An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice — Page 85
85 principles which form the basis of Islam. Just as paying Chanda does not relieve us from the obligation to pray, fast and perform the Hajj, in the same way it does not make any difference in the payment of Zakat. Performing Tahajud and Nafal prayers does not exempt one from the obligatory prayers one has to offer in the mosque, in fact such Naw a fil are a mere waste which hinder one from the performance of obligatory prayers. Similarly, one cannot become exempt from Zakat, which is one of the four basic principals of Islam, by paying other Chandas. All our success depends upon holding fast to the principals of Islam. I, therefore, beseech you to distinguish your Jam a ‘at by collecting your Zakat at one place, and that can be none other than the Markaz. Unless we distinguish ourselves from the people who have left off adhering to the principals of Islam—though they call themselves Muslims—we cannot become victorious by mere sermonizing. If you want to become a successful nation, then hold fast to the principals of Islam just as the Disciples of the Holy Prophet sa did. Whether or not our people understand the benefits of paying Zakat, and whether they find it hard to accept what I say because a couple of thousand rupees seem insignificant compared to One hundred and forty thousand, I still see that we can never achieve the success we are looking for unless we firmly establish ourselves on the principal of paying Zakat and take this two thousand to millions. The greatest path to success is that which is demonstrated to us by the Holy Prophet sa and told to us by Allah Who is the Knower of the unseen. The Allah Who creates humans is also the One Who creates nations. It will be most unwise to deviate from the trodden path which is before us and still claim to be followers of Islam. So I again beseech you that as the Holy Prophet sa set the example of collecting Zakat at a single place and spending it for certain causes as told by Quran, unless we do the same, we will not be following one of the four basic principals of Islam. Just as prayer