Q.1. Some Sufi people maintain that they are guided by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), even after his worldly death. Is this true? Are there any examples of the Prophet’s companions receiving such guidance after the Prophet (peace be upon him) had passed away? Is there any basis for the system that speaks of Wali, Qutub and Ghaws? Does the Prophet appear in people’s dreams?
Q.2. Some scholars insist that people should always stick to their own schools of thought. If one is following the Hanafi school, then one must not try to follow the Shafie school with regard to any matter, just to make things easier for himself. Please comment.
Afshan
A.1. There is absolutely no basis in the Qur’an or the Sunnah for the concept that elevates some people to a higher status of the types you have mentioned. The word Wali is used in the Qur’an, but in the sense of ‘friend, patron or protector.’ When this word is used to refer to a person and his relation with God, it means that he is a devoted servant of God. When it is used to refer to God, it means that He is the Protector of His servants. In its application to man, it does not confer on him any special status in this world or in his dealings with other people. It certainly does not suggest that he receives direct guidance from God.
It suggests that God may favor him with some protection at one point or another, but this is something that neither he nor anyone else can point out as a special favor due to his status. We should remember that God may protect anyone of us from danger or harm at any moment, and we may feel that this is done by His grace. We point it out and express our gratitude to God for it, acknowledging His grace, but we do not use it as a sign that we have a special position with Him. How can we say that when we do not know how He rates us or views our deeds? Anyone may see the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his dream, and such a dream is true because Satan cannot appear in the form of the Prophet, not even in our dreams. However, when any person sees the Prophet in his dream and the Prophet tells him something, this is not relevant to anyone other than the person concerned. If you see the Prophet in your dream and he tells you something, what he tells you applies to you only, and not to any other person.
Moreover, it has no effect on the Islamic faith, because Islam was revealed complete and perfect as delivered by Prophet Muhammad during his lifetime.
A.2. I have explained this so many times. There is no rigid adherence to any school of Fiqh or thought. When we look into any question, we need to find the best answer, relying on the Qur’an and the Hadith. If this is shown to us by any scholar we take that view. If we try to impose a particular school on people, they may face situations of unnecessary hardship, when the religion of Islam is based on making things easier. The Prophet says: “Make things easy, not difficult, pleasant, not gloomy.”
Zakah on Rented Property
Q.1. I bought a flat paying part of the price by installments, and then I bought a residential plot. Should I pay zakah on either and how do I calculate it?
Q.2. My brother is in a difficult financial situation. Can I pay my zakah to him?
M. Abd Al-Majeed
A.1. It appears to me that you are paying the price of your flat by easy installments, over an agreed long period, in the same way as one pays a mortgage. The rent you receive almost pays off the installments. In this case, you should pay zakah on the rent you receive, but you pay only on the net income. If there are expenses you incur in connection with the rental, such as maintenance costs or an agent’s fee, you deduct that from the income and pay zakah on the net income received.
The plot is different because it does not bring you an income. It increases in value as time goes by. Therefore, if you are holding it as a form of investment, intending to sell it when you feel you have made a reasonable profit, you should pay zakah on the basis of its value at the time you pay your zakah. Suppose you bought it for 1,000 and its price increased to 1,200 the first year and to 1,500 the second year and to 1,600 the next year, you pay zakah every year for 1,200, 1,500 and 1,600 respectively, at the normal rate of 2.5%. On the other hand, if you bought it intending to build a house for your own living, but you are delaying the house building for some reason, then you do not pay any zakah for it, because it is intended as your prospective home.
A.2. If your brother qualifies as zakah beneficiary, he should be the first to receive your zakah. You do not need to tell him that what you give him is your zakah.
When zakah is paid to close relatives, it earns more reward because it also constitutes kindness to relatives, which is an important consideration to which Islam attaches great value.