BELIEVER? WHAT DO YOU DO FOR ALLAH'S SAKE?

Are You A Believer?

What Do You Do For

Allah’s Sake?

The Almighty Creator Has

Rights Over His Creation

(M. Javed Naseem)

“They ask you how much they are to spend;

say: "What is beyond your needs."

Thus does Allah Make clear to you His

signs in order that you may reflect.”

(al-Quran 2:219)

When God taught us Faith, He based it on His own qualities like Mercy, Love, Forgiveness, Charity and Hope – all Good and no Evil! He told us not to follow the Devil as he was our enemy. We were strictly commanded not to spread corruption and evil in the Earth so that we could enjoy Lord’s bounties and a happy life in this world. But when we were enjoying happy life, we ignored God’s commands and started play god on earth; hence all the corruption and evil. Out of greed and jealousy, we started depriving other humans of those bounties that we were enjoying.

People have a share in your wealth whether you accept it or not; whether you like it or not. That’s the verdict of the Lord Almighty. Share your wealth with the needy and the orphans and widows, and you would be rewarded manifold.

Thousands of times, we were warned via Scriptures through Prophets and Messengers but only a few paid heed. Most of us ignored those teachings and warnings although we were informed of the fate of the earlier nations who disobeyed the Lord. Love, peace and harmony can only be created by sharing with others. Allah says in the Quran:

“And spend of your substance in the cause

of Allah, and make not your own hands

contribute to (your) destruction; but do good;

for Allah loves those who do good.”

(al-Quran 2:195)

“For, Believers are those who, when Allah is

mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and

when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their

faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in

their Lord; who establish regular prayers and

spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given

them for sustenance.”

(al-Quran 8:2-3)

“Whatever you shall spend in the cause

of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and

you shall not be treated unjustly.”

(al-Quran 8:60)

“To those whose hearts when Allah is

mentioned, are filled with fear, who show

patient perseverance over their afflictions,

keep up regular prayer, and spend (in charity)

out of what We have bestowed upon them.”

(al-Quran 22:35)

“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)

“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)

“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)

“So fear Allah as much as you can; listen

and obey and spend in charity for the benefit

of your own soul and those saved from the

covetousness of their own souls, they are

the ones that achieve prosperity.”

(al-Quran 64:16)

“Let the man of means spend according to

his means: and the man whose resources are

restricted, let him spend according to what

Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden

on any person beyond what He has given him.

After a difficulty, Allah will soon grant relief.”

(al-Quran 65:7)

God’s Message is divine and it was delivered to us by all Messengers. Only we, the humans, corrupted and altered it.

The Bible says:

“One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” – (Proverbs 19:17)
 
“And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.” – (Isaiah 58:10)

"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” – (Matthew 5:42)

“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in.” – (Matthew 25:35)          

"But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” – (Luke 14”13)

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” – (1-Timothy 6:18)

In 630 AD, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), decided to lead an expedition to Tabuk on the Syrian border. In order to finance the expedition, Muhammad (s.a.w.) invited contributions and donations from his followers. Othman (r.a.a.) provided ten thousand camels. Umar (r.a.a.) made a liberal contribution. When Muhammad (s.a.w.) asked him how much he had left for himself and his family, he said that he had given one half of his wealth for the cause of Allah and had left one half for himself and his dependents. Then came Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) loaded with his contribution and Muhammad (s.a.w.) asked him the same question as to how much he had left for himself and his family. Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) said, "I have brought all that I had. I have left Allah and His Prophet for myself and my family".

This episode has formed the theme of one of the poems of the poet philosopher of the East, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal (a.k.a. Allama Iqbal). The last verse of this poem reads:

“For the moth the lamp, and

for the nightingale the flower;

For Siddique, Allah, and

His Prophet suffice.”

After the death of the Prophet (s.a.w.), when Abu Bakr was elected as Caliph of the Muslims, he addressed the community and said:

“O People! I have been chosen by you as your leader, although I am no better than any of you. If I do any wrong, set me right. Listen! Truth is honesty and untruth is dishonesty. The weak among you are the powerful in my eyes, as long as I do not give them their dues. The powerful among you are weak in my eyes, as long as I do not take away from them what is due to others".

“Listen carefully! If people give up striving for the cause of Almighty Allah, He will send down disgrace upon them. If people become evil-doers, Almighty Allah will send down calamities upon them."

“Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad, s.a.w.). If I disobey Allah and His Messenger, you are free to disobey me.”

After Abu Bakr (r.a.a.) had assumed the Caliphate, he distributed all that was in the ‘House of Charity’ (‘Bait-al-Maal’ – the funds in the State account reserved for the poor) among the needy and the poor. He had a House of Charity at al-Saneh area with no guards to watch over. One day someone asked him, ‘O Caliph of the Messenger! Would you appoint someone at the House of Charity as guard?”

Abu Bakr answered, “There’s nothing to worry about. We have given away everything that was in it. There’s nothing left.”

When Abu Bakr died, he had no valuable possessions. He had no Dirham or Dinar at home. Everything that was beyond his daily needs, he would donate it in charity. It’s not that Allah wants us to go that far. It’s our love for Allah and our spirit of spending in Allah’s way that determines our actions of charity. And that comes from a strong Faith, i.e., Islam.

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