وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَـوةِ فَـعِلُونَ
Stranger: We move on now to the characteristic of doing zakat. Yes doing, not paying. Can you explain this for us Dr.?
Dr: The ayah says that they - the Mu'minoon are doing their zakat - fa'iloon means to do or carry out. Also unlike the previous ayah where the ayah says that they are in "salatihim" using the possessive pronoun on the end of salat implies that the salat is for each mu'min between him/her and Allah only. This ayah says "lizakat" without the pronoun on the end because the zakat is a benefit for not only that person but others too.
The end word of the ayah "fa'iloon" means doers of. So the Mu'min are doers of zakat.
The zakat is not only the compulsory yearly payment but it is also purification of the self (nafs) as in tazkiyat al-nafs.
The word zakah in the dictionary means to grow, enlarge, to bless, to purify as well as other meanings, so we will just look at these ones. Zakat whether it be purifying the wealth by giving some away or purifying the self, is growth and increase. Allah the Most High mentions the spending in his way as increase, Allah (the Most Merciful) does not let our actions for Him go unrewarded. As He mentions in surat al-Baqarah:272
"وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ
تُظْلَمُونَ
"...And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged." 2:272
It doesn't mean that Allah Most High will send you money, He may repay you in good health and righteous children, and of course He has with Him the greatest repayment of a place in Jannat-Al-Firdous.
This zakat has to be actively done, you don't just wait for a poor person or an opportunity to come to you, you go out and actively do zakat by whatever means so long as it is not against what Allah has ordained and what is stipulated in the Sunnah of Rasool Allah (peace be upon him).
I hope that is helpful for understanding the ayah and character of the Mu'mineen.
Stranger: Insha Allah khair and thank you for your time and help in explaining this for us. How did you do in your English Exam? Maybe soon you can do lectures?
Dr: I only just passed the level - basic level!!! Years to go my sister and you have to teach me!
Stranger: I Ask Allah to guide me in my translations of our tafsir conversations and that what I diseminate here is correct. It may be missing some information but the most important thing that it is correct. This is also a reminder for readers to comment on anything that is not clear or they feel should be mentioned.
Wa alaikum Assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barokatuhu.
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