The pulpit between mission and begging. When objectives are reversed and money becomes the goal and the call becomes the means.

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and all his companions.

The pulpit between mission and begging.

When objectives are reversed and money becomes the goal and the call becomes the means.

By Dr Hussein  Yamani.

This religion is a religion of dignity and honor. It preserves the believer’s self respect and nurtures reliance upon Allah and independence from people. The call to Allah is a noble mission built upon sincerity, wisdom, and good counsel, not upon pressure, embarrassment, or emotional manipulation.

There is no doubt that calling people to give charity is legitimate and part of cooperation in righteousness and piety. Many verses speak about the virtue of charity, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged giving, especially in times of need. However, all of this is to be done with dignity and wisdom, without embarrassing insistence that weakens the honor of the pulpit.

Charity is an act of worship and must not be built upon coercion.

It is voluntary in its essence and was not made obligatory like zakat. How then can it be turned into an obligation through psychological or social pressure.

Allah the Exalted says: O you who believe, do not nullify your charities with reminders of generosity or harm.

If the giver can invalidate his charity through harm and reproach, what then about the one who seeks it through methods that place people in discomfort or cause them to give out of shame rather than conviction.

A legal principle states that means take the ruling of their ends. If the objective is legitimate, such as building a mosque or helping the needy, the means must not involve humiliation or undue pressure. The Prophet said: There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm.

Charity only comes from a willing and content heart.

The pulpit is a place of guidance, not a place of begging.

The imam is a role model. The pulpit is meant for reminder and education and should not become a platform for constant fundraising. A brief and dignified reminder is sufficient, without pressuring worshippers.

Unfortunately, in some Islamic centers, especially in Europe, the topic of money has become a constant focus of sermons, as though fundraising were more important than nurturing people.

Thus the scales are reversed. Money becomes the goal and the call becomes the means.

Provision is in the hand of Allah, not in the hands of people.

Allah says: And in the heaven is your provision and what you are promised. By the Lord of the heaven and the earth, it is indeed true.

If Allah has decreed a certain amount for a center, humiliation will not increase it and dignity will not decrease it.

The Prophet said: A man will continue asking people until he comes on the Day of Resurrection with no flesh on his face.

If this applies to ordinary people, what then about the one who stands on the pulpit representing the religion.

What is required is balance. Calling to goodness, explaining the virtue of charity, clarifying needs with honesty and transparency, without coercion and without making money the center of religious discourse.

This religion is a religion of dignity, not humiliation, a religion of honor, not begging, a religion of calling to Allah, not a campaign for collecting funds

This article is in the path of Allah.

And our final prayer is: All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds..