Establishment of Prayer:
When we have this world view of the unseen, that we are going to live a life and our view of everything will be shaped by a reality that we can’t even see, then how do we keep it fresh? We need to refresh this thing. Even in English it is said, “out of sight, out of mind”.
There needs to be a mechanism where this belief in the unseen will be rejuvenated inside of us. We find the perfect continuation of this wisdom. The belief in the unseen is strengthened in the establishment of the prayer.
“Wa yuqeemoonas salaat” means “and they establish salat”.
There is a difference between praying and establishment of prayer. Establishment of prayer literally suggests giving iqama – an announcement that everyone should stand and pray. This is also an indication that they pray together (in a Masjid). Our connection to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is through prayer.
“Salat” means “connection”.
Provision and Spending:
“Wa mimmaa razaqnaahum yunfiqoon” means “and they give from whatever Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) has provided to them”. Some people are provided a great deal of wealth, some are provided health, some are provided fame, some are provided sons, some are provided daughters etc.
Link between Prayer and Spending:
In many instances, Allah mentioned prayer and spending wealth together.
Prayer is a right of Allah as well as a form of worshipping Him. It includes singling Him out for one’s devotion, praising Him, glorifying Him, supplicating to Him, invoking Him, and it displays one’s dependence upon him.
Spending is a form of kindness towards creatures by giving them what will benefit them, and those people most deserving of this charity are relatives, wife, servants and then the rest of the people. So, all types of required charity and required spending are included in Allah’s saying, “and spend out of what we have provided for them”.
Heavenly Savings Plan:
“Infaq” shares the meaning with the word “nafiqa”. Nafiqa is a lizard’s hole. The way it makes a hole is that it has 2 openings. If there is an attack from one side, it escapes through the other hole. We put money in on one side of the hole (this world), and we get it in the Akhirah. It is the bank of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and it is far more than FDIC insured.
Belief in the unseen:
It can only happen if we believe in the unseen. We can only spend for the sake of Allah and give sadaqah and help somebody out and not worry about how much we have left in the bank only if two things are clear to us – when we give, money doesn’t decrease, that is the promise of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Money doesn’t go down when we give sadaqah. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) will only replace it with something better. If we want promotion or an increase in savings, we need to give sadaqah. The other part of the belief is even greater. When we give, we are not giving it to an orphan or flood victims or a Masjid, but we are actually giving it to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). This is why Aishah (radi allahu anha), everytime she would give sadaqah, she would put perfume on it. When asked, she would say, because “I’m giving it to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)”.
Understanding our provision:
By human nature, when we are given things that are not ours, we quickly forget that it’s ours. We start imagining that it belongs to us and we want to hold on to it. That is why Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is reminding us that what we have is provided by him.
The only past tense used in this ayat is for provision i.e. “from what we provided them”. Otherwise, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) used present tense for everything, like, “they believe in the unseen”, “they establish salat”, “they spend” etc. The point is we don’t have to wait for Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to provide us, to spend. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is saying that he has already given us, and we need to spend from what we already have.
Hypocrisy exposed:
It is the same root from which the word munafiq is also derived. The hypocrite keeps 2 options open. If things are good on Muslims, he stays with the Muslims. If things go bad with Muslims, he escapes through the hole and goes to the other side.
People of highest taqwa:
The people here being referred to are muttaqeen. The muttaqeen are people who are trying to protect themselves. They believe in the unseen and they fear. They are trying to protect themselves from the unseen by establishing salat (connection). Salat also is a constant reminder for them of the unseen. They don’t hold on to the rizq provided by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala as theirs, but instead give (donate) in the way of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Since they see everything as a provision from Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), it makes it easy for them to give. These are the people of highest taqwa.
Hadith from Sahih Al-Bukhari
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radi allahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is Allah’s Messenger (La ilaha illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah).
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity).
4. To perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca).
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
Meaning
Those who already believe in the unseen, and those who will believe in the unseen in the future, and they establish salat and they give from what Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) has provided to them