helping the needy

3:36:14

2018-05-05

791

The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help those in need.

Islamic teachings greatly emphasize on giving a helping hand to the needy. In the Quran Allah says: “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. “

Charity is one of those actions that both ends are benefitting, the giving and receiving end. We understand how the receiving end is benefitted, but how is the one giving benefitting. When a person gives, unconsciously the feeling of content and happiness will arise. In research conducted by the National Institutes of Health, participants who chose to donate a portion of $100 they were provided enjoyed activated pleasure centers in the brain.

When giving to others you’re adding more meaning to your life, you’re inspiring your friends and family to also help the needy. And most importantly if you have children you’re teaching them an extremely valuable lesson.

In the Holy Quran Allah says: “and spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, "O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good".”

Imam Ali (AS) says “The fuel of Hell in the day of judgment is every person who is ungenerous with the poor and every religious scholar who sold his religion for worldly pleasure.”

Islam stresses that giving charity increases sustenance. The Holy Prophet (S) says: “Attract sustenance by giving charity”. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (AS) says that: “Everything has a key, and the key to sustenance is charity”.

In the Holy Quran Allah says “The person who lends to Allah, a good lending will receive many times more.”

Sheikh Kulaini in his book Al Kaafi relates the following tradition from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (AS): “Cure your sick by giving Sadaqah or charity, and remove troubles and mishaps by giving charity, and increase sustenance with charity. Charity banishes seventy shaitans from what is within one’s beard, and charity goes unto the hand of Allah before it goes unto the hand of the needy”.

Once Abu Abdillah (AS) asked his son how much money he had. His son replied that he only had forty dinaars. Abu Abdillah (AS) asked his son to give it all away in the way of Allah. His son was hesitant and said that it was the only meager amount he possessed.

His father replied that: “Charity was the key to sustenance”.

Shortly after having given the amount in charity the Imam’s son got four thousand dirhams. The Imam (AS) said to his son: “O son, we gave Allah forty dirhams and he gave us four thousand.”

Through this we can evidently conclude that charity is greatly recommended by Allah. It helps the person giving more than the person receiving.

With this we pray that Allah gives us the strength and power to help those in need.