KHUTBAH JUMAAT 19 Julai 2013 / 10 Ramadan 1434H

“ZAKAT FITRAH” Khatib : Ustaz Mahyudin Md Sarip

Pegawai Hal Ehwal Islam Pusat Islam

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

• Dear beloved Brothers,

• Let us have taqwa towards Allah with the utmost taqwa. We hope that by applying it; our life will be filled with blessing and guidance from Allah. Allah says in surah al-Nisaa verse 59:

• Which means:

• O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.

• Dear brothers in Islam,

• Among the good deeds that have been commanded to us in this month are the payment of zakat fitrah and sadaqat.

• Zakat al-fitr is the alms that we have to fulfill during the month of Ramadan while sadaqat is the good deed which is highly recommended especially in this month. Zakat al-fitr is to purify the heart.

• According to Hassan Al-Basri :

• Zakat al-fitr to fasting is like sujud sahwi for the prayer which has to be performed because of certain reasons that happened in the prayer.

• The same like fasting in Ramadan which has to be followed by the payment of zakat fitrah.

• The reason is to cover the loopholes and shortcomings of our deeds throughout this Ramadan.

• Every evils and sins can be cleaned by good deeds especially the prayer.

• Allah says in Surah Hud verse 114:

• And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.

• Dear brothers in Islam,

• The obligatory of the payment of zakat al-fitr has been mentioned in a hadith where Abdullah ibnu Umar r.a said:

• “Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, obligated Zakat al-Fitr [for Ramadan upon the people]”. [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Zakat al-fitr is obligatory on every person once a year.

• The period for the payment of the zakat al-fitr is before the eid al-fitr prayer.

• However, Imam Shafe’i did allowed zakat al-fitr to be paid from the beginning of Ramadan.

• The payment of zakat al-fitr after the eid al-fitr prayer will be treated as the ordinary alms or just like sadaqat only.

• Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said:

• “Whoever pays it before the `Eid Salah is accepted as zakah, and it is a mere sadaqah for one who pays it after the Salah.”

• [Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah : Hasan]

• There was a story about Sayidina Uthman Ibnu Affan r.a who forgot to pay his zakat fitrah before the eid al-fitr prayer and thus he quickly set free one of his women slave.

• He then informed it to our Prophet s.a.w. The Prophet said that if he set free one hundred women slaves, then only can he obtain the equal reward of zakat al-fitr which has to be paid before the eid al-fitr prayer.

• Zakat fitrah is obligatory for all Muslims regardless of young, adult, male or female.

• This obligation is based on the hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari:

• Ibn 'Umar said,

• “The Prophet made incumbent on every male or female, free man or slave, the payment of one Saa` of dates or barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or said Sadaqa-Ramadan).”

• In this matter, we can see that the payment of zakat al-fitr is obligated upon every Muslims regardless of their status in the society.

• Dear brothers in Islam,

• There are wisdoms and benefits to those who perform this ibadat of zakat al-fitr and among them are stated in one hadith of the Prophet s.a.w which means:

• Whover fulfill zakat al-fitr he will receive ten things in sha Allah.

• 1. Purify him from sins.

• 2. He will be freed from the hell fire.

• 3. His fast will be accepted.

• 4. Rewarded with paradise.

• 5. Raise as a believer from his grave.

• 6. His good deeds which will be accepted by Allah in that year.

• 7. Obtain syafaat in the Resurrection Day.

• 8. Able to cross the Sirat like lightning.

• 9. The weight of the mizan will be heavy with good deeds.

• 10. Allah will erase his name from the list of wretch people.

• The type and payment of the zakat al-fitr is based on the staple food of a country.

• In this matter, the Islamic Council of Johor (MAIJ) has replaced the staple food into the value of the food in order to ease the distribution to the zakat recipients (asnaf).

• This zakat al-fitr payment must be paid to the authorized zakat collector who has been appointed by MAIJ. For this year, the amount of the zakat al-fitr is only RM8.00 and RM5.00.

• Dear brothers in Islam,

• Thus, let us ensure that we perform this ibadat (zakat al-fitr) which is obligatory upon us and our dependency on time according to the law.

• However, it is highly recommended that this ibadat (zakat al-fitr) to be fulfilled early in the month of Ramadan.

• Although the amount of the zakat al-fitr payment is small, however we have to bare in our mind that the value of this ibadat is high in the sight of Allah.

• Just as a reminder, it is recommended to fulfill the zakat of wealth in this month.

• We hope that our deeds is for the sake of Allah and our sadaqat will increase the blessings of Allah and we will be among His servants who obtain the status of taqwa and salih.

• May His words in surah Al-Baqarah verse 261 give us strength and inspire us to perform infaq and sadaqat during this Ramadan.

• Which means: The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

O servant of Allah, remember that this world is a place for temporary lodging. Truly, hereafter is the everlasting and permanent abode. So let us devote to

Allah for obtaining happiness and escape from the punishment of

hellfire.

• Allah says in Surah Al Ahzab verse 56:

• Which means:

“Indeed Allah confers blessing upon the prophet and His angels (ask Him to do so). O! You who have believed, ask Allah to confer blessing upon him and ask Allah to grant him peace.”

• Let us pray that may Allah SWT be please with the khalifahs of Rasulullah s.a.w i.e Sayyidina Abu Bakr al-Siddiq r.a., Sayyidina Umar al-Khattab r.a., Sayyinda Uthman ibn Affan r.a., Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Thalib r.a.

• And to his companions who struggle to uphold the religion of Allah, also to his uncles Sayyidina Hamzah and Sayyidina Abbas r.a. and to his granchildren Sayyidina Hassan and Sayyidina Hussain r.a., his daughters Sayyidatina Fatimah al-Zahraa’, his wives Sayyidatina Khadijah and Sayyidatina Aisyah r.a. and the other wives. Followed by his family, companions, followers of the companions and those who come after them from time to time until the end of the world.

• O Allah, forgive all Muslims and believers, whether surviving or deceased. O Allah, grant us glory and prosperity to those who fight and spend their wealth in your way such as those who pay zakat, waqaf etc.

• Ya Allah, bestow your guidance and help to the leaders and kings of the Muslim countries especially to Abdaka Al-Harith Lishariatika Al-Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan and ruler for the State of Johor Darul Takzim.

• And to Raja Zarith Sofea Binti Al-Marhum

Sultan Idris Shah, Tengku Ismail Ibn Sultan Ibrahim, Pemangku Raja Johor and, the Prince and Princess, the royal kinship, and all Muslims.