relating to Sadaqa-e-Fitr, and other financial rulings so that as many people as possible may understand and draw benefit from it.

After buying this book, do not only read it yourself, but distribute it as a gift amongst the Muslims. In this manner, you will earn great reward. This book can be read, downloaded and printed for free from the website of Dawat-e-Islami: www.dawateislami.net

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Zakat was made Fard in the second year Hijri before the obligation of fasting. ^[1]

When Zakat was made Fard, the honourable Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم who possessed the necessary amount of wealth would pay Zakat of their possessions wholeheartedly, happily and with great enthusiasm. Let’s now listen to a story related to this.

The Companions and their passion for giving Zakat

Sayyiduna Ubay bin Ka’b رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrated: “The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once sent me to collect Zakat. I visited a man, and when he gathered all his possessions in front of me, I concluded he was to give a one-year-old camel as Zakat. ‘Give this one-year-old-camel’, I said, ‘as it is Zakat for these (other) camels.’ The man said, ‘What benefit will a one-year-old camel give? It can neither be used for riding, nor for drawing milk. Kindly look, there is another strong, well-fed camel in my possession. Take this as Zakat instead.’

I said to him, ‘I will not take any such thing that I have not been commanded to. However, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is close by. Present yourself to him and forward this (the well-fed camel)