Huzoor^(aba) said that with the Jama’at financial year-end on June 30^th, 2004, there is always much concern towards the last few weeks about fulfilment of all pledges made.

Huzoor^(aba) recounted that Allah commands that one cannot achieve virtue unless one rids of meanness in spending in the way of Allah. Huzoor^(aba) expounded that by spending in the way of Allah one’s faith is strengthened and one is encouraged to participate in other good causes.

Huzoor^(aba) said Alhamdolillah the Ahmadiyya Community has an abundance of people who are most willing to spend a large portion of their earning in the way of Allah, this also includes those cultivators and farmers in Pakistan who face many hardships in their agriculture and subsequent earnings due to the domination of large landowners, yet they always fulfil the promises made for chanda contribution. Huzoor^(aba) said the manner in which one spends in the way of Allah is a personal matter between man and God however, one should try to the best of one’s ability to honour the promises made in this respect. Huzoor^(aba) urged those who are ‘Moosi’ and have pledged a large portion of their earnings to be particularly mindful of this.

Huzoor^(aba) further explained the subject with reference to the prescribed rates as fixed by the Community, detailing various conditions and exemptions and said that the personal information regarding people on exemption should be a treated as a confidential trust by the office holders. Huzoor^(aba) said those who lose source of regular income due to various reasons should not be discouraged and should continually try to obtain whichever employment is available.

As ever Huzoor^(aba) elucidated the matter with reference to Ahadith relating the supreme sacrifices the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) made when they were enjoined to spend in the way of Allah. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said that true devotion is when one’s desire for Divine reward and mercy is greater than one’s love for one’s wealth and he enjoined not to be too guarded and calculating when spending in the way of Allah and to keep ‘the openings of one’s money bag loose’ in doing so. Huzoor^(aba) pointed to the recent promise made by Khuddam ul Ahmadiyya Germany for the ‘One Hundred Mosques Scheme’ to reach a new target of a million Euros and said that in the first week of this pledge the former target has already been collected. Huzoor^(aba) advised that money given to such ‘movements’ and ‘schemes’ should not affect the payment of one’s obligatory chanda.

With reference to an hadith stating that on the Day of Judgment those who sincerely spend in the way of Allah will be kept in the shelter of the wealth they have thus spent Huzoor^(aba) elaborated on the payment of Zakat. He drew attention to all the specifications that necessitate payment of Zakat and in particular urged women to be mindful of paying Zakat on their jewellery and for the husbands of the non-earning women to be co-operative in this matter.

Huzoor^(aba) read excerpts from the book of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) entitled Fateh e Islam (Victory of Islam) in which he enjoins the aspect of financial sacrifice in the way of Allah and counsels to consider it good fortune and a privilege to be able to spend one’s wealth in the way of Allah and recounts that such a sacrifice is always blessed.

In conclusion Huzoor^(aba) prayed that may Allah enable us to accomplish these expectations of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and may we be the inheritors of his prayers.