Assalamualaikum Wr Wb,
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O Allah, we ask for your peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad SAW. Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list. InshaAllah this email finds you and your family in the best of health and imaan. May the peace and blessings of Allah SWT be upon you and your family, inshaAllah.
A hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) says that a voice once heard commanding a cloud to irrigate a man's garden. When the man was asked what he did with the garden, he replied that he estimated the produce of his garden. Then he distributed one-third to charity, kept one-third for himself and his family, and
invested one-third back to the garden.
Just as Allah SWT sent a cloud for this man who gave to the poor, Allah will also provide for us in miraculous ways if we give what we love for the pleasure of Allah and in the service of mankind. As the hadith beautifully illustrates, Allah replaces what we give and multiplies it.
The notion of giving, especially giving and helping those in need, is so entrenched in Islam. Every step of the way in life, we need to be reminded always as sometimes we neglect our duties and responsibilities towards other human beings as we are too busy with worldly matters and improving our own life, that we
forgot this people need our help in any way possible. To make their days better than yesterday, to let darkness fade; to make the sun shine in their life.
مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ
وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
"Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned."
The Almighty promises us that if we train ourselves to give in times of ease and hardship, our sustenance will increase. Giving, awakens our souls and triggers genuine concern for the well-being of others. Priority is given to feeding the poor and the needy, as that is one of the best acts in
Islam.
Giving from what we are given from The Provider and the Owner of everything not only releases us from the disease of want but also reminds us that everything belongs to Allah SWT and must be used for the well-being of all humanity.
We will never attain righteousness until we spend what we love, loving for our brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves.
Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) said,
"Protect yourself from the hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as a charity." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The personal sacrifice of giving one's possessions, no matter how small, for the sake of helping those in need is a blessing and means of purifying our souls and wealth. From a drop of water to gardens of fruit we must remember that everything in this world is loaned to us for a brief period of time. The true
test is the test of giving the given.
"Allah SWT says, "Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you." - Prophet Muhammad SAW (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The more you give, the more Allah will bless you. Nothing shared is ever lost. Everything in assistance of others returns to you with multiple blessings!
