BEGGING: Disgracing the Da'wah to Build a Masjid [*]
Shaykh Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Waadi'ee (rahimahullaah)
Source: his book "Thamm al-Mas'alah" (p.5-8)

All praise is for Allaah, the Lord of all that exists. May Allaah raise the rank of our Messenger, and that of his family and companions. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allaah, who is alone and without partners. And I further testify that Muhammad was His slave and Messenger.

To proceed: From the greatest of Allaah's Blessings upon a person is the blessing of wealth. By way of it family ties are maintained, and this is something that causes one to have a long life and financial prosperity, as he (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa 'alaa aalihi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever would like to have his lifespan extended and his provisions increased, then let him maintain family ties."

This hadeeth is agreed upon (by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim), from the narration of Anas. Al-Bukhaaree also collected it from the narration of Aboo Hurayrah.

Furthermore, it is due to wealth, if a person spends it correctly and sincerely, that one attains a great reward. Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, has said:

( The example of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allaah is like a grain (of corn) that causes the growth of seven ears, each ear having 100 grains. And Allaah multiplies the reward of whomever He pleases, and Allaah is Sufficient (for all the creation's needs), All-Knowing. Those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allaah, and do not follow up what they have given with reminders of their generosity or (other) harmful actions, their reward is with their Lord, no fear shall overtake them, nor shall they grieve. ) [1]

And Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, has said:

( Those who spend their wealth by night and by day, secretly and openly, will have their reward with their Lord, no fear shall overtake them, nor shall they grieve. ) [2]

Using wealth can also win over those who have strayed or rebelled, as the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa 'alaa aalihi wa sallam) used to give to people while they hated him (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa 'alaa aalihi wa sallam), and only a short time later he would become the most beloved of all the creation to them.

Such is the case of wealth! And there are two types of people who do not manage it properly:

[1]: The first kind are the businessmen who do not take proper care to spend it in the Islamically legislated ways. Perhaps some of them do not even pay zakaat, and others pay zakaat to other than the Islamically legislated recipients, supporting hizbiyyah (bigoted partisanship), that which has divided the Muslims and weakened them.

The businessmen doing this do not even realize that they are cooperating with others in affairs of falsehood, and he may be helping to spread Soofiyyah (Sufism) or Tashay-yu' (Shiism), two innovations that have stood as obstacles in the path of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa 'alaa aalihi wa sallam).

[2]: What is even uglier than this is what a student of knowledge may do. He wastes his time and disgraces the knowledge and the da'wah by going to the land of the Haramayn (Makkah and al-Madeenah), then on to Kuwait, and then Qatar, and on to Abu Dhabi… What is it with you, yaa Fulaan?

He will say, "I have a debt," or, "I want to build a masjid with housing for the imam (while he is the imam), I want a car for the da'wah, and I want to get married."

Oh! Oh! Verily the search for knowledge that leads to begging has no goodness in it!

And had the people of knowledge safeguarded it (the knowledge), it would have safeguarded them,

And if they had revered it, then they themselves would have become revered;

But they disgraced it, so it disgraced (them), and they polluted

Its reputation by acts of greed, ending up lowly and debased.

And I have never seen anyone more focused on employing thievery tactics to get the people's money than al-Ikhwaan al-Muflisoon... [3]

[ Continued in Part Two... ]

FOOTNOTES (by Abul-'Abbaas):

[*] The title of this article is from the translator, and the article itself is taken from the introduction to the book "Thamm al-Mas'alah" ("The Dispraise of Begging").

[1] a translation of the meaning of Soorah al-Baqarah (2):261-262, based on Ibn Katheer's explanation

[2] a translation of the meaning of Soorah al-Baqarah (2):274

[3] The shaykh is referring to the sect: "Al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimoon" (the Muslim Brotherhood).