Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 298
298 MALFŪZĀT - ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF URDU VOLUME 9 command of God Almighty. The Jews and Christians at the time of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, were bearers of shariah [religious law]. They used to pray and fast; they believed in all the Prophets, but they were declared kāfir [disbelievers] as they did not accept the Holy and Noble Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The people of this era who not only oppose me but declare me a kāfir, render themselves kāfir by calling a believer a kāfir accord- ing to the saying of the Holy Prophetsas. They cannot escape the punishment of Allah the Exalted. Zakāt Not Obligatory on Capital Tied Up in Receivables One person asked whether Zakāt is due on the capital employed in trade that is with the buyers and awaiting receipt. The Promised Messiahas replied: There is no Zakāt on capital that is tied up [in receivables] until it comes into one's possession, but a trader should not avoid Zakāt through pretexts and excuses. They do, after all, bear their expenses from the same capital according to their status and stature. They should make an assessment of their cash in hand and receivables with taqwā [righteousness] and try to please God Almighty by paying the appropriate amount of Zakāt. Some people use excuses and pretexts even with God. This is not right.