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and bless all the companions of each one of the messengers, and may he make us from amongst those who can be in the company of Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam in the life of the death.

And may Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala keep us all steadfast and grant protection to ourselves and our offspring those to come up to the day of piyama.

Amen.

Honored Rulama, beloved brothers and sisters and dearest listeners, one of the important pillars of Islam is the pillar of Zakat and the issue of Charities in Islam.

In Islam there are several types of Charities. The first type of Charity is that which is compulsory. So the term Charity in the English language has the meaning of the fact that it is voluntary.

Whereas when it comes to Zakat it is not voluntary so that is the difference. And if we were to say a tax then that too would not be accurate because how can you term Zakat as being taxed?

Allahu Akbar. So therefore there is no one word translation for the word Zakat but I'm sure we all know what we refer to when we say Zakat.

Also we need to realize and understand that when we speak of Charities in the Sharia we are speaking about the voluntary Charities known as Zakat over and above the Zakat.

That is something that someone would like to give in some places they call it a Lillah which means for the sake of Allah.

Sometimes we have another type of a Charity which is to be given known as a Kafara in order to compensate for a sin that may have been committed or for some deed that one may not have engaged in there is something known as a Kafara.

Then there is something known as a Fidia, something known as a Fitra. All these are monetary acts of worship by giving and donating.

May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala make us all from amongst those whose Charities are acceptable.

If someone has no wealth at all, Allah says they are not from amongst those who cannot give a Charity because Tabas sumu kafi wa jihi ahiqa Sadata.

To smile at the face of your fellow Muslim is also a Sadata and I see Mashallah a lot of us are smiling here.

So every one of us we are engaging in an act of Charity and worship. We ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala to accept it from us.

Also to say a good word is an act of Charity. It is actually equated to something better than a monetary donation.

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says in Suratul Bakara.

A good word that is uttered from the mouth and forgiveness when you forgive someone, forgiving people is better than a Charity that one gives and after that brags about it.

May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala protect us from bragging. InshaAllah we will get to that a little bit later in tonight's topic.

So the first issue that is discussed in the Quran regarding Zakat is the fact that Allah has instructed us to fulfill Zakat

And give out arms to the poor which are these acts of Charity to the poor and Allah says whatever you have put forth for the sake of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala

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