MAJORITY OF TODAY'S MUSLIMS are UNBELIEVERS

 MAJORITY OF TODAY'S MUSLIMS are UNBELIEVERS (30: 31- 32)

30:31 TURN to HIM ALONE then, and BE MINDFUL of HIM, and ESTABLISH the DIVINE SYSTEM and be NOT of THOSE WHO ASCRIBE ‘PARTNERS ’ to HIM,

30:32 THOSE WHO SPLIT UP their DEEN into SECTS with EACH SECT DELIGHTING in WHATEVER BELIEFS THEY HAVE.

👇🏻 Above verses Explain this verses

Note: 2:213, 3:104, 6:160, 23:53, 42:13. *SECTARIANISM is INVARIABLY BASED on TAKING HUMANS as ‘AUTHORITIES ’.

2:213 MANKIND were ONE SINGLE COMMUNITY. So, ALLAH SENT PROPHETS as BEARERS of GOOD NEWS and WARNINGS. He SENT DOWN with THEM the SCRIPTURE in ABSOLUTE TRUTH that it might JUDGE BETWEEN PEOPLE wherein THEY DIFFERED. But again, out of MUTUAL RIVALRY, THEY DIVIDED THEMSELVES after ALL EVIDENCE of the RIGHT HAD COME to THEM! So, ALLAH SHOWS the LIGHTED ROAD to THOSE WHO WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE the TRUTH and THUS RESOLVE their DISPUTES. And ALLAH GUIDES to the STRAIGHT ROAD HIM WHO WILLS to be GUIDED.

3:104. And let there be a NATION from AMONG YOU WHO CALLS TOWARDS GOODNESS, and ORDERS KINDNESS, and PROHIBITS VICE. And THOSE -THEY are the SUCCESSFUL ONES.

6:160. Whoever COMES WITH a GOOD DEED, he WILL RECEIVE TEN TIMES its WORTH, and WHOEVER COMES with a SIN, he WILL ONLY be RECOMPENSED its LIKE; THEY WILL NOT be WRONGED.

23:53. But they have TORN their AFFAIR of UNITY BETWEEN THEM into SECTS, EACH SECT REJOICING in WHAT it HAS.

42:13. He has ORDAINED for YOU ALL, the SAME SYSTEM of LIFE that He enjoined upon NOAH - And WE HAVE REVEALED to YOU (O Prophet) the SAME MESSAGE as WE ENJOINED upon ABRAHAM, MOSES, and ISA: "Establish the DIVINE SYSTEM of LIFE and MAKE NO SECTS IN IT.” THE UNITY YOU CALL to, IT is HARD UPON the IDOLATERS. ALLAH DRAWS to HIMSELF EVERYONE WHO is WILLING, and GUIDES to HIMSELF EVERYONE WHO TURNS to HIM for GUIDANCE.”

TWO LESSONS ABOUT HADITH FROM THE QURAN

 Despite all the evidence that the only hadith followers of the Quran should follow is the Quran itself, some people ask what if the other hadith is considered highly trustworthy, should it still be rejected?

For this argument the Quran provides two examples that took place during the life of the prophet regarding these other forms of hadith attributed to the prophet. 

These examples show that irrespective if the prophet actually made the statement or not that it is (1) the responsibility of the people who heard any other hadith attributed to the prophet to never spread or repeat such information, and (2) the responsibility of the people who heard such rumors attributed to the prophet to never accept such statements.

THE FIRST EXAMPLE 

The first example is in Surah 66 entitled appropriately enough Prohibition (Al-Tahreem / الـتحريم). In the following verse we see that the prophet gave some of his wives a hadith, then one of them spread it.

[66:3] The prophet had trusted some of his wives with a certain statement (hadith), then one of them spread it, and ALLAH let him know about it. He then informed his wife of part of the issue, and disregarded part. She asked him, “Who informed you of this?” He said, “I was informed by the Omniscient, Most Cognizant.”

وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ النَّبِيُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَاجِهِ حَدِيثًا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِ وَأَظْهَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنْ بَعْضٍ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنْبَأَكَ هَٰذَا قَالَ نَبَّأَنِيَ الْعَلِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ

It is worth noting, that ALLAH did not inform us of the specific hadith that was stated to His wives. My understanding is that if ALLAH did not inform us of a detail in the Quran then it is because it is either common knowledge, for instance ALLAH does not need to inform someone how to eat or wash, or because it is not important for the lesson we are to learn. Therefore, it doesn’t matter what the hadith was, this lesson is letting us know that the wives who had received such information from the prophet had a duty not to spread such hadith.

This is a perfect example of a statement that was actually made by Muhammad, and that ALLAH is letting us know that such hadith should not be repeated. This is the reason that it doesn’t matter what it was that Muhammad stated to his wives, but that the take away for the followers of the Quran is to not repeat such information even if it did come from Muhammad himself.

Yet, when we look at the hadith attributed to the prophet we see that Aisha, one of the wives of the prophet, is supposedly responsible for narrating some 2,210 hadith. 

These hadith are not just on religious matters such as prohibitions, punishments, marriage, sex, inheritance, pilgrimage, eschatology, among other subjects, but also related to Muhammad’s private life. It is hard to believe that these hadith have any legitimacy as what would it indicate about the prophet’s wives as they would be breaking such an important commandment from ALLAH as stated in this Sura.

[66:4] If the two of you repent to ALLAH, then your hearts have listened. But if you band together against him, then ALLAH is his ally, and so is Gabriel and the righteous believers. Also, the angels are his helpers.

إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا وَإِنْ تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

Not only that, but we see in the first verse of the Sura that Muhammad made a critical mistake for prohibiting something ALLAH did not prohibit.

[66:1] O you prophet, why do you prohibit what ALLAH has made lawful for you, just to please your wives? ALLAH is Forgiver, Merciful.

ياأَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ ما أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ تَبتَغي مَرضاتَ أَزواجِكَ وَاللَّهُ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ

In the Quran, ALLAH informs us that attributing false prohibitions to ALLAH is one of the worse offenses a person can commit, and it appears from this what Muhammad accidentally has done.

[16:116] You shall not utter lies with your own tongues stating: “This is lawful, and this is unlawful,” to fabricate lies and attribute them to ALLAH. Surely, those who fabricate lies and attribute them to ALLAH will never succeed.

وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ

Now we cannot say for sure that this mistake committed by Muhammad, for prohibiting something Allah did not prohibit, was the same hadith that was spread in 66:3. 

But it should also not be down played that these two events juxtapose each other in the verses of the Quran. 

I take this to indicate that not only was the wife of the prophet not supposed to spread any hadith she was entrusted with by the prophet, but they could have been spreading a false prohibition not authorized by Allah.

 I believe this is the reason these two verses are paired next to one another. 

That even if someone legitimately heard something from the prophet, but if it is not covered in the Quran then it is impossible to know if we have the full story behind what was stated.

The Quran informs us of a number of mistakes that Muhammad made during his life (33:37, 80:1-12, 9:43). 

In these instances, The Quran preserved the aspects of these mistakes that we were meant to learn from and corrected them. This is why the Quran is a complete book, but if we go with sources beyond the Quran the same cannot be said for these other sources as these may be missing crucial aspects and details, or fail in delivering the correct lesson from the occurrence, or even possibly be a complete fabrication as we will see in the next example. Therefore, without the best History of the Quran any other narration or testimony cannot be trusted when it comes to determining religious laws.

[12:3] We narrate to you the most accurate history through the revelation of this Quran. Before this, you were totally unaware.

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ

[12:111] In their history, there is a lesson for those who possess intelligence. This is not fabricated Hadith; this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, provides the details of everything, and is a beacon and mercy for those who believe.

 لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Many of  hadith are full of lewd and disgusting lies attributed to the prophet and the believers of that time. Rumors that as the lesson above inform us should not be repeated. So how can anyone who claims to believe in God and His words in the Quran still uphold such flimsy, baseless, narrations despite the lessons and warnings from ALLAH?

Keep in mind this was for the people who were living among the prophet at that time, let alone people who are compiling this not only 200 years after his death, but for us living 1400 years after the revelation of the Quran. How much more important is it that we do not accept such unverifiable information?

[24:14] If it were not for ALLAH grace towards you, and His mercy in this world and in the Hereafter, you would have suffered a great retribution because of this incident.

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

[24:15] You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You thought it was simple, when it was, according to ALLAH, gross.

إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ مَا لَيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ

[24:16] When you heard it, you should have said, “We will not repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood.”

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُمْ مَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَنْ نَتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ

[24:17] ALLAH admonishes you that you shall never do it again, if you are believers.

 يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

[24:18] ALLAH thus explains the revelations for you. ALLAH is Omniscient, Wise.

وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

THE SECOND EXAMPLE 

The second example for us to learn from regarding how to deal with hadith that occurred during the time of the prophet can be found in Sura 24. 

This time it is dealing with a rumors and unproven accusations, which is no different than most of the modern day hadith. 

As we have seen the earliest compilers of hadith did not start their work until some 200 years after the prophet’s death. In this second example we read the following:

[24:11] A gang among you produced a big lie. Do not think that it was bad for you; instead, it was good for you. Meanwhile, each one of them has earned his share of the guilt. As for the one who initiated the whole incident, he has incurred a terrible retribution.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَكُمْ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ مَا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

Why would ALLAH state that this was good for you, despite it stating that such people who partook in this lie earned a sin for their actions? I believe this is because the lesson is greater than the punishment if they take heed. This is true except for the one who initiated the lie, their retribution will be severe. 

This is similar to the Children of Israel who began to worship the golden calf. While they all held part of the responsibility and punishment for such flagrant defiance of God, it was only the Samarian, who initiated the whole matter, who was not to be forgiven.

So what was the big lie that was stated? From the context of the verses along with the adjacent verses before and after this lesson, we know that this lie appears to have to do with some sort of adultery. Again if ALLAH did not inform us about the specifics, then it shows that it is not important for the lesson we are to pull from this example. And we see what this lesson emphasized in the following verse:

[24:12] When you heard it, the believing men and the believing women should have had better thoughts about themselves, and should have said, “This is obviously a big lie.”

لَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ مُبِينٌ

[24:13] Only if they produced four witnesses (you may believe them). If they fail to produce the witnesses, then they are, according to ALLAH,  liars.

 لَوْلَا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ

ALLAH informs us that we are not to accept any information unless we can verify it for ourselves.

[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا

ALLAH additionally, informs us that a wicked person, a proven liar, provides us any information we are not to accept such information.

[49:6] O you who believe, if a wicked person brings any news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people, out of ignorance, then become sorry and remorseful for what you have done.

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَنْ تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ

Think about how many of the so-called “sahih” hadith are proven fabrications. Not only were 99% of the original compilers work considered unreliable with many confirmed as complete fabrications by the compilers themselves, but even the vast majority of the remaining “trustworthy” hadith still blatantly contradict the Quran.

In addition, many of these hadith are full of lewd and disgusting lies attributed to the prophet and the believers of that time. Rumors that as the lesson above inform us should not be repeated. So how can anyone who claims to believe in God and His words in the Quran still uphold such flimsy, baseless, narrations despite the lessons and warnings from ALLAH?

Keep in mind this was for the people who were living among the prophet at that time, let alone people who are compiling this not only 200 years after his death, but for us living 1400 years after the revelation of the Quran. How much more important is it that we do not accept such unverifiable information?

The individuals who are reading this and still accept hadith beside the Quran perhaps it is time to take heed and reconsider your decisions for accepting such information so that you can be spared the terrible retribution that is destined for the original compilers of these hadith who initiated this whole matter to start.

[24:14] If it were not for ALLAH’s grace towards you, and His mercy in this world and in the Hereafter, you would have suffered a great retribution because of this incident.

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

[24:15] You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You thought it was simple, when it was, according to ALLAH, gross.

إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ مَا لَيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ

[24:16] When you heard it, you should have said, “We will not repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood.”

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُمْ مَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَنْ نَتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ

[24:17] ALLAH admonishes you that you shall never do it again, if you are believers.

 يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

[24:18] ALLAH thus explains the revelations for you. ALLAH is Omniscient, Wise.

وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

A LIGHT HAS COME TO YOU FROM ALLAH.

24:35 VERSE EXPLAIN TO THIS ALL VERSES

5:15 O people of the Book, Our messenger has come to you to clarify for you much of what you were hiding from the Book, and to pardon over much. A light has come to you from Allah and a clarifying Book.

20:51.He said: "What then has happened to the previous generations?" (Note: The ancestors of the dignitaries sitting around, who never believed in your Rabb)

41:42. No falsehood could enter it, presently or afterwards (future) ; a revelation from One Most Wise, Praiseworthy.

42:52. And thus, We inspired to you a revelation of Our command. You did not know what was the Book, nor what was faith. Yet, We made this a light to guide whomever We wish from among Our servants. Surely, you guide to a straight path.

For more information about ROOH 👇🏻

17:85. They ask you about the ROOH (Revelation). Say, "The Revelation is from my Rabb World of Command of which you have been given little knowledge

Rooh' = Divine Energy from which free will has been given to humans = ‘Wahi’ = Revelation to Messengers = ‘Spirit’ = 'Soul' = Angel of Revelation. ‘Spirit’ and ‘Soul’ are popular but non-Qur’anic terms. 'Nafs' meaning Self in the Qur’an comes closest to these two terms. The Qur’an does not mention the presence of ‘rooh’, spirit or soul in humans. We consist of a physical body, mind and NAFS ‘Self’.

 15:29. And when I have perfected him in due proportion and breathed into him from My Energy, be of service to him.”

(Note: "from My Energy". So Allah gave humans 'something' from His Energy. That something is free will. 76:3.We have shown him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful.

None can guide anyone to salvation, including Jesus and Muhammed. Verse 28:56 states that Muhammed could not guide those he loved. 

But it was up to Allah to choose those who deserve to be guided.

Muhammed could guide people in accordance to Allah pre-established laws, but he could not guide a particular person of his choice. 

Every monotheist can guide to the "right path" defined by Allah. 

In other words, it is Allah who defines the system and condiditions of guidance, and we are expected to deliver it to others. 

Accepting Muhammed as independent source of guidance is setting him up as a partner with Allah.

 HADITH AND SUNNAH FABRICATION BY THE PROPHET's ENEMIES 

6:112. We have permitted the enemies oWe have permitted the enemies of every prophet, human and Jinn devils, to inspire in each other fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.f every prophet, human and Jinn devils, to inspire in each other fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.

(Note: None who acknowledges the reality of life after death would be attracted to the fancy words presented as divine inspiration or revelation. Those who idolized (J)esu(s), a human messenger, by alleging him to be literally the "son of God," are in fact, his ardent enemies. Comparing the hearsay stories in Hadith books with the precepts in the Quran, we can see why and how their narrators and collectors were indeed the enemies of Muhammed, another human messenger and servant of Allah)

39:11. Present with him and behind him are retainers, they preserve him from the command of Allah. Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change the condition of their souls. And if Allah wanted to harm a people, then there is no turning Him back, nor will they have any protector against Him.

(Note: : 8:53, 82:10. Hifz = Protect = Preserve = Save = Record = Guard. 

‘Ma bi anfusihim’ = What is in themselves = What is in their own ‘self’ = What is in their hearts = Their psyche = Their way of thinking = Their intentions = Their will to change = Their innate ‘self’)

ALLAH GUIDANCE

7:30. A group He has guided and a group have deserved misguidance; that is because they have taken the devils as allies besides Allah; and they think they are guided!

(Note: 

7:3, 22:13. The straying ones take their religious leadership as their masters instead of Allah)

28:56.You cannot guide whom you love. But it is Allah who guides whom He wills; and He is fully aware of those who receive the guidance.

ABOVE 28:56 VERSE EXPLAIN THESE ALL VERSES.

42:52.And thus, We inspired to you a revelation of Our command. You did not know what was the Book, nor what was faith. Yet, We made this a light to guide whoever We wish from among Our servants. Surely, you guide to a straight path.)

(Note: 2:272. You are not responsible for their guidance, but it is Allah who will guide whoever He wishes. And whatever you spend out of goodness is for your own souls. And anything you spend should be in seeking the face of God. And whatever you spend out of goodness will be returned to you, and you will not be wronged.

4:88. What is the matter with you that you are divided into two groups over the hypocrites, while God has regressed them for what they have earned? Do you want to guide those whom God misguides? Whoever God causes to be misguided, you will never find for him a path. ( Note: The law: Using the faculties of perception and reasoning, keeping an open mind - and freedom from prejudice, arrogance, and blind following will help people to recognize the truth. Freedom of religion: 2:148, 2:193, 2:256, 4:88, 5:48, 6:104, 6:107, 7:177, 10:99, 12:108, 18:29, 22:39, 27:80, 39:41, 56:79, 73:19)

10:99. And had your Rabb willed, all the people on the earth in their entirety would have believed. Would you force the people to make them believe?[2:256, 76:4-6]

Allah does not interfere with our initial choice. Those who decide to reject the truth, later in their lives are condemned to dogmatism and bigotry (13:11; 18:29; 42:13; 46:15; 57:22).

10:100. And it is not for a soul to believe except with the permission of Allah. And He lets taint those who do not comprehend. 

( Note: 6:126, 10:39. “He places”, “He does”, “He causes” = His laws are so designed.)

SALAT

 *SALAT IS BOTH PHYSICAL ( STAND, BOW AND PROSTRATION (RECITE QURAN VERSES ONLY) ) and DEEDS ( ESTABLISH the SYSTEM THAT FACILITATES the FOLLOWING ALLAH COMMANDS CLOSELY)*

Establish salat system following Allah commands closely 2:3, 2:177, 22:41, 94:7.

Physical salat of Timings: 17:78, 11:114, 24:58( privacy, Dawn and  Evening prayer) 

Second Meaning: The Salat that is offered by Allah and the angels cannot be an act of worship; Allah does not bow and prostrate for anyone, nor should the believers bow and prostrate to other believers. Such Salat must have a different meaning. 

This second type of Salat is what we read about in such verses as 33:43, 33:56, 9:103, and 2:157.

To arrive at the correct meaning of this second type of Salat, our starting point is 33:56. In this verse we learn that Allah and the angels offer Salat to the prophet, and by the same token, the believers are commanded to offer Salat to the prophet. 

In other words, the same act is done by Allah for the prophet, by the angels for the prophet, and by the believers for the prophet.

We must therefore search the Quran to find an act that is done for the prophet by Allah, as well as by the angels as well as by believers.

This search leads us to only one such act and that is to support:

1- Allah supports His messengers and supports all believers:

Most certainly, We will support Our messengers and those who believe, in the worldly life, and on the Day the witnesses rise. 40:51

2- The angels commanded by Allah to support the messenger and the believers:

You told the believers, "Would it not be sufficient for you if your Rabb was to reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?" 3:124

3- Believers commanded to support the messenger of Allah:

It (spoils of war) is for the poor immigrants who were driven out of their homes and their possessions as they sought Allah favour and consent, and supported Allah and His messenger. Those are the truthful ones. 59:8

If you (believers) do not support him (the prophet), Allah has already supported him. 9:40

Those who have believed in him, honoured him, supported him and followed the light which was brought down with him; they are the successful ones. 7:157

It is also worthwhile to analyse the words in 33:43 and why they validate only one meaning for the word Salat in such verses, that being; to support.

1- The angels do not have the authority to bless the believers; all blessings come from Allah alone. The angels do not exalt any believers; only Allah is worthy of exaltation. The angels cannot grant mercy to any human; all mercy comes from Allah. The angels do not have the authority to forgive anyone; all forgiveness comes from Allah alone. All that the angels can do is support the believers, in accordance to Allah commands.

2- Similarly, Allah would not ask forgiveness for the believers; Allah is the One who forgives. Allah does not exalt anyone; He alone is worthy of exaltation. However, Allah supports the believers (prophet Muhammad included) to take them out of the darkness into the light.

3- Similarly, when the prophet offers Salat to the believers, as Allah commanded him in 9:103, or when the believers offer Salat to the prophet, as commanded them in 33:56, it is in the sense of offering help and support.

4- Finally, it is necessary to point out that the act of support, whether it is from Allah to the prophet, or from the angels to the prophet, or from the believers to the prophet, can only be done during the lifetime of the prophet.

The prophet is now dead, he is not able to support the believers (9:103), nor are the believers able to support him (33:56).

It is true that SAJDA MEANS obedience, submission to Allah law 16: 49. From this verse we should not necessarily infer that everything has a mind like humans. Even if we subscribe to such a fancy assumption, mental events too are physical events; they are the consequence of interactions of electrons. In fact, the prostration of all the creatures we perceive is physical. Any event that can be sensed by our five senses is a physical event. Atoms peacefully surrender to God's laws when they interact with each other. When water freezes it peacefully surrenders to God's law and expands; when it is heated to a certain degree it evaporates. When Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen atoms come together in a particular order they create bases called Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine; and when these bases join each other in a particular order, pre-ordained by God, they create DNAs that produce new qualities and events, including life. Every cell and organ in our bodies submits to God's law. These are all physical demonstration of SaJDa to God. No wonder, the entire universe is stated to have submitted to God (3:83; 13:15). Interestingly, in these two verses the same idea is depicted yet in 3:83 the verb aSLaMa (submitted) is used while in 13:15 the verb yaSJuDu (prostrating) is used. This is strong evidence that both verbs belong to the same semantic field. As we know, submission to God is not just a mental activity but also a physical action, such as working hard, delivering God's message, feeding the poor, etc.

The word SaJDa in some verses means ONLY mental (in quantum, electronic or neural level) prostration while in other verses it means ONLY bodily (atomic and molecular level) prostration. The prostration mentioned in 27:20 must be bodily, and the one in verse 77:48 most likely refers to mental prostration.

As for verse 22:18, it describes both mental and bodily submission to God. One might argue, "Has anyone ever seen any of these creations bow and prostrate on the ground (animals excluded)? Since all things in heavens and earth do not prostrate to God by casting themselves face down on the ground in humility, then we should not prostrate that way either." This conclusion is based on a false assumption that ALL creatures prostrate the same way. Every creature in the heavens and the earth glorifies God (24:41; 57:1; 59:1; 61:1; 62:1; 64:1). But we may not understand their glorification (17:44). We are also instructed to glorify our Lord day and night, not like birds or planets, but like humans, in our language and according to our natural design (3:41; 5:98; 7:206; 19:11; 20:130; 32:15; 40:55; 50:39; 52:48; 56:74; 69:52; 76:26; 87:1; 110:3).

ZAKAT AND SADAQAH

 1. DISTINCTION OF ZAKAT FROM PURIFICATION:

zāy kāf wāw (ز ك و)  appears in Quran 59 times.

A. 21 times as verb in the meaning of 'Purify'. Who does this act of Purification?

1. Allah to you- verses - 24.21, 2.174, 3.77, 4.49, 53.32, 91.9

Example - [24:21] O you who believe, do not follow the footsteps of the devil. Whoever follows the footsteps of the devil then, indeed, he advocates immorality and evil. Were it not for Allah's favour upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have ever been purified, but Allah purifies whom He wills. Allah is Hearer, Knowledgeable.

2. Messenger / Quran to you- verses - 2.129, 2.151, 3.164, 9.103, 62.2 

Example - [2:129] Our Lord, and raise in their midst a messenger from themselves to recite to them Your revelations, and teach them the Scripture and the wisdom, and purify them. You are the Dignified, the Wise."

3. You to yourself - verses - 20.76, 35.18, 79.18, 80.3, 80.7, 87.14, 92.18

Example - [20:76] the Gardens of Eden beneath which rivers flow. Therein they shall permanently remain. Such is the reward of those who purify themselves.

B. 30 times as a noun after the verb 'waatu' which means 'give' that is giving from Income:

4.162 5.12 5.55 7.156 9.5 9.11 9.18 9.71 19.31 19.55 21.73 22.41 22.78 23.4 24.37 24.56 27.3 30.39 31.4 33.33 41.7 58.13 73.20 98.5 - where YOU give Zakat to OTHERS. It is not Purification. 

[2:177] Piety is not in turning your faces towards the east and the west. Rather, the pious is the one who has believed in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scripture and the prophets, and who gave away money, despite his love for it, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the homeless, the beggars and to free slaves, and who observed the Salat and gave the Zakat, and the ones who fulfil their oath if they take an oath, and the ones who are patient through misery, hardship and at times of conflict. These are the ones who have been truthful and these are the reverent ones.

We are to give away from our income whether it is voluntary (Sadaqat) or compulsory (Zakat) is a separate question. The point in the verse is we must share our income and with certain defined group of people. 

[2:215] They ask you what should they give, say, "Anything good that you give should be to the parents, the close ones, the orphans, the needy and the wayfarer, and any good that you do, Allah is Knowledgeable thereof."

[3:133] And hasten in pursuit of forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the Outer Spaces/ Universe and the earth. It has been prepared for the reverent [3:134] who GIVE IN PROSPERITY AND HARDSHIP, and the suppressors of rage, and those who pardon the people. Allah loves the good-doers.

So,  the distinction  between Purification and Charity is clear- 

-  Giving the Deen of Allah to a person that is making him believer is Purification. 

- Giving (nūn fā qāf - ن ف ق)  from income is mandatory (Zakat) or voluntarily (Sadaqat)

* be mindful purification is used as a Verb that is purify where as Zakat is used as Noun.  Hence you see 'Give Zakat' but do not see 'Give purification'.

2. HOW  ZAKAT BECOMES OBLIGATORY ON YOU:

The Zakat is an obligatory payment on all believers who have an income that he can afford to part with.

[2:219] They ask you about intoxicants and gambling, say, "In them are gross sins and benefits for the people, and their sinfulness is greater than their benefits." And they ask you what to give, say: "Al-affwoo." Allah thus clarifies the revelations for you so that you may reflect

A key word in this verse is the word "al-affwoo". To be able to determine what is exactly meant by this word we should look at other Quranic verses that employ the same word. The following are some Quranic verses of significance:

4.153- Then they set up the calf, even after the clear proofs had come to them, 'fa afawna aan zalika' (yet We pardoned that). 

3. 3.133-134- The reverent who give in prosperity and hardship, and the suppressors of rage, and 'al-aafeen aan al-naas' (those who pardon the people). Allah loves the good-doers.

5.101- O you who believe, do not ask about matters which, if disclosed to you, would hurt you, but if you ask about them when the Quran is being brought down, they will be disclosed to you. Allah has 'aafa aanha' (pardoned those matters). Allah is Forgiver, Forbearing.

5.95 - 'aafa Allah aamma salaf' (Allah has pardoned what happened in the past), but Allah will avenge anyone who re-offends. Allah is Dignified, Avenger.

According to the above verses, we can see that the word "al-affwoo" (and its derivatives) have been used to mean: that which is pardoned or overlooked.

If we apply this to the word "al-affwoo" which is used in 2:219, which is related to the payment of Zakat, we can see that Allah is telling us that we should pay Zakat from that part of our income which we can afford to give away without the need to ask for it back, or in other words, what we can afford to overlook and pardon without incurring any hardship.

3. WHEN ZAKAT TO BE PAID:

[6:141] He is the One who produced gardens, trellised and un-trellised, and palm trees, and vegetation of various tastes, and olives, and pomegranate, similar and dissimilar. Eat from their fruits when it yields, and give its decreed obligation on the day of its harvest, and do not be excessive, He does not like the excessive ones.

According to 6:141, Zakat must be given away on the day of harvest. These words are only symbolic of the day we receive income. Thus, we should pay the Zakat whenever we receive income. Again, it is not about profitability but what you can part with.  So, in case of a Farmer when you Harvest. In case of a service person when you receive Salary. In case of a business when you prepare the statement- monthly / quaterly / annually.   Be mindful that it is not asking to disburse the Zakat on the same day- which is not practical but to do away with it (set aside / forego) for disbursement. 

4- WHO ARE OBLIGATED TO GIVE ZAKAT:

The Zakat is payable only by those who have excess after fulfilling their basic needs. Therefore if paying the Zakat would cause genuine hardship to a person or his/her family, then they are not obliged to pay it:

2.219- ..............They ask you what to give, say: 'al-affwoo'. God thus clarifies the revelations for you so that you may reflect. 

This means that for those who receive an income that is barely enough to feed and clothe their families, but with nothing to spare, are not required to pay Zakat.

This is also confirmed in 22:78 where Allah tells us that He does not want us to experience hardship in practicing the religion:

[22:78] And strive in the cause of Allah with the striving that is due to Him. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in the religion - the creed of your father Abraham. He has named you Submitters previously, and in this, so that the messenger may serve as a witness over you, and you to serve as witnesses over the people. So observe the Salat and give the Zakat, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Master, the best Master and the best Supporter.

As we mentioned - there are two sides in the process - those who give Zakat and those who Receive Huqq.  And of course there are Muslims who neither give nor receive. (Recipients include non-Muslims)

5- IS  THERE A PERCENTAGE OR RATIO:

I. PERCENTAGE- The straightforward answer is no. Nowhere in the Quran there is any hint of a fixed rate. The 2.5% rate, which is followed by Muslims around the world, is not found in the Quran. We have seen that the Quran defines the Zakat payment from 'Al-AFFWOO', which is what a person is able to give away without incurring any great hardship. Obviously this amount will differ from person to person depending on their income.

We are given in 17:26-29 clear confirmation that Allah did not set a fixed percentage for Zakat

17.26-29- You shall give the relative his due, as well as the needy and the homeless, and do not squander wastefully. (27) The squanderers are brothers to the devils, and the devil is a rejecter of his Lord. (28) If you must turn away from them because you yourself are seeking mercy from your Lord and hoping for it, then say to them words that comfort them. (29) DO  NOT KEEP  YOUR HAND TIED TO  YOUR NECK, NOR SHALL YOU FULLY EXTEND  IT, LEST YOU END  UP BLAMING YOURSELF AND FEELING REMORSEFUL. 

If the traditional 2.5% rate for Zakat was truly from God, would God command us "Do not keep your hand tied to your neck" nor "fully extend it"? 

II. RATIO - Some so called scholars claim Zakat to be 1/5th of Income citing 8.41.

[8:41] And know that one-fifth of whatever spoils you gain shall go to Allah and the messenger, the relatives, the orphans, the needy and the homeless. This is if you believe in Allah and in what We brought down upon Our servant on the Day of the Criterion; the day the two groups met. Allah is Capable of all things.

It has been claimed by some, that the words in 8:41 speak of the Zakat and that one fifth (20%) of what we gain "ghanimtum" should be dedicated to the recipients specified in 8:41. 

The literal meaning of this word is: what you have gained. The question is whether this word in 8:41 refers to everything a person gains such as income, capital gains, gifts, inheritance etc, or is it used in 8:41 in a specific meaning?

1- Confirmation is given in 8:41 with the words "the day the two groups met." Those who try to manipulate Quranic words in order to enforce their own interpretations, have a habit of quoting some words in isolation and not the whole verse! By reading all the words in 8:41 we have confirmation that the words "you gain" are clearly related to what is gained in war, which are the spoils of war.

2- The verb "ghanimtum" is used only twice in all the Quran. The first is in 8:41 and the second is in 8:69. In 8:69 the believers are told to rejoice in what they gain from war. Once again if we look at the verses just before 8:69 we see they are speaking about war. In 8:67 God is telling the prophet that he may not have prisoners of war except under certain conditions, and in 8:68 God tells the prophet that he would be punished if he breaks these rules. This continues in 8:69 and we find the word "ghanimtum" which is sill connected to war time.

3-The sura, in which the word "ghanimtum" is used twice, is called Al-Anfal. This word means the spoils of war, which again confirms the topic to be related to the time of war.

4.- The word "ghanimtum" is a verb and the noun is "maghaanim". This word has also been used in the Quran to refer to the spoils of war such as in 48:19 and 48:20. These verses follow from 48:18 which speaks of an imminent victory (in battle).

B. SADAQAT 

As usual in Quran there is not a single verse definition of Sadaqa. We understand Sadaqa through it's application.

1. SADAQAT IS  NOT ONLY FINANCIAL:

[9:79] Those who criticise the believers who volunteer for charity work, and those who find nothing to give other than their effort, so they mock them; Allah has indeed mocked them, and they shall have a painful punishment.

2. SADAQAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR CONSULTATION ON DEEN:

[58:12] O you who believe, if you consult the messenger in private, you shall offer a charity before your private consultation. This is better for you and purer, but if you cannot find the means, then Allah is Forgiver, Merciful.

[58:13] Are you reluctant to offer a charity before your private conferring? If you have not done so and Allah has redeemed you, then you shall observe the Salat, give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His messenger. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

[9:103] Take a charity from their money to cleanse and purify them with it, and support them. Your support provides them with tranquillity. Allah is Hearer, Knowledgeable.

** one may differ by saying that these verses refers to Prophet himself. I understand them as applicable to all Muslims.

** these verses does not mean sadaqat to the person who is giving the advice. It means to Sadaqat to the designated categories.

3. SADAQAT AS A RECOMPENSE if ONE UNABLE TO FULFILL CERTAIN RITE:

[2:196] And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah. If you are prevented, then make a convenient offering, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its destination. And for the one who is ill or suffering a head injury, is given the concession of fasting, or giving to charity (Sadaqa), or by observing a worship ritual. And when you are safe and well, those who progress from Umrah to Hajj shall make a convenient offering. And for those who are not able to, you shall fast three days during Hajj and seven on your return; that is a total of ten. That is for those whose family does not live near the Masjid Al-Haram. You shall reverence Allah and know that Allah is severe in punishment.

4. OPENLY OR SECRETLY:

It is alright to execute Zakat and Sadaqat openly but discretion is better. Do not embarrass the recipient. Do not ridicule the recipient.

[2:271] If you disclose the charities, that is fine, but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, then it is better for you, and He will wipe out your bad deeds for you. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

[2:263] Kind words and forgiveness are better than a charity that is followed by harm. Allah is Rich, Forbearing.

[2:264] O you who believe, do not nullify your charities through insult and harm, like one who spends his money to show off in front of the people, while he does not believe in God and the Last Day. His example is like the example of a smooth rock upon which was dust, then it was hit by heavy rain which left it bare. They benefit nothing from what they earned, and Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.

C. RECEIPIENTS  OF ZAKAT AND SADAQAT:

They are not same. Receipients of Zakat is out lined in 17.26 and 2.215

17.26 - You shall give the relative his due, as well as the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully.

[2:215] They ask you what should they give, say, "Anything good that you give should be to the parents, the close ones, the orphans, the needy and the wayfarer, and any good that you do, Allah is Knowledgeable thereof."

1. Parents - wāw lām dāl (و ل د) 

2.  Relatives - qāf rā bā (ق ر ب)

3. Orphans / Destitutes - yā tā mīm (ي ت م)

4. Needy - sīn kāf nūn (س ك ن) 

5. Wayfarer - sīn bā lām (س ب ل) 

Receipients of Sadaqa comes from 9.60

[9:60] The charities are to go to the poor, the needy, those who work on their collection, those whose hearts have reconciled, to free the slaves, to those in debt, also in the cause of Allah and to the wayfarer. This is an obligation decreed by Allah. Allah is Knowledgeable, Wise.

1. Poor - fā qāf rā (ف ق ر)

2. Needy - sīn kāf nūn (س ك ن) 

3. Collectors -  ʿayn mīm lām (ع م ل)

4. Affectionate / Friends - hamza lām fā (أ ل ف) 

5. To free slaves - rā qāf bā (ر ق ب) 

6. Indebted- ghayn rā mīm (غ ر م) 

7. Way / cause of Allah - sīn bā lām (س ب ل)

8. Wayfarer - bā nūn yā (ب ن ي)

In 9.60 the word obligation (Farida) refers to the distribution list and not to Sadaqa itself.

** be mindful that these categories are in no way has any binding what so ever to be qualified as only Believers / Muslims. 

Poor, Needy, Friends, Parents.... are Poor, Needy, Friends, Parents. No race,  ethnicity,  religion does qualify anyone to  be your Parents,  Friends, Needy, Poor.

ZAKAT & SADAQAT

A. ZAKAT IS AN OBLIGATION / FARD:

There are plenty of verses in Quran to declare Zakat as Fard and how important it is-

[7:156] ....................He said, "My punishment will strike whomever I please and My MERCY encompasses all things, and so I shall decree IT for those who are reverent, give the Zakat and those who believe in Our revelations,

[51:19] and in their money, they acknowledge a rightful portion for the beggar and the deprived.

2:43 - And observe the Salat and GIVE the Zakat, and bow down with those who bow down.

'Give' is a command and that makes it Fard. This fard can only be fulfilled if there is a decree for receivers.  It is also an obligation for following recipients to accept the Zakat. 

17:26- You shall give the relative his DUE / RIGHT (Haqq), as well as the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully.

So, some people has a Right in your Income.  Haqq + Give charity = obligatory Charity > Zakat.

IS ZAKAT BASED ON INCOME OR SAVINGS?*

Some Muslims believe that zakat is based on their savings. However, according to verse 6:141, we see evidence that zakat is based on income and that zakat is due as soon as you get paid. The verse uses the example of a farmer who harvests fruit. When the fruits are ready, they can be harvested. On that day, the farmer must pay his due (zakat) since that is the day the farmer can sell the fruit and get paid.

And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess. (6:141)

*Nowadays, most people don’t work as farmers. Nevertheless, the point of the verse above is that one has to pay his dues (zakat) when they receive an income, whether it is every 2 weeks, once a month, or yearly.