The Importance of Zakat Empowerment
Happy Muslims.
We only deserve to give all praise and gratitude to Allah SWT who has given us the pleasures of faith, Islam and ihsan. A very great gift that Allah gives to His servants. May we always be among those who receive His guidance and remain in a state of Faith and Islam until the end of our lives.
Shalawat and greetings may be bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Thanks to the Messenger of Allah, the message to always increase our faith and devotion to Allah SWT has reached us.
Happy Muslims.
We know that God created the universe from nothing into existence, in Greek it is called creation ex nihilo. The universe is full of order. Behind it all is the Almighty Creator. As His Word:
وَلِلّٰهِ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِى الْاَرْضِۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَاِيَّاكُمْ اَنِ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ ۗوَاِنْ تَكْفُرُوْا فَاِنَّ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِى الْاَرْضِۗ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيْدًا
And to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and indeed, We have commanded those who were given the scriptures before you and (also) to you to fear Allah. But if you deny, then (know), to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and Allah is Rich, Most Praised (QS. An-Nisa’: 131).
As the absolute owner of this universe, Allah created humans to function as caliphs on earth. In his capacity as caliph, humans are given the task of making the universe prosperous. In the mission to prosper nature and everything in it, Allah provides the facilities needed by humans to maintain their existence in life, such as oxygen, water, or plants. Allah also gives the gift of rain for the fertility of the land, so that it can grow fruit that can be used. In His Word:
ثُمَّ كُلِيْ مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ فَاسْلُكِيْ سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًاۗ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُوْنِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ اَلْوَانُهٗ ۖفِيْهِ شِفَاۤءٌ لِّلنَّاسِۗ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ
then eat of all (kinds of) fruits and then follow the path of your Lord which has been made easy (for you).” From the belly of the bee comes a drink (honey) of various colors, in which there is a medicine that heals humans. Indeed, in that there really is a sign (of Allah’s greatness) for people who think (QS. Al-Nahl: 69).
Happy Muslims.
We know that humans do not have the power to create water, move clouds, and make trees. Humans are only able to process, utilize and utilize all the facilities of life that God has created. All wealth on earth essentially belongs only to Allah, while human ownership is only relative.
So, human ownership is within the limits of enjoying and exploiting existing assets, not as absolute owners. The juridical consequence is that not all property owned is absolutely owned by him, but in it there are other people’s rights. Allah says:
وَفِيْٓ اَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّاۤىِٕلِ وَالْمَحْرُوْمِ
And on their property there is a right for the poor who ask and the poor who do not ask (QS. Al-Dzariyat: 19).
A person who has excessive wealth within a certain period is ordered to donate his wealth to those who are entitled, namely the poor and others (QS. At-Taubah: 60). This means that the wealth that we have—or rather the property that God has entrusted to us—has other people’s rights. This practice in Islam is known as zakat—next to infaq and alms. Therefore zakat (al-zakat) in terms of language means holy, growing, blessing, and commendable. Allah says:
يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَنْفِقُوْا مِنْ طَيِّبٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ اَخْرَجْنَا لَكُمْ مِّنَ الْاَرْضِ ۗ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيْثَ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُوْنَ وَلَسْتُمْ بِاٰخِذِيْهِ اِلَّآ اَنْ تُغْمِضُوْا فِيْهِ ۗ وَاعْلَمُوْٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيْدٌ
O you who believe! Spend some of the results of your good efforts and some of what We bring out from the earth for you. Do not choose what is bad for you to spend, even though you yourself do not want to take it but by squinting (reluctantly) towards it. And know that Allah is Rich, Most Praiseworthy (QS. Al Baqarah: 267).
Happy Muslims.
Zakat is one of the main pillars of Islamic teachings. The command to pay zakat is usually often mentioned in the Qur’an coupled with the command to pray, aqiimu al-shalaata wa aatu al-zakaata (establish prayer and pay zakat). Performing prayers symbolizes a person’s good relationship with God, while zakat is a symbol of harmonious relations between humans. In fact, zakat is seen as a reality of social virtue as well as individual piety.
A person’s Islamic commitment and faith can be said to be in vain without the practice of giving zakat. Even Abu Bakr once fought dissidents who were reluctant to pay zakat, and Umar bin Khattab once ordered the burning of the houses of Muslims who refused zakat orders. That’s why, in the classic books, zakat is discussed at length, from the conditions, the subject who gives zakat, to the parties who are given zakat. According to Islamic jurisprudence scholars, zakat is a fairly serious topic of discussion.
Happy Muslims.
Zakat is a form of social worship that seeks to alleviate people’s poverty. With zakat, Islam has shown social enthusiasm and protection among those who are rich to pay attention to those who are poor so that there is no social inequality. This also suggests that Muslims should become rich people in a proportional equilibrium. Do not get immersed in the Ferris wheel of life which is full of worldly charms, because there is an intrinsic moral-ethical obligation for the rich to the poor.
This is indirectly a criticism of the notion of capitalism which creates a huge gap between the rich and the poor. The rich are getting richer. Meanwhile, poor people are increasingly far from meeting a decent standard of living. We must be grateful for the obligation to pay zakat, because in it there is an effort to organize the social structure which is gradually but massively carried out by Islam.
Zakat in Islam does not view poverty as a sunnatullah that applies to humans, but also offers solutions for alleviating it. Even though poverty is a social reality that cannot be completely eliminated, zakat can be overcome and its quality improved so that it does not destroy the foundations of humanity.
Happy Muslims.
Paying zakat to poor and needy people for the protection of their souls is part of religious teachings. Not only that, zakat also plays an important role in maintaining a strong and healthy generation.
In accordance with a fragment of the hadith of the Prophet which reads,
اَلْـمُؤْمِنُ الْقَـوِيُّ خَـيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَـى اللهِ مِنَ الْـمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيْفِ، وَفِـيْ كُـلٍّ خَـيْـرٌ ، اِحْـرِصْ عَـلَـى مَا يَـنْـفَـعُـكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللهِ وَلَا تَـعْجَـزْ
Indeed, strong believers are better and more loved by Allah than weak believers. In everything there is goodness, so you should always try everything that is beneficial to you, and ask Allah for help, and don’t be weak, (HR Muslim).
أَقُولُ قَوْ لِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوْهُ اِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيْمُ
Second Sermon
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ وَنَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ اَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ اَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَ اِلهَ اِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى اَلِهِ وَاَصْحَابِهِ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُ اِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ. اَمَّا بَعْدُ
اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ, وَالْمُؤْ مِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْ مِنَاتِ, اَلْاَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْاَمْوَاتِ, اِنَّكَ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ مُجِيْبُ الدَّعَوَاتِ, يَا قَاضِىَ الْحَاجَاتِ, وَيَا كَافِىَ الْمُهِمَّاتِ
. اَللّهُمَّ اَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُ قْنَا اتِّبَاعَةَ, وَاَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلاً وَارْزُقْناَ اجْتِنَابَهُ
رَبَّنَا اتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى الْاَخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
. اِنَّ اللهَ يَاْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْاِحْسَانِ, اِيْتَاءِ ذِى الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْىِ, يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُوْنَ
وَالْحَمْدُ ِللهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
