Bandar Seri Begawan - The Friday sermon reminded those who are in debt to promptly make payment when they can afford to or in accordance with the agreement with their lenders as delaying the payment while they are able to be a sin.

The risk is much bigger for the debtors and has been reminded in Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be upon him) hadiths on the risks associated with debt, whereby being in debt is a form of depression at night and a disgrace during the day," said the sermon.

"It is undeniable that Allah (SWT) has allocated all of His subjects' earnings accordingly, there are those who live in affluence and vice versa. This is where the role of zakat (tithe) distribution could help those in need such as the fakir miskin (the poor and destitute) and Al Gharimin (those who are in debt)," said the imams reading out the sermon.

It asserted that these zakat should be fully utilised and spent wisely such as for daily and school expenditures.

If it is being misused, therefore, those recipients have forsaken Allah's bounties bestowed upon them thus their blessings withdrawn and incur the wrath of Allah," said the sermon.

The sermon went on to say that there were a small group of people who are willing to take any means necessary to be a recipient of zakat, citing a case where a person had earned enough to support themselves and their families and yet they overspend in order to keep on receiving zakat just to write-off their debts.

"Intention such as this is never good. Even the act itself is a form of lying and lying is an act of sin, and thus, the only reward for such act is neraka jahanam (hell)," said the sermon.

Meanwhile, the congregations were advised to spend wisely and moderately thus, finding a balance according to their daily needs.

"It is widely known that in order to fulfil the daily needs of this era requires a large spending such as for food, shelter, school expenditure and transportation. It is important to manage the money by focusing on the daily needs, thus not spending too much and not be wasteful," said the sermon.

The sermon further noted that there are those who had to resort to debts in order to solve their money problems and these includes those who overspent and those forced into debts in order to support themselves and their family due to limited earnings.

"The latter are categorised as fakir (destitute) and miskin (poor) as their daily needs over compensated their daily earnings, and this is where zakat plays a vital role in their lives," added the sermon.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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