INFAQ AND SOLIDARITY ARE OBLIGATORY FOR MUSLIMS

‘Infaq’ and ‘solidarity’, important parts of the ‘guardianship (walayah) system’ described in the Qur’an, are among the acts of worship that Allah has made obligatory for Muslims.

In many parts of the indictment filed by the prosecution office, our friends’ making legitimate trade among themselves through the companies they own, providing money, goods and all kinds of financial assistance to each other, using each other’s houses, cars and clothes, and depositing money into the accounts of their detained and needy friends in prison –the most legitimate, legal, self-sacrificing and well-intentioned behaviors–have been attempted TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CRIME in a very strange, incomprehensible and unimaginable way.

In the indictment, these virtuous, moral and good behaviorsof our friends in order to provide financial and moral support to each other and to meet the needs of the brothers who are in distress are reflected AS IF THEY WERE QUALITIES OF A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.

We believe that giving examples of the numerous injustices, unlawfulness and grievances that our friends have been subjected to during and after the July 11, 2018 operation will reveal the gravity of this frightening approach.

Following the operation, the properties of all of our arrested friends, who are still detained in prison, from their possessions, money, bank accounts, companies, salaries received from the workplaces where they had been working, compensation which had to be paid to those who had been dismissed because of the operation, retirement pensions of some of their families received by means of transfer, to their family inheritances, all their income sources were confiscated.

For all these reasons, our friends who are in prisons need regular financial support in order to survive there and protect their health.However, among our friends, there are those whose families and relatives are financially weak and unable to support them, as well as those suffering from various serious illnesses and need urgent medical support. Therefore, they are in urgent need of financial assistance of our friends who are out there free.

In this context, among the numerous unlawful practices mentioned above, one of the most unthinkable is that some of our friends, who are trying to support the prison accounts by investing very small amounts of money like 300 TL (= 52 USD), are labeled as supposedly being ‘supporters of organization’ and arrested and put in prison.

A clean-hearted friend who had invested several hundred TL in person and publicly with his open name and identity, not in secret, in the official prison account of his imprisoned and needy friends, is still in prison for more than a yearonly because he was trying to do good. However,THERE IS NEITHER A CRIME NOR AN ORGANIZATION, NOR A FINAL JUDICIAL DECISION. MOREOVER, THE TRIALS OF OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED UNJUSTLY AND ARRESTED UNLAWFULLY AND PUT IN PRISONS HAVE NOT EVET STARTED YET.

However, these people, who have the presumption of innocence completely, have been accused of being a ‘criminal organization’ by carrying out extrajudicial executions, and their friends, who have invested 300 TL per man for these innocent people to buy food from the prison canteen, were imprisoned for ‘supporting the organization’ accusation.

The persecution did not end with this, either. Our friend, whom we mentioned, was made an example of a warning against the society by making news about him in some of the media. Thus, other people were intimidated and it was attempted to prevent them from helping their friends, fellows and relatives in prisons.Just to be clear, these unfair and unlawful practices of unimaginable dimensions raises the idea on the consciences that in the history of the Republic of Turkey a tyranny on such a similar scale had not taken place.

However, these behaviors of our friends, which constitute one of the best examples of solidarity and social welfare among Muslims, do not constitute a crime anywhere in the Turkish Penal Code.On the contrary, it is clear that these beautiful behaviors exhibited without any interest and reciprocity have no purpose other than to perform the SADAQAHand INFAQacts of worship of our holy religion, Islam.

1– Mr. Adnan Oktar and His Group of Friends are Sincere and Pious Muslims who Have Come Together to Fulfill the Commandment of the ‘Guardianship System’ which Allah presupposes in the Qur'an.

First of all, it should be noted that Mr. Adnan Oktar and his friendship community is a group of Muslim, religious friends who have come together in accordance with the commandments of the verses of the Qur'an: “THE BELIEVERS ARE BUT A SINGLE BROTHERHOOD”(Surah al-Hujurat, 10), “THE BELIEVERS, MEN AND WOMEN, ARE PROTECTORS ONE OF ANOTHER”(Surah at-Tawbah, 71).

With these and many other verses of the Qur'an, the ‘GUARDIANSHIP SYSTEM,’ which is prescribed for believers, command Muslims to support and help one another, to protect and look after each other.

According to the commandment of the verses of the Qur'an, which we gave a few examples of on the subject above, the guardianship system is essential among Muslims and in this system, every Muslim is obliged to guard and protect another and to meet his/her all kinds of problems and needs. In the Qur'an, it is commanded that Muslims have to live together as if they are real brothers, support one another, continuously see and talk to each other day and night, keep in touch, and remember Allah and worship together. ALL THE LIVES OF OUR PROPHET (pbuh), THE COMPANIONS, THE ISLAMIC ELDERS AND THE RIGHTEOUS BELIEVERS ARE BASED ON THE GUARDIANSHIP SYSTEM DESCRIBED IN THE QUR'AN.

In short, according to the Qur'an, Muslims are obliged to be together in unity and solidarity throughout their lives. Allah, with the verse, “Hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves” (Surah Ali Imran, 103), saying to the Muslims in the Qur'an, orders Muslims to protect and guard each other, tying in pure faith against the cruelty, and severely avoid separation.

2– ‘Infaq’ and ‘Solidarity’ among Muslims are the Obligatory (Fard) Acts of Worship Required by the ‘Guardianship System’ which is the Commandment of the Qur'an.

In the ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ISLAMpublished by the Religious Affairs Foundation of Turkey(TDV), following information is given about the subject of INFAQ:

… (INFAQ,) as a religious-moral term, generally means ‘to spend from one's own wealth in order to attain the satisfaction of Allah, to give in kind and cash aid to the needy.’IN THIS RESPECT, INFAQ INCLUDES THE OBLIGATORY ZAKAT AND ALL KINDS OF VOLUNTARY CHARITY… When the word is used plainly, it refers to legitimate and useful expenses, and what is spent is called nafaqah…

In the Qur'an, the concept of infaq refers to “SPENDING” IN NEARLY SEVENTY VERSES(see M.F.Abdülbâkī, “nefḳ” article). In the hadiths, the subject of infaq has been widely discussed.ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC CONSIDERATIONS, THE REAL OWNER OF MAN'S WEALTH IS ALLAH. It is necessary to perform infaq to others from this wealth which He has entrusted to him(An-Nur 24/33; Al-Hadid 57/7). In the 2nd verse of Surah al-Baqarah, while the main characteristics of the believers who believe in Allah sincerely are counted, after the faith and prayer, infaq is mentioned.

… according to the result of the co-evaluation of many verses and hadiths, EVERY EXPENDITURE THAT IS INTENDED TO OBEY AND WORSHIP ALLAH AND HELP ISLAM AND MUSLIMS IS CONSIDERED TO BE INFAQ IN THE WAY OF ALLAH.(Source: Islamic Encyclopaedia; https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/infak)

AS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN FROM THESE ISLAMIC ACCOUNTS, THE FINANCIAL SOLIDARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES AMONG OUR FRIENDS, WHICH ARE SUPPOSEDLY PORTRAYED AS CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN THE INDICTMENT, ARE IN FACT NOTHING MORE THAN THOROUGH AND RIGOROUS PRACTICES OF THE INFAQ WORSHIP OF THE QUR'AN.

The Islamic religion attaches great importance to the establishment of a system of social welfare and solidarity among the believers, and not only for an instant, but as a system that believers must observe throughout their lives. For this reason, OUR ALMIGHTY LORDHAS OBLIGED INFAQ WORSHIP, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF THIS SOCIAL WELFARE, AND FORBADE ALL NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS THAT PREVENT INFAQ WORSHIP.

TO PERFORM INFAQ, i.e. to spend in the cause of Allah and to extend the handof help to those in needare on the top of the most important acts of worship that are very much emphasized, encouraged in the verses of the Qur'an and in the hadith al-shareefs, and of which our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Companions and the righteous believers personally were examples with their own lives.

3– The Verses of the Qur'an which States that Infaq is a Very Important Obligatory Act of Worship

Some of the verses of the Qur'an on the subject of infaq are as follows:

Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and SPEND OUT OF WHAT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR THEM. (Surah al-Baqarah, 3)

O ye who believe! SPEND OUT OF (THE BOUNTIES) WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR YOU,before the Day comes when no bargaining (will avail), nor friendship nor intercession… (Surah al-Baqarah, 254)

Those who (in charity) SPEND OF THEIR GOODS BY NIGHT AND BY DAY,in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord… (Surah al-Baqara, 274)

… THEY ASK THEE HOW MUCH THEY ARE TO SPEND; SAY: "WHAT IS BEYOND YOUR NEEDS."Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may consider. (Surah al-Baqara, 219)

BY NO MEANS SHALL YE ATTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UNLESS YE GIVE (FREELY) OF THAT WHICH YE LOVE;and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.(Surah Ali Imran, 92)

Those who SPEND (FREELY), WHETHER IN PROSPERITY, OR IN ADVERSITY;who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good. (Surah Ali Imran, 134)

Nor could they SPEND ANYTHING (FOR THE CAUSE) -SMALL OR GREAT- nor cut across a valley, but the deed is inscribed to their credit: that Allah may requite their deed with the best (possible reward). (Surah at-Tawbah, 121)

AND WHAT CAUSE HAVE YE WHY YE SHOULD NOT SPEND IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH. For to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth… (Surah al-Hadid, 10)

And SPEND SOMETHING (IN CHARITY) OUT OF THE SUBSTANCE WHICH WE HAVE BESTOWED ON YOU, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, "O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I SHOULD THEN HAVE GIVEN (LARGELY) IN CHARITY, AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE DOERS OF GOOD." (Surah al-Munafiqun, 10)

As it can be seen from these verses, our Lord commands the believers in the Qur'an to perform infaq and charity before their death with what is beyond their needs, in accordance with their strengths and means, especially things they love and like, whether secretly or openly, but in a continuous manner. Thus, the foundation of the Guardianship System in Islam is largely based on these worship acts of CHARITY AND INFAQ.

For this reason, a Muslim spends his money, property, possession, house, land, car, livestock, crop – in short, all that he has for the sake of Allah, shares with other believers in need, uses them to serve Islam, and donates and performs infaq as much as he wishes as charity, zakat, and fitr.

ALMIGHTY ALLAH IS THE SOLE AND TRUE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS GIVEN TO MANKIND. Muslims are only a temporary guardianand a trusteeof these. They are not obliged to hold the goods and save them, but TO DISTRIBUTE THEM IN THE WAY OF ALLAH AND SPEND THEM FOR GOOD DEEDS. For this reason, trying to be rich only by taking care of their own interests, to accumulate goods for this purpose, being niggardly, to behave egoistically and selfishly are seen as ugly in Islam, condemned and prohibited by God.

In the Qur'an, Allah has warned those who are close with their hands and threatened them with a painful punishment.

He has informed us; that those who accumulate and stack their goods and do not spend their money in the way of Allah will be thrown into Hell and things which they hoarded will be heated in the fire and with them will be branded their body; that the things which they covetously withheld will be tied to their necks like a twisted collar:

And let not THOSE WHO COVETOUSLY WITHHOLD OF THE GIFTS WHICH ALLAH HATH GIVEN THEM OF HIS GRACE, think that it is good for them:Nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment.To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Surah Ali Imran, 180)

In verses, it is stated that those who are afraid to spend their possessions in the way of Allah, who hold their hands tightly and who are stingy are only INFIDELS and HYPOCRITES:

Those who are niggardly or enjoin niggardliness on others, or hide the bounties which Allah hath bestowed on them;for We have prepared,FOR THOSE WHO RESIST FAITH, a punishment that steeps them in contempt. (Surah an-Nisa, 37)

THE HYPOCRITES, MEN AND WOMEN, (have an understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands.They have forgotten Allah. so He hath forgotten them. Verily the HYPOCRITES are rebellious and perverse.(Surah at-Tawbah, 67)

AGAIN, IT IS STATED IN A VERSE THAT THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE ONES WITH THE SYSTEM OF INFAQ AND AID AMONG THE BELIEVERS, AND THOSE WHO THINK THAT MUSLIMS WILL DISPERSE BY TRYING TO PREVENT THIS WORSHIP THROUGH VARIOUS FUSS, ARE ONLY ‘HYPOCRITES’ WHO HAVE NO INTELLECT TO UNDERSTAND:

They are the ones who say, "Spend nothing on those who are with Allah's Messenger, to the end that they may disperse."But to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but THE HYPOCRITES understand not.(Surah al-Munafiqun, 7)

As it is understood from the verse, THE HYPOCRITES, since they cannot appreciate Allah's power,do not realize that they will fail in their fitnah at the end as they always do, and that they will never be able to harm Muslims in any way.

4– In the Lives of Our Prophet (pbuh) and His Companions, There are the Most Beautiful Examples for Muslims on Infaq.

In the lives of our Prophet (pbuh) and the Companions, there are numerous good examples for Muslims in terms of social assistance and solidarity, support to each other and performing infaq.

Our Prophet (pbuh) always advised Muslims to meet each other's needs, cover their shame and flaws, share their goods, livestock and mounts, food and clothes with their poor brothers, and remind each other that they are the guardians and brothers of each other. Some examples of hadith related to the subject of infiltration are as follows:

“... WHOEVER RELIEVES A BELIEVER OF DISTRESS IN THIS WORLD, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for those who are in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and in the next. Whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim in this world, Allah will conceal him (his faults) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help the slave so long as the slave helps his brother.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunnah 1:230; Eng. ref.: v.1, 1:225)

“… ‘HE WHO HAS AN EXTRA MOUNT SHOULD GIVE THAT TO ONE WHO HAS NO MOUNT FOR HIM, AND HE WHO HAS SURPLUS OF PROVISIONS SHOULD GIVE THEM TO HIM WHO HAS NO PROVISIONS,’ and Rasulullah made mention of so many kinds of wealth UNTIL WE WERE OF THE OPINION THAT NONE OF US HAS ANY RIGHT OVER THE SURPLUS.” (Sahih Muslim, Luqatah 32:4614; Eng. ref.: 18:4290).

“WHOEVER FEEDS A HUNGRY BELIEVER,Allah will feed him with the fruits of Paradise; and WHOEVER GIVES A DRINK TO A THIRSTY BELIEVER, Allah will quench his thirst (on the Day of Judgment) with rahiq al-makhtum (nectar sealed with musk; an exquisite drink of Paradise); and WHOEVER CLOTHES A BELIEVER, Allah will clothe him with a green robe of Paradise.” (Tirmidhi, Day of Judgement, 37:2599; Eng. ref.: v.4, 11:2415)

RESULT

As it can be seen and understood clearly, practices such as charity and infaq which regulate the solidarity and fraternity of Muslims are among the obligatory acts of worship of great importance in Islamic religion. First of all, the verses of the Qur'an, the hadith al-shareefs, the exemplary lives of our Master, Rasulullah (pbuh), his companions and the righteous Muslims coming after them reveal the meaning and importance of this obligatory worship and its vital value for the Islamic society in the best way.

And yet, it is a very frightening and worrisome situation that Muslims, who have stood by their brother of religion in distress, hardship and need according to the commandments of the Qur'an, are treated as guilty for their purest, cleanest and most self-sacrificing behavior. To describe these innocent immaculate people as ‘criminal organization’ or ‘criminal organization supporter’ due to the fulfillment of the obligatory commandments of the Qur'an is an abnormal, terrifying discrepancy incompatible with law, order, Islam, Qur'an, reason, conscience, equity or humanity.