In a sermon delivered this week at mosques across Turkey, the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) emphasized the significance of zakat, an Islamic pillar requiring annual charitable giving by Muslims who meet a certain wealth threshold.

The sermon, titled "Adding Barakah to Our Brotherhood Through Zakat," explained that zakat goes beyond simply sharing wealth. It serves as a form of expressing gratitude to Allah (God) and fostering social cohesion.

"One of the five pillars of our sublime religion, Islam, is zakat," the sermon explained. It elaborated on the concept, stating that zakat is "the sharing of a certain portion of one's wealth once a year with those in need by a Muslim who is considered wealthy in religious terms."

The sermon quoted relevant Quranic verses and hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) to reinforce the importance of zakat. It highlighted that fulfilling this obligation brings blessings to one's wealth, promotes peace of mind, and paves the way for paradise. Conversely, withholding zakat was portrayed as attracting negative consequences.

"For wealthy Muslims, zakat is a mandatory act of worship, not a choice," the sermon stressed. "Giving zakat brings blessings to one’s wealth, fosters peace of mind, and paves the way for a believer to enter paradise. Withholding zakat, on the other hand, causes one to miss the barakah of their wealth, to become a slave of stinginess, greed and avarice, and leads them to a painful punishment in the Hereafter."

The sermon further emphasized the role of zakat in strengthening social bonds and promoting brotherhood among Muslims.

"By giving zakat, a wealthy Muslim fulfills the obligation to pay the rightful share of those in need," it explained. "Zakat establishes bonds of love and trust among believers. It fosters a sense of social harmony by uniting our hearts, strengthening our brotherhood, and promoting solidarity among us."

The Diyanet sermon also underscored the role of zakat in aiding those less fortunate around the world. It described zakat as "sowing the seeds of goodness" and offering a helping hand to those struggling with poverty and hardship.

"Zakat is to sow the seeds of goodness in our country and all around the world," the sermon stated. "It is to extend our helping hand to those in need of a morsel of bread and a sip of water wherever they are in the world. Zakat is to instill hope in all those who are oppressed and victimized, enduring hardship and striving for survival under difficult circumstances."

The sermon specifically mentioned the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, a charitable organization affiliated with the Diyanet, which collects and distributes zakat donations.

"Our Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, with the motto ‘May Our Brotherhood Be Blessed with Zakat,’ distributes the zakat entrusted by our generous nation to our brothers and sisters worldwide, particularly in our country," it informed listeners.

The sermon concluded with an invitation to the public to contribute to the foundation's zakat collection efforts and a prayer for the well-being of those who have supported charitable causes throughout history.

The full text of the sermon is as follows:

ADDING BARAKAH TO OUR BROTHERHOOD THROUGH ZAKAT

Honorable Muslims!

In the verse I have recited, our Lord Almighty (swt) states, “Establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will certainly find its reward with Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.”

In the hadith I have read, our Prophet (saw) says, “Allah has made zakat obligatory simply to purify your remaining property.”

Dear Believers!

One of the five pillars of our sublime religion, Islam, is zakat. Zakat is the sharing of a certain portion of one’s wealth once a year with those in need by a Muslim who is considered wealthy in religious terms. Zakat is a way to express our gratitude to Allah (swt), the ultimate source of all blessings. It is a way to show that we do not hesitate to sacrifice our wealth with those in need in order to attain the pleasure of Allah (swt). As in the words of our beloved Prophet (saw), “Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.”

Dear Muslims!

For wealthy Muslims, zakat is a mandatory act of worship, not a choice. Giving zakat brings blessings to one’s wealth, fosters peace of mind, and paves the way for a believer to enter paradise. Withholding zakat, on the other hand, causes one to miss the barakah of their wealth, to become a slave of stinginess, greed and avarice, and leads them to a painful punishment in the Hereafter.

Dear Believers!

Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an as follows: وَف۪ٓي اَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِلسَّٓائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ “And in their wealth there was a rightful share fulfilled for the beggar and the poor.”  By giving zakat, a wealthy Muslim fulfills the obligation to pay the rightful share of those in need. Zakat establishes bonds of love and trust among believers. It fosters a sense of social harmony by uniting our hearts, strengthening our brotherhood, and promoting solidarity among us.

Dear Muslims!

Zakat is to sow the seeds of goodness in our country and all around the world. It is to extend our helping hand to those in need of a morsel of bread and a sip of water wherever they are in the world. Zakat is to instill hope in all those who are oppressed and victimized, enduring hardship and striving for survival under difficult circumstances.

Zakat is to provide our brothers and sisters with the joy of iftar and suhoor during Ramadan, the month of mercy and forgiveness. It is to protect and care for the orphan, who are entrusted to us by our Lord (swt), and to share with them the joy of ‘eid. In one of his hadiths, our Prophet (saw) promised a great reward by gesturing his index finger and middle finger close together, “I and the caretaker of the orphan will be together in paradise like this.”

Dear Believers!

Our Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, with the motto “May Our Brotherhood Be Blessed with Zakat”, distributes the zakat entrusted by our generous nation to our brothers and sisters worldwide, particularly in our country. We invite you to support this caravan of brotherhood. You can easily contribute to this mobilization of benevolence, with a receipt, under the guidance of our religious officials through the provincial and district mufti offices, as well as online at the website of Türkiye Diyanet Foundation.

I would like to take this opportunity to pray for the mercy of Allah the Almighty upon all our deceased brothers and sisters who have devoted themselves to charity and goodness from the past to the present. May health, peace, and prosperity be with those who live on.

I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the following verse, “You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.” (ILKHA)