Isn’t it heart-melting how your Lord gives you the opportunity to spend the wealth He gave you to bring great benefit to yourself? Giving charity is something truly heart-softening in Islam— but do you know how you can actually become more productive by giving charity?
Giving charity is one of the five pillars and a part of your Islamic identity. But does the charity you give define you or is it just a click of a mouse and ‘job done’? Let’s get the spirit of giving back and find out how your charity can truly transform your life as well as others!
Allah gave us a beautiful promise:
Charity and the Beautiful Promise of Allah
Verily those who give sadaqah, men and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan, it shall be increased manifold, and theirs shall be an honorable good reward (Paradise). (Quran 57:18)
Let’s find out about the amazing virtues of sadaqah and how your charity can make you more productive.
A Moment of Truth
Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine you’re in your grave. You’ve just heard your family walking away, crying. It’s dark, and you’re all alone. All your good deeds have come to an end.
Yesterday you said: “I’m going to be really good to my parents tomorrow to please Allah.” But the angel of death came to get your soul while you were sleeping and now it’s all too late. All the big plans, all the projects, all the good deeds you thought you’d do one day are all impossible now.
Then you realize that there’s something still benefiting your scared soul; it’s a good deed you once did, a deed that continues to work while you’re under the ground all the other people are walking on.
Imagine the importance of this deed. It’s priceless. It’s soul-saving. The Prophet Muhammad told us:
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased). (Sahih Muslim)
A Beneficial Knowledge
Do you dream of having the honor of aiding Allah’s religion and spreading His words across the world but haven’t yet been given the opportunity? Would you like a chance to receive the reward of a scholar, of a caller to Allah’s religion? Have you always wanted to spread knowledge but feel you’re not knowledgeable enough?
I always think, whatever you read, each day, is a verse of Allah, it is a sign of your Lord that He’s trying to tell you something, a test. How will you respond, and what will you do? Will you make a move, or delay? Will you take it seriously or wave it away?
To be part of spreading knowledge which is beneficial is classed as running, or ceaseless, charity (sadaqah), something that keeps going even after your own death. This is an amazing mercy of Allah. What am I talking about? I’m talking about ultimately the best knowledge you can ever spread: The message of the Quran.
A House on the Hills
First of all, if someone were to tell you: “Give me 10 or 50 or 100 or 1000 dollars and in a few years I will give you in return a mansion with beautiful gardens in a top location anywhere on the globe.” I don’t have to tell you— you’d give the money, right?
… and theirs shall be an honorable good reward (Paradise).
For whom? For those who use the blessings that Allah The Most Merciful Himself placed in their lives to aid His cause. We know our Lord’s promise is true!
For them Allah has got ready Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success. The deal is simple: you believe in Him, strive with your life and wealth (which He gave you in the first place), and enjoy everlasting pleasure.
Sadaqah and the Quran
Charity brings barakah to our wealth but it could benefit our time and personal matters. And sadaqah can save your soul from punishment in the Hereafter. There are amazing benefits in this life and the next. The best investment ever is when you give sincerely and not to be seen by others.
So we go online, pick a charity, one click on the mouse and job done. But have you ever thought how giving charity can actually change you as a person.
How? The answer is: visualize. Connect to the recipients of your charity. Who are they?
The Ultimate Combination
Be inspired by an amazing hadith that instructs us on how to be the best of the best. The Prophet said:
The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it (to others). (Al-Bukhari)
Can you imagine yourself teaching the Quran to others? Imagine a brother or sister with a burning desire to understand the words of Allah, but who’s never found the opportunity, and then Allah uses you as a tool to help them?
Allah is giving you a chance now to help us spread and teach His Word and Message to everyone on this planet.
Source: https://understandquran.com.