Why Does Allah Mention Salah & Zakah Together? | Sheikh Dr. Asim al-Qaryooti #AMAU

Establish prayer and give zakat. We often observe in the Book of Allah, the Exalted, the frequent pairing of prayer and zakat. This pairing invites us to reflect and ponder upon its meaning. For example, when one of the Companions prayed and then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Prophet told him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." So he went back and prayed, then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who told him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed," three times. Then he said, "I do not know how to do it properly." Indeed, scholars do not bequeath dirhams or dinars, but rather knowledge. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, who has paired prayer and zakat in His Book and made them the pillars of religion. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet of guidance, the master of the prophets and messengers. Furthermore, we often observe in the Book of Allah, the Exalted, the frequent pairing of prayer and zakat. This pairing invites us to reflect and ponder upon why prayer and zakat are paired in these numerous verses in the Book of Allah, the Exalted. This pairing is not merely a combination of words and repetition, but it has several meanings. Prayer is worship of Allah, meaning worship of what is between a person and Allah. And his Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, has ordained that benevolence towards creation is a form of benevolence towards creation, and it is also an act of worship. The religion of Islam has made life for the Muslim beneficial to himself and to others. The verses related to zakat in the Book of God, the Almighty, are numerous, appearing in 23 places, including in Surah Al-Baqarah and others, where He, the Almighty, says: "And establish prayer and give zakat." Some verses praise the believers, as in His, the Almighty, says: "And establish prayer and give zakat," and similarly, in His, the Almighty, says: "And establish prayer and give zakat," which is a statement of fact, while the former is a command. Likewise, in other surahs, there is praise for those who establish prayer and give zakat. This is abundant in the Book of God, the Almighty, and all of this indicates its importance. He has also made repentance, and among its signs and requirements, is the establishment of prayer and the giving of zakat, as He said: "But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat." Similarly, when He informed us: "And establish prayer and give zakat," all of this indicates its importance. Zakat was indeed a practice of the prophets and the righteous, as God said, "He has enjoined upon me prayer and zakat as long as I live" in Surah Maryam. He also commanded his family to pray and give zakat. Similarly, in Surah Al-Anbiya, we find the command to establish prayer and give zakat. Likewise, in Surah Al-Hajj, there are verses about establishing prayer and giving zakat, as well as in Surah An-Nur and Surah Luqman, praising those who establish prayer and give zakat. The same applies to Surah Al-Mujadilah, Surah Al-Muzzammil, and Surah Al-Bayyinah. Upon reflecting on this pairing, one might ask: what is the reason for mentioning prayer with zakat in this verse? Prayer implies sincerity to God Almighty. One must be sincere to their Lord in prayer and worship God, the Exalted, with insight and in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Zakat implies kindness to people. Thus, there are two great principles: worship of God and kindness to creation. We have also said that this kindness is... All the Muslim's actions are acts of worship and submission to God Almighty. Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my life and my death are for God, Lord of the worlds." Thus, prayer, zakat, charity, and all that until death are for God, Lord of the worlds. This necessitates that all actions be intended for the sake of God. 20 Academy gives you structured Islamic studies in Arabic and all your own. missademy.com. Here, in combining prayer and zakat, Ibn Kathir mentions that prayer is the noblest of physical acts of worship, and zakat is one of the greatest of financial acts of worship. Therefore, God combined them, combining two types of worship. Al- Qurtubi also mentions that the command to perform prayer and zakat implies their obligation, and their conjunction indicates that one cannot be separated from the other. Prayer cannot be separated from zakat. Each of them, prayer and zakat, is a great pillar of Islam. Zakat purifies wealth, purifies the soul, and purifies the spirit. The soul is purified from sins by giving zakat. This also indicates that zakat is from the laws of the previous prophets, as in Surah Al-Anbiya and Surah Maryam. This indicates that These two acts of worship are great and are among the foundations of Islamic law. This underscores their importance and clarifies that the religion is based on prayer and zakat, as mentioned in Surah Al-Bayyinah, which explains the straight path. Similarly, Allah Almighty says, "And establish prayer," and praises those who establish prayer. It requires further explanation that performing prayer is one thing, and establishing prayer is another. Performing prayer in the Prophetic manner, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed and as he said, "Pray as you have seen me pray," is establishing prayer in the required manner, with sincerity to Allah, standing before Him, being mindful of Him, and praying as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed. It is not merely performing it in any way. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once led the Companions in prayer on the pulpit, and when he wanted to prostrate, he stepped back. Afterward, he told them, "I only did this so that you would follow me and learn my prayer. Pray as you have seen me pray." Therefore, prayer must be in accordance with the Prophetic guidance, and this is establishing it, not performing it in any way. This is why, when one of the Companions prayed and then... The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said this to him, so he went back and prayed. Then he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who told him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed," three times. Then he said, "I don't know any other way," meaning, "This is all I know." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told him, " When you want to pray, perform ablution as God has commanded you, then face the qibla, then say 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Greatest)," and he guided him. This is known among scholars as the hadith of the man who prayed incorrectly. The point and evidence is that prayer must be performed according to the Prophetic guidance. Establishing prayer has a great meaning that includes performing it with sincerity to God Almighty, that the prayer be accompanied by humility, and that it be completed in the Prophetic manner, and that it be consistent in performing the prayers and not missing or neglecting them in terms of their times. Likewise, regarding giving zakat, this word, " giving zakat," indicates giving, not merely giving zakat, but it indicates that the one giving zakat gives it willingly and from his own heart. Giving zakat indicates generosity in spending. There is a point in presenting Prayer precedes zakat in this verse and many others. Scholars have explained that this is because God's right takes precedence, as prayer is the pillar of religion and the dividing line between a person and disbelief. Abandoning prayer is the opposite of pilgrimage. Therefore, prayer is mentioned before zakat, and this repetition in the Book of God, the Exalted, could only be for great benefit. This pairing in the Book of God, the Exalted, indicates the greatness of prayer and the greatness of zakat, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining prayer and paying zakat. The entire religion is worship of God, the Exalted, as we have mentioned. Worship is inseparable from kindness to creation; they are intertwined. This requires sincerity to God, the Exalted. This also shows us that Islam, just as it emphasizes worship between a person and their Lord, the Exalted, also emphasizes social solidarity and upholding the rights of the poor, the needy, and those entitled to zakat. This is one of the virtues of the religion of Islam. The religion of Islam is great and full of virtues, and it is impossible to enumerate all of them. However, these are some of its hallmarks, including those related to upbringing. Prayer... Prayer refines the soul and purifies the heart, and Zakat (obligatory charity) also refines the soul and brings blessings and growth to wealth. In short, the Quran's pairing of prayer and Zakat is not mere verbal repetition, but a profound principle built upon the religion of God Almighty and upon what rectifies the heart and the well-being of society. Separating them is a flaw in the religion. I ask God Almighty to make me and you among those who establish prayer in the manner that pleases our Lord, and among those who give Zakat, and that He accepts this from us all. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.