexcusable.
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The Islamic history recorded the story of Saidina
Abu Bakar (radhiAllahu anhu) commanding an army
against a group of Arabs who refused to pay
zakaat openly during his leadership.
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This is yet another proof that all Muslims are
required to pay it sincerely once the
requirements are satisfied. Additionally, the
above hadith also proves that the amount of
Zakaat al-Fitr is 2.7 kg of rice.
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Nevertheless, we are allowed to pay it in cash
and the amount would be the current price of 2.7
kg of rice. This is mentioned in the book
As-Syarah, which says that the payment of
zakaat with cash, as a substitute for rice, is
allowed in the Shafie Mazhab.
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Furthermore, cash would be more beneficial for
the poor in managing their needs. For your
information, the amount due for Zakaat al-Fitr
for Selangor this year is RM 5.20.
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Blessed Muslims, The obligation of paying Zakaat
al-Fitr is not without purpose and wisdom. Among
them are found in a hadith related by Ibn Abbas
r.a. (in Sunan Abu Dawud)
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Rasulullah s.a.w. prescribed Zakaat al-Fitr as a
purification of the fasting from empty and
obscene talk and as food for the poor.
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If anyone pays it before the prayer (of 'Eid), it
will be accepted as zakaat. If anyone pays it
after the prayer, that will be counted as a
sadaqah like other sadaqahs.
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According to this hadith, Zakaat al-Fitr is
commanded upon us to purify our fasts from sins
committed in Ramadhan, as well as to give hope
and share with the poor, so that they can
celebrate and enjoy the day of Eid al-Fitr like
the rest of us.
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Rasulullah s.a.w also warned us against being
forgetful or careless in paying Zakaat al-Fitr.
In explaining the previous hadith, the consensus
of Muslim scholars states that one who delays in
paying the zakaat until he misses its time
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he has committed a sin, yet he must still pay for
it. Until he does that, it becomes a debt on him,
even if he pays it at the end of his life. How
unfortunate are those who fast persistently and
patiently but missed or forget paying their
zakaat because they are sinning for it although
they fast!
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Thus, we have to be aware of the prescribed time
for Zakaat al-Fitr. The consensus of the scholars
agreed that there are 5 categories for its
payment 1 - Sunat (Recommended) In the early of
Ramadhan. 2- Wajib (Obligatory) Starting from
the sunset on the last day of Ramadhan.
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3 - Afdal (Most preferred) Before the Eid
prayer on the morning of the first day of
Syawal. 4 - Makruh (Disliked) After the Eid
prayer without any sickness. 5 - Haram
(Prohibited) After the Eid without any sickness.
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Dear Muslim Brothers, The Selangor Zakaat Council
is operating 22 zakaat counters all over Selangor
7 days a week to facilitate the payment Zakaat
al-Fitr by. It can also be done through Amil
(zakaat collector) appointed by the council, who
are located at mosques and shopping complexes.
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The collected zakaat will be distributed to the
Asnaf (the people entitled for zakaat) in
Selangor. It should also be reminded that,
besides the Zakaat al-Fitr, we are obligated to
pay Zakaat al-Maal, which is alms/charity due on
our wealth.
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Therefore, please ensure that our salaries,
golds, silvers, savings in the banks or KWSP,
halal shares if we have any, business profit and
agricultural profit are cleansed and purified by
paying Zakaat al-Maal.
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It is the responsibility of each Muslim to seek
the knowledge concerning zakaat. This can be
achieved through reading, attending classes and
seminars or contact the zakaat counter. It will
increase our understanding about zakaat, hence
helping us to fulfill our responsibility in full
sincerity.
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Brothers in Islam, Please keep in mind that
zakaat will generate a Muslim who cares and
empathize for others, who knows how to relate
with the less fortunate, who is willing to
sacrifice, who has a high self-esteem with a
clean and pure heart.
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By His Mercy, Allah s.w.t grants us, once again,
the opportunity to experience another Ramadhan.
Let us seize it and amplify our ibadah, taqwa
(Gods consciousness) and tawbah (repentance),
and ask for His pardon and forgiveness so that
our meeting with Him will be accompanied by a
heart at peace and multitude of good deeds.
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Let us make this Ramadhan the time to refocus and
reorganize our selves and lives, to purify our
hearts, to intensify our Jihad and sacrifices for
Allah through charity and other good deeds.
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Know that Allah s.w.t. promises immense rewards
and provisions for those who truly and sincerely
fulfill their responsibilities as the slaves of
Allah. And they will be among those whom He loves
and is pleased with!
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Allah S.W.T says in Al-Quran-
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??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????????
?????? ????????? ??? ????? ??????????? ?????????
?????????? ????????? ?????????? ????? ??????????
????????? ??????? ??????? (???)
(Al-Baqarah 261)
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The likeness of those who spend their wealth in
the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain
(of corn) it grows seven ears, and each ear has
a hundred grains.
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Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills.
And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures'
needs, the All-Knower
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???? ???????? ??????????? ??????????? ???????????
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• O Allah,
• The most merciful god, we thank you for all the
  mercy and pleasure that you gave so that we can
  enhance and strengthen our Islamic country
  especially Selangor as a developed and peaceful
  country.

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• O Allah,
• We beg you to increase our practice, brace up our
  unity, give us prosperous life, make us rich with
  good knowledge, flourish our soul with noble
  character, bring back our youngsters to the right
  path, save us from your biggest test such

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• as huge flood, drought, epidemic, disputing
  between ourselves, poorness and anything else so
  that this country will be more prosperous and
  blessed.

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DI SEDIAKAN OLEH BAHAGIAN KHUTBAH, JABATAN
AGAMA ISLAM SELANGOR