TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE

Life has taught me a lesson or two. It  has saved me from myself. It has seen me stupid. It has seen me naïve. It has probed me to think mercilessly and lately it has seen me wiser.  Lately I am thinking in two dimension. Putting things into perspective and the truth is no one has ever been more wrong or right but ourselves. You will see what you allow yourself to see. You will be what you allow yourself to be. Even if you were so wrong where everybody else could easily see (krik krik) but  if Allah didn’t grant the privilege for you to see and right the wrongs, you could only  be who you allowed  yourself to be.  A jerk ! Got it? (Never mind  if you don’t understand what I am saying)

What is giving?  To give? To sadaqah? To part with what you own? To share? To handover? To commit?  To part with?  To cause or allow someone to have something.  All the synonyms of giving that you can find through Mr Google,  ahh my good friend (who never shouted Stupid ! Itu pun tak tau ke? Eheh?)

This is what my faith taught me because I know my blog is read by non Muslims too (I know about some bogus Quran translations that have been circulated to tarnish the image of Islam which claimed that the muslims are trained to be terrorists)  - seriously? Oh Please! The least you could do is to consult Mr Google, you are not that stupid are you?

Sadaqah (voluntary charity) is a virtuous deed in Islam.   In fact, it is considered as a proof of one’s eeman (faith).  The Prophet (s.a.w) sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said in the following authentic hadeeth:

  Abu Malik al-Ashari (r.a.) (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w)  said:  “Cleanliness is half of faith.  Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) fills the scale. SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah) and Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) fill up what is between the heavens and the earth.  Prayer is a light. Charity is proof (of one’s faith).   Endurance is a brightness and the Qur‘an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.”  (Muslim, 432)

BUT.

Sadaqah does not just mean to give because you have extras. Especially so - not because you have plenty of money (why so? Because then,  only the rich can give - which is not normally the case)

Sadaqah is not restricted to giving part of your wealth or material possessions or any special deed of righteousness.  Islam considers all good deeds as sadaqah that increase our eeman:

 Abu Musa narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)  said, “Every Muslim has to give in sadaqah (charity).” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w)! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot do even that?” He replied, “Then he should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform all that is good and keep away from all that is evil and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Bukhari Vol.  2, Hadith 524)

 The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “To smile in the company of your brother is charity.  To command to do good deeds and to prevent others from doing evil is charity.  To guide a person in a place where he can not get  astray is charity.  To remove troublesome things like thorns and bones from the road is charity.  To pour water from your jug into the jug of your brother is charity.  To guide a person with defective vision is charity for you.” (Bukhari)

Don’t you see? Kindness is a form of charity too. It counts! To live with good values. It is charity ! Perhaps the best one that is! Do not be trapped into thinking that Allah’s promise that 1 (one) sadaqah in the form of money will be multiplied to 10 times of  the value of money you  have given  away .

In fact, Insyaallah, Allah may reward you in  the other aspects of your life too (not just  money) :

Good health, good friends who will guide you to Jannah, wisdom, intelligence, love and more love, positive energies, talents you don’t think you possessed before,  unexpected windfall etc etc to name a few. (So money shouldnt be the only thing you consider as the reward you should be getting.

In fact you may claim to be righteous and felt smug because you gave lotsa money to charity and dressed long and covered so visible to differentiate yourself as the most pious one (but that’s what you want -  for your deeds to be visible for others to see )  - unfortunately, that  doesn’t make you be to be  the best sadaqah giver, ever !  And only Allah will be the judged of your intention .Wallahuaklam.

Just before  I picked up Reach Out Malaysia from pieces in 2011, I was robbed off from  most of my possession. I lost a business, a car,  a house, my dignity.  I got cheated, stepped on etc etc. So much so I promised myself this. If I want to give away my possessions  I might as well do it so willingly to those people who deserved it. Not to crooks, liars, cheaters and of course bank loans (errrr ).

And that was how Reach Out Malaysia the 2^nd generation was born. From kindness. Not money.   Allah the all knowing has allowed it to happen. For I am only his slave. He owns everything and will take whatever he feels like taking and will give whatever he feels like giving.

Disclaimer : I am not an Islamic scholar but rather I am practicing a common sense which is to be kind is the way to be ….