Zakat should build love, not pride
“It is not la ilaha illallah; it is the whole package.”
Zakat is the inseparable twin of salah, and its true purpose is not the transfer of money but the cultivation of love, humility, and social solidarity between the giver and the recipient.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Arabic opening praise and supplications
- Recap of prior khutbah: salah unifies hearts in the house of Allah
- Zakat introduced as the third pillar and the 'twin' of salah in the Quran
- Worship is inseparable from conduct: kindness to parents, honoring inheritance shares
- The spirit of giving: humility, no arrogance, gratitude for being a giver not a taker
- Khadija's testimony about the Prophet: caring for relatives, carrying the needy, honoring guests
- Al-Hasan al-Basri's regret at not giving proactively before being asked
- Second khutbah: Abu Bakr's stance on those who withheld zakat; Zayn al-Abidin's secret night charity; closing du'a
In the khateeb's words
“Whenever Allah say. Aqimu salata. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mention. With that. The zakah.”
“I am crying because I ignored him and I forget about him. Till he walked to me and lower himself to ask me for help.”
“It's not just a money you give. And you brag about it. Or my name has to be roasted. On the list.”
“it is not la ilaha illallah it is the whole package there is la ilaha illallah there is salah there is zakah there is haj there is siyam”
For the dinner table
Today the khateeb taught us that zakah is not just money we hand out, it is the twin of salah, and Allah mentions the two together throughout the Quran because worship and caring for people cannot be separated. He reminded us that real zakah purifies our hearts: we give with humility, grateful to be the hand that gives rather than the one that receives, and never to make the other person feel small. He shared how Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) comforted the Prophet (peace be upon him) by listing his kindness to relatives, the poor, and guests, proof that Islam is how much we benefit people, starting with those in our own home. He also told of Al-Hasan al-Basri, who cried because he wished he had helped a man before the man had to ask, and of Zayn al-Abidin, who secretly carried food to families at night for years without anyone knowing. The lesson for our family is to look around, find who needs us, and give quietly, lovingly, and before being asked.
- If you could secretly do one kind thing for someone this week without them knowing it was you, what would it be?
- The khateeb said our family's opinion of us is the real test of our character, what do you think the people in this house would say about you?
- Who is someone you know that might need help but would never ask for it?
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