Giving: Blessings in This World, Rewards for the Hereafter

Giving is a very noble act. It plays an immense role in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor and in establishing a society based on justice and fairness. One does not have to be extremely wealthy to give. Even a person with limited means can give. What is more important for giving is the sincere willingness and generosity of the heart rather than wealth. Many people believe that giving causes one's wealth to decrease. This is a misconception. Rather, giving brings an increase in wealth and blessings. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Charity does not decrease a person’s wealth.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah) Giving also helps protect a person from hardships and calamities. Giving means spending or offering one's wealth for the welfare of others. The Cambridge Dictionary defines giving as, “...” It is narrated from Hazrat Salim (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no envy except in two cases: one is a person whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur’an and he practices it day and night; the other is a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it day and night for the welfare of humanity.” (Bukhari) Allah rewards those who give, because Allah says: “And whatever you spend in the way of Allah, you will be repaid in full, and you will not be wronged.” (Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 60) Now I will narrate an incident illustrating how giving can save a person from calamities. This is an incident from the time of Prophet Sulaiman (AS). There was a tree beside a certain man's house. A bird had built its nest in that tree. Whenever the bird laid eggs in the nest, the man would take the eggs and eat them. Tired of the man's cruelty, one day the bird complained to Prophet Sulaiman (AS). Sulaiman (AS) called the man and prohibited him from taking the bird's eggs again. Disregarding the prohibition of Prophet Sulaiman (AS), the man again took the bird's eggs and ate them. Helpless, the bird once again complained to Prophet Sulaiman (AS). Sulaiman (AS) instructed a jinn that when the man climbed the tree again, the jinn should push him down forcefully so that he would never be able to climb the tree again. One day, when the man was about to climb the tree to take the bird's eggs, a beggar came and called out, “Father! Please give me something.” The man first gave the beggar a handful of food. Then, with a peaceful mind, he climbed the tree, took the eggs, and ate them. The bird again complained to Sulaiman (AS). Sulaiman (AS) called the jinn and asked, “Why did you not carry out my instruction?” The jinn replied, “I was ready to carry out your instruction. At that moment, two angels came from the east and west and threw me far away.” Sulaiman (AS) was astonished and asked about the reason. The jinn said, “I saw that before climbing the tree, the man gave a handful of food to a beggar. Perhaps, through the blessing of that charity, Allah saved him from the impending calamity.” Sulaiman (AS) said, “Yes, charity removes calamities. That is why he was saved from a great danger.” (Tazkiratul Anbiya) Allah says: “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed that grows seven ears, and each ear contains one hundred grains. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 261) I will now narrate an incident that is similar to this verse. During the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), a severe famine once occurred. Food became extremely scarce, and the suffering and hardship of the people reached an unbearable level. At that time, a shipment of approximately one thousand maunds of wheat belonging to Hazrat Uthman (RA) arrived in Madinah from abroad. Several prominent businessmen of the city came to Hazrat Uthman (RA). They offered to purchase his entire shipment of wheat with a 50% profit. They also promised that they wanted to purchase the wheat specifically to alleviate the suffering of the famine-stricken people. Hazrat Uthman (RA) said: “If you can give me a profit of one thousand times, then I can sell it to you. Because someone else has offered me a profit of seven hundred times.” The businessmen said: “What are you saying? We were the first to come to you after the shipment arrived in Madinah. Who offered you a profit of seven hundred times, and when?” Hazrat Uthman (RA) replied: “I received this offer from Allah. I will distribute all of this wheat among the poor for free. In return, Allah has promised to give me seven hundred times more reward.” Then Hazrat Uthman (RA) reminded them of the Qur’anic verse. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “People say, ‘My wealth, my wealth.’ But a person's wealth is truly only in three things: what he has eaten and consumed, what he has worn and worn out, and what he has given in charity and stored for himself. Whatever remains, he will leave behind, and other people will take it.” (Muslim) Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Every morning, two angels descend. One of them prays for the person who gives charity, saying, ‘O Allah, give compensation to the one who spends.’ And the other prays against the miser, saying, ‘O Allah, destroy the wealth of the miser.’” (Bukhari and Muslim) Let us give more and more in charity and Sadaqah, increase our rewards, and attain success in the Hereafter. Allah says: “Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not follow their spending with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words—for them is their reward with their Lord. They will have no fear, nor will they grieve.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 262) May Allah make our hearts generous when giving. O Allah, accept our charity and good deeds. Ameen.