Our heart is rest at whatever place
our money is. For instance, if we invest in a business, shares etc. we
would naturally keep updating ourselves about latest information (profit
or loss) regarding the project where we spent. If we have deposited our
money in a bank, we would keep an eye on the bank statements and comparative
profit ratios etc. Jesus (sws) therefore advised once that we ought to
keep our treasures with our Lord so that our heart remains entwined therewith.
In other words, if we spend our earnings in His Cause, we will instinctively
feel more attached to Him. But how can we spend in His Way?
It could be by helping a needy, whether
it is a relative, a neighbour, a wayfarer, an orphan, a lady waiting to
get married, or a student. We ought not to forget that spending to help
the scholars working hard to spread His the religion, the Qur’an and
the Holy Prophet’s message is also counted as spending in God’s way.
The benefit we derive from spending
is twofold. It not only brings us closer to God but also helps us develop
unfailing ties with His people.
However, we must keep in mind that
there could be an evil aspect to this good deed. We should never anticipate
reward from those we have helped by spending our money. We must be clear
in mind that this was done for His pleasure only and as such look forward
to receiving reward from Him alone.1
Generally our Muslim brothers and
sisters think that spending means only giving out money for building a
mosque or for supporting orphans etc. Of course these are also the avenues
where if one spends with right intention will be rewarded by the Lord in
this world and in the Hereafter; but we must not ignore a very important
avenue which has sadly been completely forgotten by Muslim governments.
Obviously, I mean by this ‘research work in Islamic sciences and dissemination
of the truth’.
How can we ignore the importance of
spreading the truth through media in today’s age when evil is being spread
with all its might in many faces and forms? Millions of dollars are being
spent for this purpose. Pornography, drugs and war ammunition are the three
biggest avenues as well as sources for money spending and earning today.
People have a lustful desire for entering such enterprises.
Throwing money to show-off is a part
of fashion today. Recently a number of plates were sold in Berks, UK for
65,000 pounds for the mere fact that it reads K1NG (king)!
How much we spend for our own life!
Shopping at a supermarket for a week costs most of us at least $100; isn’t
that too big relative to our minimal spending in the way of God? Would
it be very hard then to set aside at least $10 a week to spend for the
cause of good?
It should be appreciated that this latter spending will
be reserved and multiplied whereas what we spend for in this world (food,
clothing, decors, cosmetics, entertainments, pets) all is gone – once and
for all.
We ought to remember that even a penny
can be more precious and beneficial because of sincerity of intention as
the beloved Prophet (sws) spread the dates presented by a labourer over
all the collections because of the love he had and the hard earned dates
he offered.
The Holy Qur’an says that we
should keep spending in the way of Allah not only in affluence but also
when we are facing financial problems. Of course, the extent of spending
will be monitored by our common sense in the latter case. However it is
evident that Allah wants us to continue to spend and never hold back. The
fabulous reward of this is the love of Allah. The Qur’an reads:
Those who spend [of that which Allah has given
them] in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving
toward mankind [are in fact righteous people]; Allah loves such righteous
people. (3:134)
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