Article appeared Friday, April 25th, 2014 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation ( 25!

yo"s"# $ah%"%"l &sla$, 'h(

)e see poor and needy people aro"nd "s everywhere in the world* The needy co"ld %e relatives or people who are either +nown or "n+nown to "s* The ,"estion is sho"ld the poor and needy that we co$e across %e helped- )hy- &n answer to this ,"estion, there co"ld %e a n"$%er o# responses, #or e.a$ple, / i# there is a 0reator, why does 1e not #eed the$ 1i$sel#/ i# we +eep giving to the poor, what wo"ld %e le#t #or "s&n the 2"r3an, the 0reator addresses these responses* And when it is said to the$, 45pend #ro$ that which Allah has provided #or yo",4 those who dis%elieve say to those who %elieve, 45ho"ld we then #eed one who$, i# Allah had willed, 1e wo"ld have #ed (1i$sel#!- 6o" are not %"t in clear error (a%o"t the $atter!4 7 8*49: )hy is Allah as+ing %elievers to help the needy and poor- Those %etter o## have %een given $ore as a test* And +now that yo"r possessions and yo"r progeny are %"t a trial; and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward. 7;*2;: The intention o# each individ"al sho"ld %e to see+ the pleas"re o# the 0reator "sing all the #ac"lties and reso"rces given < it is s"ch an approach that will lead to the highest rewards #ro$ the 0reator* 1e tests o"r "nderstanding %y varying the ,"ality and ,"antity o# o"r reso"rces* 1owever, Allah points o"t that $any panic when their sit"ations deteriorate, instead o# t"rning to the 0reator in h"$ility* B"t when 1e tries hi$ %y restricting his s"%sistence then he says, in despair, 4=y >ord has h"$iliated $e?4 Nay, nay! But you honor not the orphans! Nor do you encourage one another to feed the poor! And you devour all inheritance with greed. And you love wealth with inordinate love! 7;@*18 < ;@*20: &n partic"lar, Allah #"rther tests those who do not serve the rights o# the orphans, do not collectively help the poor andAor deny inheritance rights o# others in the #a$ily* The love o# wealth is the pri$ary $otivation %ehind s"ch actions* )hen tested, s"ch people generally panic as they do not tr"stA%elieve in Allah as the sole 'rovider and 5"stainer* &n contrast, one o# the characteristics that a %eliever de$onstrates is given %elowB And they #eed #or the love o# Allah the indigent the orphan and the captive (5aying! 4)e #eed yo" #or the sa+e o# Allah aloneB No reward do we desire from you nor thanks. 798*; < 98*@: A %eliever does not loo+ #or pop"larity or stat"s < heAshe gives charity only to see+ the pleas"re o# Allah* Those who spend (#reely! whether in prosperity or in adversityCDfor Allah loves those who do good. 7 *1 4: Allah in#or$s "s o# the gro"ps o# people who are eligi%le #or help or charity*

9.60 Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the funds; for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth about

Allah); for those in bonda e and in debt in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer! (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of "nowled e and wisdom.
At the end o# the E.pedition o# Ta%"+, 'rophet ="ha$$ad (p%"h! was care#"l to distri%"te %ooty collected in the war a$ong the poor and those in need* 1owever, #or this, he was serio"sly criticiFed %y those in the gro"p who in #act were not sincere in their approach to Allah*

9.6# Amon them are men who abuse the $rophet and say% &'e is (all) ear.& (nstead% say% &(t is an ear of oodness for you% an ear that listens to what is best for you as he believes in Allah has faith in the believers and has mercy for those who believe amon you.& And those who abuse the Apostle will have a painful punishment.
The correct attit"de o# a %eliever is given in the Gerse %elowB &# only they had %een content with what Allah and 1is Apostle gave the$ and had said, 45"##icient to "s is Allah? Allah and 1is Apostle will soon give "s o# 1is Bo"ntyB to Allah do we t"rn all o"r hopes?4 (that wo"ld have %een the right co"rse!* 7@*5@: &n general, the reco$$endation #or those who are sincere in their approach to Allah, 5o #ear Allah as $"ch as yo" canC listen and o%eyC and spend in charity for the benefit of your own souls: and those saved #ro$ the coveto"sness o# their own so"ls they are the ones that achieve prosperity* &# yo" loan to Allah a %ea"ti#"l loan 1e will do"%le it to yo"r (credit! and 1e will grant yo" ForgivenessB #or Allah is $ost Ready to appreciate service and =ost For%earing* 784*18 < 84*19: Hiving charity properly with sincerity serves to ac+nowledge that Allah is the so"rce o# all %lessings* &ncrease o# wealth thro"gh i$proper $eans serves only to de$onstrate e.tre$e love o# wealth a%ove all else* Any gain in wealth achieved thro"gh illegal ac,"isition will only serve to de$onstrate hypocrisy and displease Allah* That which yo" lay o"t #or increase thro"gh the property o# (other! people will have no increase with AllahB %"t that which yo" lay o"t #or charity see+ing the 0o"ntenance o# Allah (will increase!B it is these who will get a recompense multiplied. 7 0* @: 0harity with the sincere intention o# pleasing Allah is pro$ised a $"ltiplied reward* In the other hand charity #or show to others will not %e co"nted*

9.6) *o you they swear by Allah% in order to please you (other +uslims)! but it is more fittin that they should attempt to please Allah and 'is Apostle if they are believers. 9.6, -o they not "now that for those who oppose Allah and 'is Apostle is the .ire of 'ell wherein they shall dwell eternally. That would be a supreme disgrace!