WAKE UP UMMAH

DOING BUSINESS WITH ALLAH

THERE ARE NO LOSSES

ONLY A WIN/WIN SITUATION !

(By: M. Javed Naseem)

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِٱللَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ سِرّاً وَعَلاَنِيَةً

فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Those who (in charity) spend of their goods by night and by

day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord;

on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”

(al-Quran 2:274)

Man is always greedy, although he knows that greed is the root-cause of all the evils in his worldly life. On the other hand, a believer is always content with whatever he has been provided with by his Creator, the Almighty Allah. He is grateful. He is aware of the fact that all men are created ‘equal’ yet they are not the ‘same’. They don’t enjoy the same material benefits or same amount of wealth and provision. Everybody is different. And in this disparity, lies their test and trial.

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ

وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُمْ مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّازِقِينَ
“Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the sustenance

to such of his servants as He pleases; and nothing do you

spend in the least (in His cause) but He replaces it; for

He is the Best of those who grant sustenance.”

(al-Quran 34:39)

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلواَةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا

رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرّاً وَعَلاَنِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
“Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish

regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what

We have provided for them, secretly and openly,

hope for a commerce that will never fail.”

(al-Quran 35:29)

Yes! That’s the business with Allah that never suffers losses! Those who are unfortunate , Almighty Allah is testing their faith with misfortune to see how grateful and steadfast they are. And those who are more fortunate than others, they are being tested with their fortune (wealth and provision) whether or not they take care of their less fortunate brothers;  and spend their wealth for the cause of Allah. In this trade, the profits are guaranteed.

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ

سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّئَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ

لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَٱللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ                 
“The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of

Allah is that of a grain of corn; it grows seven ears, and each

ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom

He pleases; and Allah cares for all and He knows all things.”

(al-Quran 2:261)

Community is a lot more important in Islam than the individual. That’s why we are commanded to pray together with others, share Allah’s bounties with others and take care of others when they are in need or sick. Sharing wealth with the poor brings prosperity in the community which results in happiness, peace of mind and security. Plus, it’s an investment in the Hereafter.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَاتِ وَأَقْرَضُواْ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً

يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
“For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to

Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their

credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward.”

(al-Quran 57:18)

Most of the commands in the Holy Quran are concerning others (Huqooq-ul-Ibaad). The message is loud and clear: Take care of the mankind and you will be taken care of. Serve others so that you could be served. The Almighty has clearly commanded us in the Holy Quran:

وَأَنْفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ

وَأَحْسِنُوۤاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and

cast not (yourselves) by your own hands to ruin;

and do good. Lo, Allah loves the beneficent.”

(al-Quran 2:195)

أُوْلَـٰئِكَ يُؤْتُونَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ

وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
“Twice will they be given their reward, for that they have

persevered, that they avert evil with good, and that they

spend (in charity) out of what We have given them.”

(al-Quran 28:54)

Life in this world is not only a test for a believer but also a good opportunity to bargain with Allah for the benefits of the Hereafter. The more we spend here for God’s pleasure, the more we will get as a reward in the Hereafter. It is like lending a loan to Allah, Who   will multiply it in its repayment to us in the Hereafter. What a beautiful bargain! The Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

إِن تُقْرِضُواْ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً يُضَاعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

“If you lend unto Allah a goodly loan, He will double it for you

and will forgive you, for Allah is Responsive, Clement.”

(al-Quran 64:17)

مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ وَلَهُ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ

“Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan? For (Allah)

will increase it manifold to his credit, and he will have

(besides) a liberal reward.”

(al-Quran 57:11)

What a bargain ! Incredible ! But the irony is that despite all the benefits, there are not many among us who go for this bargain. Have you not heard that if you give something in charity (Sadaqah), Allah will give you the reward of it, ten times (or more) in this world and 70 times (or a lot more) in the Hereafter? That’s God’s rule and nobody can change this rule. It has been valid since the beginning of the time and has no expiry date during our lifetime.

Here is a beautiful story about bargaining with Allah.

During the era of Prophet Musa (Moses), there was a poor man who was going through all kinds of hardship in life. He got so sick and tired of misery that he decided to see Prophet Musa (Moses). He asked him:

“O Musa! My life has been miserable. You are the Prophet of Allah and known for communicating with Him. Please talk to Allah for me and ask Him to have mercy on me and make my life a little easier.”

Prophet Musa promised him to do so. When he had the opportunity, Prophet Musa talked to the Almighty and requested Him to ease up the life of the poor man. The Almighty replied that there was not much of provision (‘Rizk’) prescribed for that man. Therefore, whatever is meant for him is spread thinly over his lifetime. He gets a little but he will keep getting something for the rest of his life.

The next time when Prophet Musa (Moses) saw that guy, he explained to him what was prescribed for him in this world. The poor man said:

“Alright! Can you please ask God to grant me all my provision (‘Rizk’) in lump sum, at once, instead of spreading it over many years?”

Prophet Musa thought that it was a very unreasonable demand and tried to convince the poor man otherwise. But the poor man insisted that he wanted all at one time. This way he would, at least, have some comfortable days and could enjoy life, even if it were for a short time. Prophet Musa agreed to do that.  On the next occasion, when Prophet Musa communicated with Allah, he conveyed to Him the poor man’s desire. The Almighty accepted the request and granted the poor man all his provision (‘Rizk’) at once.

A few days later, when Prophet Musa happened to pass by the poor man’s house, he saw some kind of a festival. People were enjoying food and drinks. He was surprised and wanted to talk to the poor man. The man was very happy and he thanked Prophet Musa for that. Musa asked him what was going on? The man said that he had invited all the poor and hungry people of his neighbourhood and told them that they could eat by him every day, as long as the food lasted. Moses thought that it would not last long, may be a few days or a few weeks or for a couple of months maximum. Then the poor man would be in a greater misery than before.

Time went by quickly. A few weeks later when Prophet Musa passed by the poor man’s house, he saw the party still going on. He shook his head and left. He saw the same thing happening when, a couple of months later, he passed by the house. Prophet Musa could not believe his eyes.  He was perplexed. So, on the next occasion of communicating with God, Prophet Musa could not help asking God about the poor man’s situation. How could it last that long?

The Almighty told Musa that there was nothing surprising about it. “It is Our principle that if anyone spends in Our way, for Our pleasure, We give him ten times more in this world and 70 times in the Hereafter. Therefore, the poor man, as he keeps spending in charity every day, he keeps getting ten-fold in this world. That’s how the party goes on and on.”

Subhan Allah! What a bargain!

آمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ

فِيهِ فَٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
“Believe in Allah and His messenger, and spend (in charity) out of

the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you

who believe and spend (in charity), for them is a great reward.”

(al-Quran 57:7)

While Allah guarantees us great rewards in the Hereafter for our acts of charity in this world, He warns us, at the same time, not to trade the Hereafter for the worldly pleasures.

وَلاَ تَشْتَرُواْ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً إِنَّمَا عِنْدَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

“And purchase not a small gain at the price of Allah’s Covenant.

Lo, that which Allah has is better for you, if you did but know.”

(al-Quran 16:95)

Those who are spending all of their energies, efforts, talent, time and resources to achieve the material benefits of this world, they’ll end up as losers in the Hereafter. They think that the success in this world is solely due to their smartness and intelligent moves. They don’t thank Allah for their good fortune nor do they share it with the poor. There is a bad news for them:

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْحَيَاةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ

أَعْمَالَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لاَ يُبْخَسُونَ

أُوْلَـٰئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ ٱلنَّارُ وَحَبِطَ

مَا صَنَعُواْ فِيهَا وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

“Whoso desires the life of the world and its pomp,

We shall repay them their deeds herein, and therein they

will not be wronged. Those are they for whom is naught

in the Hereafter save the Fire. All that they contrive here

is vain and all that they are wont to do is fruitless.”

                      (al-Quran 11:15-16)

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