Salaamun Alayka,
Sir Joseph,
I immensely respect your time and commitments, and would greatly appreciate your explanation for the questions arising below.
The following Quran verses commands believers to spend and it is in imperative mood meaning it is a duty believers must oblige and take it as an obligatory act:
And spend [freely] in God's cause, and let not your own hands throw you into destruction; and persevere in doing good: behold, God loves the doers of good. (2:195)
O YOU who have attained to faith! Spend [in Our way] out of what We have granted you as sustenance ere there come a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship, and no intercession. And they who deny the truth -it is they who are evildoers! (2:254)
O you who have attained to faith! Spend on others out of the good things which you may have acquired, and out of that which We bring forth for you from the earth; and choose not for your spending the bad things which you yourselves would not accept without averting your eyes in disdain. And know that God is self-sufficient, ever to be praised. (2:267)
Thus, when they are told, “Spend on others out of what God has provided for you as sustenance,” those who are bent on denying the truth say unto those who believe, “Shall we feed anyone whom, if [your] God had so willed, He could have fed [Himself]? Clearly, you are but lost in error!” (36:47)
BELIEVE in God and His Apostle, and spend on others out of that of which He has made you trustees: for, those of you who have attained to faith and who spend freely [in God’s cause] shall have a great reward. (57:7)
The following two verses you listed them under the benefits of Sadaqah.
And spend on others out of what We have provided for you as sustenance, ere there come a time when death approaches any of you, and he then says, "O my Sustainer! If only Thou wouldst grant me a delay for a short while, so that I could give in charity and be among the righteous!" (63:10)
Remain, then, conscious of God as best you can, and listen [to Him], and pay heed. And spend in charity for the good of your own selves: for, such as from their own covetousness are saved – it is they, they that shall attain to a happy state! (64:16)
The
Infaq/Spend in the above verses is referring to
Zakat or something in addition to Zakat as you ruled Sadaqah out as an obligation?
Why a voluntary act is expected of disbelievers and presented as an argument and a case against them (36:47)?
Why would missing on a voluntary act becomes a source of eternal regret so much so a second life is pleaded (63:10)?
Why would people missing on voluntary act aren't part of successful ones and presumably party of losers (64:16)?
On Zakat article you wrote:
If the state is an Islamic state, then the payment of Zakat will be to that particular state. The rate will be appropriately levied by those in governance given their circumstances. If one abides in another land, then a duty of responsibility and obligation is due to that particular community and state as responsible citizens.
This is the case for entire Ummah for almost its entire life (stateless with no Zakat governing body) and so as a Quran follower I see a general guiding principle in 2:219 (alongside others such as 8:41 & 17:29), to which you don't agree so may I ask
wherever you live, how are you discharging your zakat duties?
What shall be my zakat in the US (after federal+state taxes)? Doesn't this come from my surplus? Or federal+state taxes is my zakat? If so, with what charity name tag and category do I answer the call of set of ayaats listed at the top?
On Sadaqah:you said the word
faridah in 9:60 applies only to apportionment and does not include the Sadaqah itself - is there a language rule or grammar that is governing this restriction? Kindly elaborate.
Lastly, why is Allah swt severely rebuking and threatening the newly emerging Muslim community with their replacement for something that is not part of their obligatory duty to discharge in the first place (remember there's no Zakat mentioned in the following Ayah)?
Behold, [O believers,] it is you who are called upon to spend freely in God’s cause: but [even] among you are such as turn out to be niggardly! And yet, he who acts niggardly [in God’s cause] is but niggardly towards his own self: for God is indeed self-sufficient, whereas you stand in need [of Him]; and if you turn away [from Him], He will cause other people to take your place, and they will not be the likes of you! (47:38)All these make me strongly think there is something on top of Zakat as an obligation a believer is expected to spend, failure is not an option. Kindly provide your insight sir.
with a sincere request and warm regards to you as ever
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is even more distressing.