Maqasid ash Shari’ah: The Preservation of Wealth - Sh Muhammad Tahir

Money is a necessity of life. In addition, sound money is a caretaker of life. Islam came with its legislation in consideration of this value that sound money has. Islam encourages one to obtain wealth by lawful means, and it guides us to manage it well and directs us to the best ways of increasing it.

It is indisputable that money is one of the ornaments of the life of this world. Money is sought and loved, and Islam does not prevent one from striving and seeking wealth as long as this seeking is by means that are good and lawful.

In reality, in this life, money is not sought for itself. Rather, it is sought for the benefits that it can bring about. It is a means, not an end. There is no place in our deen for Machiavellian thought, (the ends justify the means). Rather, the means are praised or blamed according to the results that they bring about, either good or evil.

Today, money is an effective tool and a helper. Consider how we need money to bring about benefits, and how we need money to prevent harm, for money is a means of worshipping Allah and establishing His laws. It is a means of righteousness and rectification; it is a means of kindness, connection and solidarity amongst Muslims. It is not permissible for a Muslim to regard money as other than what it really is, it is not permissible to take money as a god and worship it, and to follow caprice and disregard ones principles. It is impermissible to be negligent and careless in issues of lawful and unlawful and go against the command of Allah and disobey Him, obeying Shaytan in his demands to obtain a few pounds that will not protect one from any sickness and will not cure one from any disease and will not put off death when one’s time is up. Moreover, everyone will be asked on the Day of Judgment in front of Allah about where they acquired their wealth and how they spent it.

So think about the difficult questioning for the one who acquired his money unlawfully, and then think about the one who prepares to divest his accounts every year, and the one who is careful and prepares for the taxmen. Consider the one who hides a document or two and looks for a way out, and this is the way in this life. Remember your standing before these debts, in front of the One from whom no secret is hidden, in front of the One who knows the treachery of the eyes and what is concealed in the breasts. On that day, someone from mankind will say:

“My wealth has been of no profit to me, my power has perished from me.” (Surah al-Haaqqah, 28-29.)

Islam views money as a blessing and therefore we should be grateful. Likewise, it is a trust and we are obliged to maintain it and protect it from any harm that may afflict it. Islam views money as a necessity from the five necessities that we are obliged to preserve and protect.

O Muslim! You have been appointed as a guardian over your money, and money in reality is the property of Allah. You are appointed as a guardian and you are trusted with this money so spend it in a good way and to increase it by lawful means. In this regard Allah says:

“Believe in Allah and His messenger, and spend from what He has made you guardians over, for those who believe and spend, for them is a great reward.” (Surah al-hadid, 57:7.)

When money is the property of Allah, and you, o man, are a guardian and a trustee over it, like a trustee in care of a fund, then it is an obligation upon you to follow the instructions and directives of the owner of that money: What does He want from it? What will please Him? What will displease Him? What has He commanded, and what has He forbidden?

So if you are in an organisation or a company, it is not permissible for you to oppose the orders of the owner or go against instructions. Likewise, the Muslim is appointed as a trustee over the property of Allah that has been given to him.

So listen and know the divine instructions that are related to money:
Allah, Exalted is He, has instructions related to the earning of money, meaning the way that is permissible for a Muslim to earn money. Allah says:

“O you who believe, do not consume money amongst yourselves in unlawful ways, but let there be amongst you trade by mutual good will. And don’t destroy yourselves; indeed Allah has been Most Merciful to you.” (An-Nisa’ 4: 29)

It is not permissible for money to be earned by means that are not lawful, such as usury, fraud, gambling, monopoly, cheating, embezzlement, trickery, bribery and theft, in all its types. The same goes for consuming the money of orphans oppressively and transactions involving that which is unlawful, such as selling wine and pork. Also, any lack of proficiency and proper conduct in one’s dealings, and extortion, which is the seizure of another’s money without right and other ways in which money is transferred between people to be possessed and consumed without any consent. Allah says:

“O you who believe, eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him you worship.” (Baqarah: 2:172).

And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala commands the believers as He commands the messengers:

“O you messengers! Enjoy all things good and pure and work righteousness, for I am aware of what you do”. (Surah al-Mou’minun 23: 51).

Unfortunately, a lot of these unlawful ways are being used by many Muslims today, in order to earn money by any means. You will see them negligent, not fearing Allah in their work and their earnings. You will see some of them bringing that which is forbidden and prohibited, and using it as a means to earn money. These poor people do not know that Allah is the Provider, the Possessor of Great Power. If He wants, Exalted is He, He can cut them off from every dinar and dirham. He has the power to close every door in their faces, and decree that their transactions, their trade, their plans, all result in loss and ruin.

Indeed, we entered this country by a trust, with a contract. We came as students or immigrants, with our families and children. We have been given permission to stay and reside here. It is not permissible for us to earn money except by means that are legislated by our deen, legislated by our law. Therefore, treachery, lying, fraud, lack of concern towards obligations and the rights of people, lack of keeping promises and fulfilling contracts, all of these things are prohibited by our Shari’ah. And this prohibition, oh Muslim, goes with you wherever you are, wherever you may be in the earth, whoever you may transact with. Any likeness of evil is not for us. We do not say the likeness of what the Jews said, as we are told in the Qur’an:

“And from the People of the Book are those who, if entrusted with a hoard of gold, will readily pay it back; others, who, if entrusted with a single dinar, will not repay it unless you constantly stand demanding because they say, “We have no duty towards the Gentiles”, but they tell a lie against Allah, and they know it. Rather, those who fulfil their pledge and have Taqwa, indeed Allah loves those who have Taqwa. As for those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant, and their trusts, they have no portion in the Hereafter. This verse was revealed in reference to Bani Isra’il, but it can mean other than them, including Muslims. Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the day of Judgement, nor will He cleanse them of sin, and for them is a grievous punishment.” (Surah Aali-‘Imran: 3:75-77).

O Muslims! Indeed Islam had prescribed numerous legislations for the preservation of money, so there is a procedure of transaction for financial affairs and Islam has prohibited any procedure that brings harm to the affairs of people and their livelihood. So have Taqwa of Allah, and know that anybody who rejects lawful ways of earning money spreads evil, because he fills his throat and the throats of his family and children with haram money, and their flesh and bodies become composed of it. Maybe what pushes someone to do this is a fear of the future for his family and children. All of this is from the whisperings of Shaytan, and his ways of deceiving the believers. Did not Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala say to us, warning us about Shaytan and his whisperings?:

“Shaytan promises you poverty, and commands you to vile deeds.”

And Allah says in the same Ayah:

“But Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounty; He is the All-Embracing, the All-Knowing.” (Surah al-Baqarah; 2:268.)

And Allah says:

“Let them fear like those, who, if they had left behind them weak offspring, would be afraid for them; so let them be mindful of Allah and speak justly.” (Surah an-Nisa; 4: 9).

And Allah says:

“And whoever fears Allah, He prepares for him a way out, and He provides for him from where he would not expect, and whoever puts his trust in Allah, Allah is sufficient for him. Allah will bring His command to pass; Verily Allah has measured out all things.” (Surah at-Talaq; 65:2-3)

2nd Khutbah

It is upon us to know and be aware, and especially make our children aware of the Christian belief regarding Easter, which is the holiday that is being observed these days. We have been given time off work and our children have a break from school.

In this time the Christian remember, according to their belief, the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. May Allah’s peace be upon both of them.

First of all, it must be emphasised that Jesus is like Adam. Allah says:

“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him: ‘Be!’ and he was.” (Ali-‘Imran 3: 59)

Allah also says, regarding the excesses of the Christians:

“Oh people of the Book! Do not go to excess in your religion or say of Allah anything but the truth. Jesus, the son of Mary, was no more than a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which he bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. Do not say ‘Three.’ Desist. It will be better for you, for Allah is One God. Glory be to Him. Far Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth, and Allah is enough as a Disposer of affairs.” (An-Nisa’ 4: 171)

Allah says with regard to the crucifixion:

“Then, because of their [Bani Israil] breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their unjust slaying of the prophets, and their saying: ‘Our hearts are covered. [They don’t acknowledge what the Prophet says].’ Rather, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts for their rejection of faith, and only a few of them believe. For their disbelief, and their terrible slander against Mary. For their saying: ‘ We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah!’; but they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear that they did. And those who differ are full of doubt, without knowledge, only conjecture to follow, for surely they did not kill him. Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself, and indeed Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise.” (An-Nisa 4: 155-

We believe that Jesus will be sent down again before the end of time, and he will follow the Shari’ah of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He will be a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish the jizya.

In summary, Jesus was a prophet of Allah, created by Him.

I wish to also draw your attention to the events happening in the Muslim world. Everywhere we look we see our brothers and sisters suffering, oppressed in the earth. Look at our brothers and sisters in Palestine, suffering day after day at the hands of the Jews. We also look at occupied Iraq, and how the occupiers are oppressing the people. They are using lethal weapons indiscriminately, killing men, women, children, the elderly. They have no regard for human life. They strike, with their vast weaponry, all buildings; homes, schools, hospitals, and now even mosques, killing people as they seek refuge in the houses of Allah. Chaos is rampant. Is this the great democracy they wish to spread in the Middle East? The hospitals are full, the doctors are overburdened. The situation is so dire. How much more can people take?

I remind you, that as Muslims, we only complain to Allah. We Allah complain to Allah about our suffering. We only complain to Allah about our oppression. Indeed, Allah gives victory to the oppressed. Allah gives victory to those who turn to Him in sincerity. Allah gives victory to those who enjoin justice and fight for the truth. There is no power, and no might, except in Allah. He has power over all things.

We ask Allah to give victory to the Muslims who are fighting and struggling; in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Kashmir, and in every land. We ask Allah to strengthen them and aid them against their enemies and oppressors. We also ask Allah to purify our hearts and rectify our selves, and make us turn to Him.

La hawla wa la qawata ila billahi al-‘Ali al-‘Adhim, Walhamdu lillahi, rabbi l’alamin

DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic. Any meanings lost in translation are not to be attributed to the speaker as volunteers translate reminders. The mosque has no official translator and volunteers often have no formal qualifications to translate on the day. Please forgive any errors as they are from our human weakness and any right guidance is from Allah.

www.leedsgrandmosque.com