Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 45
26 December 1906 45 Zak a t The case of Zak a t is the same. Many pay the Zak a t but they do not even think or understand how worthless this Zak a t is. If a dog is slaughtered [according to Islamic tenets], or a pig is slaughtered, just by performing this act will not make them law- ful. [The word] Zak a t is derived from tazkiyah [purification]. Purify your wealth and then pay Zak a t from it. The one who pays from this is established on truth, but the one who does not differentiate between what is lawful and what is unlawful is far removed from its real meaning. One should give up such mistakes and fully understand the true essence of these funda- mental pillars. It is only then that they will provide salvation; otherwise, they do not, and man goes astray. Understand with certainty that there is nothing to be proud of. 1 And do not asso- ciate any material or non-material partners with God Almighty and do righteous deeds. Do not love wealth. Almighty Allah states: 2 ْنَل اوُلاَنَت َّرِبْلا ىّٰتَح اْوُقِفْنُت اَّمِم َنْوُّبِحُت ْنَل اوُلاَنَت َّرِبْلا ىّٰتَح اْوُقِفْنُت اَّمِم َنْوُّبِحُت Meaning that, you cannot attain birr [piety] until you spend that wealth which you cherish. Make the time of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, your model and note that it was the era when the Companions ra neither held their own lives dear nor their children and wives, rather every one of them desired to be martyred at the feet of the 1. From Badr : ‘Man should not take pride or be pleased with his actions until such a pure faith is attained that there is no one else in man’s worship of God Almighty beside Him. ’ ( Badr, vol. 6, nos. 1, 2, p. 15, dated 10 January 1907) 2. S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:93 [Publisher]