The
following is extremely important if one itemizes their tax return. Please read, study and act
accordingly.
Muslims give
greatly to Masjids, Islamic Centers, Muslim schools, shelters and
orphanages, etc. All of these are listed as 501(c)(3) non-profit
organizations with the federal government. Because they are listed as
501's all of the above encourage Muslims to give generously to them
to receive a tax break at the end of the year. When they file their
federal tax returns they itemize and list all donations given to
masjids, schools, shelters and orphanages, etc to get tax
breaks for their donations.
Please
consider the following.
On
the authority of the Commander of Faith Abu Hafs 'Umar ibn al-Khattab
(RA), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say: “Actions
are but by intention and every man shall have but that which he
intended.. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His messenger,
his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and those whose
migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take a women in
marriage, his migration was for that which he migrated.”
Based
on this hadith everyone who gave to Masjids, Islamic Centers, Muslim
schools, shelters and orphanages to get tax breaks will get their tax
breaks. However, since it was not for the 'pleasure of Allah', 'fi
sabilillah' they will not get a single blessing from Allah (SWT). So,
on the Day of Judgment they will be in for a great surprise. Those
who gave to receive tax breaks and did not received any blessings
will be confronted with a great possibility of the Hell-Fire.
“Say
(O Muhammad SAW): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in
respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in
this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their
deeds! They are those who deny the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the Meeting with
Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day of
Resurrection, We shall assign not weight for them. That shall be
their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took My Ayât
(proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and My
Messengers by way of jest and mockery.” (Qur'an
18:103-106)
One
may say, “This is referring to nonbelievers.” Yes, it is. Giving
to masjids, schools, shelters and orphanages is done with the belief
that they are storing larges amount of good deeds. But...! It
is, also, referring to anyone who does good to acquire good deeds but
they will find they are losers.
"Shall We tell you the greatest losers in
respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in
this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their
deeds! (Qur'an
18:103-104)
Please
consider the following from Hadith Qudsi.
On
the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA), who said: I heard the Messenger
of Allah (SAW) say:
“The
first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day
of Resurrection will be a man who has died a martyr. He will be
brought and Allah will make known to him His favors and he will
recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about
them? He will say: 'I fought for You until I died a martyr. He will
say: You lied – you did but fight that it might be said (of you):
He is courageous. And so it was said. The he will be ordered to
dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire.
[Another]
will be a man who has studied [religious] knowlegde and has taught it
and who used to recite the Qur'an. He will be brought and Allah will
make known to him His favors and he will recognize them. [The
Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I
studied [religious] knowlegde and I taught it and I recited the
Qur'an for Your sake. He will say: You have lied – you did but
study [religious] knowlegde that it might be said [of you]: He is
learned. And you recited the Qur'an that might be said [of you]: He
is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be
dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire.
[Another]
will be a man whom Allah had made rich to whom He had given all kinds
of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His
favors and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what
did you do about them? He will say: I left no path [untrodden] in
which You like money to be spent without spending in for Your sake.
He will say: You have lied – you did but do so that it might be
said [of you]: He open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be
ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into
Hell-Fire.
[It
was related by Muslim (also by at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i)
Based
on the above hadith those who gave to masjids, schools, shelters and
orphanages truly believing they are giving for 'fi sabilillah' and
then file for a tax break will end in the very place they were trying
to avoid, the Hell-Fire.
SOLUTION
TO THE ABOVE.
- All masjids, schools, shelters and orphanages soliciting for contributions STOP stating that they are 501(c)(3) to encourage them to file for tax break at the end of the year.
- Give to masjids, schools, shelters and orphanages with the thought, intent, that it is 'fi sabilillah', for the pleasure of Allah (SWT).
- NEVER AGAIN SEEK TAX BREAKS for your contributions to masjids, schools, shelters and orphanages.
- Seek Allah's (SWT) forgiveness for the pass filings for tax breaks.
- Give in such a way your left hand does not know what your right hand does. Don't get receipts for any contributions.
- Increase your contributions for 'fi sabilillah' since the rewards are much greater.
The
rewards for giving 'fi sabilillah' are much greater than getting any
tax breaks.
Allah
(SWT) says:
“By
no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness - here it
means Allah's Reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allah's
Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah
knows it well. (Qur'an 3:92)
“...And whatever you shall
spend in the Cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you, and you shall
not be treated unjustly.” (Qur'an
8:60)
“Believe in Allah and His
Messenger [Muhammad (SAW)], and spend of that whereof He has made you
trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allah's Way),
theirs will be a great reward.” (Qur'an
57:7)
“Who is he that will lend
Allah a goodly loan, then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his
credit (in repaying), and he will have (besides) a good reward (i.e.
Paradise).” (Qur'an 57:11)
“If you lend Allah a goodly
loan (i.e. spend in Allah's Cause) He will double it for you, and
will forgive you. And Allah is Most Ready to appreciate and to
reward, Most Forbearing, “
(Qur'an 64:17)
