CHAPTER15

PHILANTHROPY ANDBENEVOLENCE

Generosity-An Essential Part of a Muslim’sConduct

Islam is a religion whosefoundation hasbeen kept on charity, generosity, and philanthropy. Narrow mindedness,greedand miserliness are evils that shake its edifice. Therefore Islam likesthatits followers should be generous and charitable. It has advised them totreatothers kindly, to act righteously, to help their kinsmen and to do allkinds ofgood and virtuous deeds. It has stressed on its followers to makerighteousliving a permanent policy:

“Those who spend (in charity)theirwealth by night and by day; in secret and in public, have their rewardwiththeir Lord ” there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.

( Baqarah: 274)

 Itis the responsibility of every Muslim that in meeting his needshe should act in a balanced way, so that he may not spend all hiswealth on hispersonal needs only, but that it is his duty that he should let othersalsopartake of the blessings which Allah has bestowed on him, and that heshouldallot a part of his wealth for the help and assistance of the poor andneedypersons. Allah’s Messenger has said:

 “OAdam’s son ! Spend your wealth, it is good for you. And donot block it, it is bad for you, and the wealth according to the needcannot bereproached. Spend first for your family and dependents, and the raisedhand isbetter than the lowered hand.”

(Muslim)

Quran has very clearly hintedat thissubject when it has commanded the Muslims to spend for their kinsmenand theneedy persons and prevented wasteful spending. A spendthrift wastes hiswealthand indulges in foolishness. He spends his excess wealth for hispersonalpleasures, then what can remain with him for payment of the rights ofothersand the necessary assistance to the needy persons?

Allah has commanded:

“And render to the kindredtheir duerights, as ( also) to those in want. and to the wayfarer.. but squandernot(your wealth) in the ,manner of a spendthrift. Verily, spendthrifts arethebrothers of Satans, and the Satan is to his Lord ungrateful.”

(Bani Israil: 26,27)

And after this, advice isgiven to bemindful of the sentiments of the needy and the people in want, andtheirfeelings should not be hurt. If there is nothing that can be given tothem,they should be refused softly and in a decent way:

“And even if you have to turnawayfrom them in pursuit of the Mercy of your Lord which you do expect,speak tothem a word of easy kindness.”

( Bani Israil:28)

Islam’s call to its followersto spend inthe cause of Allah and for charity is famous and well known. Similarlyits waragainst miserliness, greed and narrow-mindedness is as clear as theday.

One hadith has it :

 “A giver of charity is near to Allah, is near to humans, and is near toParadiseand away from hell. And a miser is away from Allah, is away fromhumans, awayfrom the Paradise and is near to hell. An uneducated giver of charityis likedmore by Allah than a miserly worshipper.”

(Tirmizi)

There does not exist anysystem in thisworld, and there is also no possibility of its existence, in which allthepeople may be indifferent to and not in need of mutual co-operation. Aslong asthere are power and weakness, wealth and poverty side by side in thehumansociety, it is necessary for achieving peace and satisfaction and forensuringthe success and security of the society that the strong should be kindto theweak, and that wealthy should favor the poor and needy with gifts anddonations.

If wealth and property areamassed as aresult of the capabilities and striving of the people, then some peopleamasslot of riches and some people get only the bare necessities. And thiscannot beobjected to. The question regarding misfortune and ungratefulness arisewhenthese people live a life away from the society, when they are concernedonlywith meeting their own personal needs and for providing for their ownpleasuresand luxuries, when Allah has caused the people to live together, andhasdeclared this togetherness of theirs, instead of differences in theircircumstances, a severe trial for them. This provides a test for theirfaithand an opportunity for proving their worth.

“ We have made some of youas trialsfor others. Will you have patience? For Allah is One Who see” (allthings).”

(Furqan .. 20)

A community can be successfulin thisfield of life only when the relationship among its individuals isstrong andfirm. No individual of the community should be so deprived that he maybefacing a life of starvation and no wealthy man of the community shouldbe sogreedy that he may be spending his wealth only for his own personalpleasuresand luxuries.

To achieve this highobjectives Islam hasframed  very strong laws. Peoples’hearts have been prepared to indulge in righteous and virtuous deeds,and theyhave been tempted to co-operate with each other, help each other andactrighteously. It explained to them that the benefit of spending in thecause ofAllah is not only derived by the poor and needy persons but the giversofcharity also achieve the invaluable riches of peace and satisfaction;theirhearts are protected from the earthquakes of rancor and jealousy, andthey aresaved from the adverse consequences of selfishness and narrow-mindedness :

“ Behold, you are thoseinvited tospend in the way of Allah.. but among you are some that are niggardly.But anywho are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allahis freeof all wants, and it is you that are needy.”

(Muhammed: 38)

Poverty destroys all Charm

Poverty and want is acondition whichcauses a lot of trouble for men. It throws him down from the positionwhichAllah had given him, and there is always a lurking fear that it maydeprive himfrom that nobleness for which Allah has declared him the best of allthecreatures.

Human nature does not like tosee anyperson in dirty, torn and tattered clothes, that would expose a man’sdefects;there should be no footwear to cover his feet, or his heels and fingersaredragging on the road, or he is hungry for a number of days; he may belookinggreedily at tasty and luscious food and be unable to taste it.

Those who see such sad andsorrowfulscenes and are not moved by them at alt, they are not humans; they arenotMuslims. To feel disturbed and sorry by seeing the plight of theunhappy men iscommon human nature. One who is bereft of this basic quality is not ahuman; heis a stone. As an Urdu poet says:

“Man was created for sympathy(byAllah), Otherwise there was no dearth of angles for worshipping Him.”

The question before faith isthat itshould frighten men from their Lord in relation to the condition ofsuchhelpless and poor people.

Once the Prophet of Islam sawsuch ascene. The tears rolled out from his eyes, and he was very muchperturbed. Hegathered all the Muslims and delivered a very effective speech. Heremindedthem of the rights of men on men and their duties. He warned them ofthepunishment from Allah and the consequences in the Hereafter. His speechwas soeffective that the people who were present there, freely donatedwhatever theycould, with the result that so much money was collected that the manwhosecondition had so moved the Prophet became a wealthy man from thisspontaneoushelp from the companions of the Prophet, and all his defects werecovered. ‘

Jarir has narrated: “We werein thecompany of the Prophet in the morning. Some people came in hispresence. Theywere ill-clad. Their sheets were torn from various places. Many of thembelonged to the tribe of Bani Madhar. When the Prophet saw theirstarvingcondition. his face changed color. He went into his house and then cameout andasked Bilal to give  Azan. He called thefaithful to prayer and the Prophet led the prayer. Then he delivered aspeech,and said:

 “OPeople! Fear your Lord, who created you from a singleperson, created, of like nature, his mate; and from them twainscattered (likeseeds) countless men and women ; fear Allah through Whom you demandyour (rights)of one another, and to towards the womb (that bore you). Verily, Allaheverwatches over you.”

(An-Nisa: 1)

“O People who believe! fearAllah,and every person should see what he has prepared for his future.”

(Hashr: 18)

Then the Prophet said:

 “Everyoneshould give in charity dinar, dirham, cloth, dates,wheat, etc.” He went on till he urged: “Give, even’ if it is a stoneof a date.”

The narrator says that afterthis a manfrom Ansar brought a bag so full that it was slipping from his hand andit fellto the ground before he reached the Prophet. Other people also broughtthingsto be given in charity, till there were two big heaps of eatable goodsandclothes. At that time I saw that the face of the Prophet glowed withjoy as ifit was gold. Then he said:

“Anybody who inducted a goodSunnahin Islam, he will get its reward (sawab) and then also thereward ofothers acting on it, without there being any reduction in the reward ofthesewho act on that Sunnah.

And anybody who inducted a badsystem inIslam, he will get the punishment for it and also the punishment of allthosewho will act on it, without there being any reduction in the punishmentofthose who act on it.”

(Muslim)

These eloquent words invite usto competein matters of righteousness and we should try to vie with each other inperforming virtuous deeds, e.g. social welfare work during inclementweather,or relief work after natural calamities, etc., etc.

On the other hand these wordswarn thosewho introduce bad practices in the society, and by this they increasetheproblems and complications of the society, and they leave theirsuccessors toface the ill consequences of their acts.

Charity A Guarantee for the Success in the Worldand  Salvation in the Hereafter

It is human nature to lovewealth and tobe greedy to get it. For this a man travels long. distances and bears  various kinds of troubles. The disease of selfishness and a tendency ofgivingpreference to his own benefits over all other things are there in a manfromthe first day. He thinks about himself more and cares little forothers.

If he is given the entirewealth of theearth, nay, even if he gets the treasures of the blessings of his Lord,he willnot be prepared to spend from it willingly, and different kinds ofdiseases ofselfishness will tie his hands.

“Say (O Prophet !) If you getthetreasures of my Lord in your possession, you would have blocked it fromfear ofits being spent. Verily, man is narrow- minded.”

(Bani Israil:100)

Islam has considered this kindofthinking and mentality as very cheap and mean, and it is to be resistedvehemently. It is to be counted with alertness and cleverness. Islamhas veryclearly stated that only that man can be successful in achieving therewards inthis and the next world who removes the motivations of narrow-mindedness andniggardliness and nourishes charity and generosity:

“So fear Allah as much as youcan..listen and obey.. and spend in charity for the benefit of your ownsouls.. andthose saved from the covetousness of their own souls,-they are the onesthatachieve prosperity.”

(Taghabun: 16)

Heaps of silver and gold fromwhich therights of poor and needy persons are not met become the causes of theirowner’spunishment and disgrace in this world and in the next. Such wealth islike thesnakes which are hiding in their holes and arc waiting to bite men.Islam hasclarified that this wealth will be turned into living snakes on theDoomsday,and this snake will be chasing for attacking and biting its owner.

“The wealthy man who has notpaidthe rights of others from his wealth, his treasure will become a snakeon theDoomsday, which will chase him with open mouth, then a voice will beheard:’Catch hold of your wealth which you had concealed, and I amunconcerned withthis. When he will see that there is no escape, he will put his hand initsmouth, and it will bite him as a bull eats the grass.”

(Bukhari)

Islam explains to the man thathis lovefor wealth leads him near destruction, and that if he ponders over therealityof wealth and its consequences he will realize that charity is betterthanselfishness and that gift is nobler than miserliness.

“Man will say : my wealth, mywealth, although his wealth was of three kinds: whatever he ate, drankandfinished it; or had spent un clothes and they were torn; or he gave toothersand stored for the Hereafter, and what was other than this has beenfinished orhas been left for the people.”

(Muslim)

It is strange that what a manleaves forothers, he expresses harshness in that. If he will not use his wealthforbettering his own economic condition and for the welfare in theHereafter, thenfrom what else will he try to derive benefit?

The holy Prophet disclosedthis reality,when he said:

“Who is there among you thatlikesthe wealth of his inheritor more than his own wealth ?” The Companionsreplied: “O Messenger of Allah! We like our own wealth.” The Prophetthen said: “The wealth of each one of you is what he has sent to God,andthe wealth of the inheritor is what each one of you leaves behind.” .

(Bukhan)

In spite of this when theProphetdeclared that he  would collect theZakat, he treated leniently and with softness the greed of men to hoardmoneyand tackled them with great dexterity. He said:

“Soon to you will come thecollectors of Zakat. When they come, welcome them. Give them fullliberty tocollect whatever they want. If they act justly, they will do good tothemselves. And if they are unjust, its evil will be on them. Keep thempleased, for the payment of your zakat will be completed by theirpleasure, andthey should pray in your favor.”

(Abu Daud)

If a man is successful inremoving theobstructions that miserliness and narrow-mindedness place in the pathofrighteous feelings, then it is a perfect achievement in the eyes ofIslam.Ordinarily a man is hopeful about life, and his relationship with it isstrongand firm, provided he is healthy and energetic and courageous aboutfuture. Atsuch a time man spends his money moderately and he is always thinkingofincreasing his wealth, so that he may be reassured about his future andthat ofhis children. If in these circumstance~ a man controls all the factors,andkeeps his hands open, spends his money open-heartedly and generously,heneither worries about poverty or want, nor is he afraid about his ruin,thensuch a man performs the act of great good. One man went to the Prophetandasked him:

“O Messenger of Allah! Whatcharityis the best reward-winning ?” The Prophet said: “That you give incharity, although you may be healthy and in need of money; you may beafraid ofgetting poor so also you may be hopeful of getting wealth and beingfree fromwant. Let it not happen that you should go on postponing to give incharity,till your last breath, then you start making a will to give this muchincharity to this man and that much to that man.”

(Bukhari)

 “Ifyou give charity openly even so it isgood, but if you give it secretly to the needy, it is much better foryou, andHe will/ remove some of your ill- deeds. And Allah is well aware ofwhat youdo.”

( Baqarah : 271)

“If you loan to Allah abeautifulloan ,He will double it to your (credit), and He will grantforgiveness ;for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service), MostForbearing,-Knower ofwhat is hidden and what is open, Exalted in Might, Full ofWisdom.”

(Taghabun : 17, 18)

When a man commits a sin andhe realizesthat there has arisen distance between him and his Lord, then the thingthatbrings back cleanness, light and gets him a shelter under thebenevolence andpleasure of his Lord is spending his most loved wealth and property inthecause of Allah, and he should gladden the hearts of the poor and theneedy withits help, and should try to achieve rank before the Most GraciousBeing. HazratAbu Zar has narrated that the Prophet has said:

“There was a worshipper in theBaniIsrail,  who had worshipped Allah in amonastery for sixty years. One day there was rainfall and the wholearea becamegreen. When he saw from his hillside-monastery he felt-would it that hewentdown in the valley and recited Allah’s praises and collected morevirtue. Thenhe went down from the monastery. He had one or two loaves. In themeanwhile hemet a woman, and talked to her and the woman also enjoyed, andsuddenlyhe covered the woman and then slumber overtook him.

Then he came for taking a bathto a lake,and a beggar asked him for alms. The monk then gave him both the loaves, and then he suddenly died. ! His sixtyyears’ worshipping was weighed against the act of illegal sex, then thescaleof the sin was  heavier. Then in thescale of his virtue the two loaves were put, then the scale of thevirtuebecame heavier, and he achieved salvation.”

(Ibn Habban)

The effect of and the rolethat charityand generosity play in salvation and deliverance can be found in thebest examplethat Allah taught to His Prophet so that he may convey it tohisfollowers:

“I command you to givecharity. Its example is like that of a man who has been held by hisenemies,his hands have been tied to his neck, and he has been drawnnear withthe intention of being beheaded; suddenly he inquires of thepossibility ofsaving his life by giving money. Then he began giving whatever valuablethings-of little or more value- that he had,till he was able togethimself free.”

(Hakim)

Zakat, charity and othergenerous actsare of great importance in this life and in the Hereafter. On its basisalone aMuslim’s relationship with his religion either becomes strong or weak!.Thereis nothing more depriving than miserliness in paying others’ dues andnursing misgivingsagainst God. And there is nothing more helpful for success and glorythanconfidence in Allah’s favors and a man’s charity and generosity.

Allah’s Messenger has said:

“The acts of righteousness andvirtue save a man from the adverse consequences of the wicked acts. Thecharitythat is given unobtrusively cools down Allah’s anger, and kindness tokinsmenincreases a man’s age.”

(Tibrani)

Another tradition has it :

“Arrange for the cleanness bytakingzakat out of your wealth. Arrange for the treatment of your sick bygiving incharity, and fight the waves of adversity by praying to God meekly andhumbly.”

 (AbuDaud)

 Theheaviest blow to Satan, the most successful method to counterhis tricks and the greatest shield against his distrusts is that manshouldgive his wealth in charity, and spend his money in the cause of Allah.For thisreason the devil inspires man to be weak and narrow-minded so that hemay beprevented from giving generously and be involved in the entanglementsof thematerial world:

“The devil threatens you withpoverty and bids you to lewd conduct. Al/ah promises you His forgive-ness andbounties. And Allah is AI/-Embracing, AI/. Knowing.”

(Baqarah.. 268)

It is mentioned in the hadith:

“When a man decides to givesomething in charity, a group of seventy devils clings to him and triesto puthim off it.”

(Ahmed)

When a man distributes hissalary orallots it to different items of expenditure, be allots its majorportion tosuch items as are perishable. He thinks of them as if they are the duesfromwhich there is no escape. Islam has informed that a man may considertheexpenditure on his food and medicine as on perishable items, but thewealthwhich he spends in the cause of Allah is such that never perishes.

Hazrat Ayesha narrates thattheyslaughtered a goat, and the Prophet asked:

“How much of its flesh hasremained ?” They replied: “Nothing remained except the shoulderpiece.” The Prophet said: “Everything has remained except the shoulderpiece.”

(Tirmizi)

This hadith is inaccord withthese words of Allah: “Whatever is with you is perishable, andwhatever is with Allah is permanent.”

(Nahl.. 96)

In a hadith-Qudsi itis written:

“O son of Adam! Spend yourtreasurein the cause of Allah. With me there is no fear of its getting burnt,drownedor stolen. In its place whatever you would need, I will give it toyou.”

(Baihaqui)

Philanthropy-means to Increase wealth

Sometimes a thought enters themind thatcharity reduces the wealth, and brings a man nearer to poverty, andtakes awayfrom him that peace and re-assurance that is available to him under theshadowof wealth.

Such a thought is generated bySatan, whoputs it into the minds of the hoarders of low and mean nature.

The fact is that charity isthe means ofnourishment and development. Donation of wealth is a long and wideroad. A manwho spends the gifts of Allah generously with his two hands, his handsarealways full with the gifts of Allah. He is always surrounded by the!favors andblessings of Allah.

In a hadilh it ismentioned:

“There are three men aboutwhom Ican take an oath. No man’s wealth can be reduced by charity. Any manwho showspatience in the face of oppression, Allah honors him. And a man whoopens thedoor to begging, Allah opens on him the door of poverty and want.”

(Ibn Majah)

Man should display charity andgenerosityand should try to fill up the gaps found in society. Those poor andneedypersons who may come to him for succors should not be returned by himdisappointed, but instead he should satisfy them and should deal withthem insuch a way that he himself reaps rich benefits for the next world.

If today a little is spent incharity,tomorrow or day-after-tomorrow great advantages will accrue from that.

Allah has termed thisgenerosity ordonation as “excellent loan,’ which will be repaid in increasedquantities, not two or three times-but many more times. He hasencouraged Hisslaves to spend money in His cause and has very clearly informed themthat thisspending in the cause of Allah enables them to deservingly getlimitless favorsand blessings of Allah, which are everlasting.

It is mentioned in a hadithQudsi:

“O My slave! spend, spend, itisyour duty to spend. Allah’s hand is full. The charity of the day andnightcannot reduce it. What do you think, how much has He spent since Hecreated theearth and the heavens ? He never closed His hands, when His throne wason thewater, in His hands was the balance which went down and went up.”

(Bukhari)

Allah says:

“And whatever you spend (forgood)He replaces it. And He is the Best of Providers.”

(Saba: 39)

 Spendersin the cause of Allah remain in his sight and in hisshelter in both the states of plenty and adversity. The angel sent Darudonthem, and wish for increase in their wealth. As regards those who hoardmoneyvery miserly, they wish their loss and ruin. And will they remain withtheirwealth or will the wealth remain with them for all time ? The wealthhas cometo us from others, and will again go to others. Then  whythis pride and conceit about it? Andfor this reason, why should one forget his position and manners?

The things with which man isattached inthis world, will be left by him for the real inheritor of those things,and hewill appear before his Lord in such a condition that he would have nowealthnor would he enjoy any rank or position. He will be totallyempty-handed, as hehad first come to the world. The wealth and property about which he hadactedmiserly will become a load in his neck on the Day of Judgment. And itis notsurprising because Allah will take revenge on such persons who forgottheserealities and lived in this world unmindful of their duties. The onlythoughtthat troubled them was that whether a thing was beneficial for them ornot.They were thoroughly self-centered and in their selfishness they forgotwhatwas really good for them.

Allah’s Messenger says:

“Every morning two angels comedownto earth. One of them says: ‘O Allah! Give full recompense to thespender (forgood cause).’ The other one says: ‘O Allah! Ruin and destroy themiser’, “

(Muslim)

Remove Poverty Movement

A man is greedy for wealthbecause hewants that he should leave behind him plenty of wealth and property forhischildren, so that they may be safe and secure after him. This is a goodand virtuousintention. Islam considers it a duty of a Muslim that he should takecare ofhis family and dependents, and keep them away from want and penury. IfIslamwants you to be helpful in removing poverty and want from the homes ofother,it also dislikes you to bring poverty and want in your homes.

It is mentioned in the hadith:

“To leave your inheritors richandwealthy is much better than leaving them poor and needy, and beingforced tobeg before other.”

(Bukhari)

Provision for the children andaguarantee for their future are duties of accepted importance. But howcan it beproper if a man stakes his religion and character after these things Itissheer foolishness if a man sacrifices his position, decency and Allah’spleasure only for the purpose of leaving his income for his children.

Islam shows that like allother goodthings a man’s wealth and children are a trial for him. If he isentangled intheir love and forgets his duties and does not offer the expectedsacrifices,then these good things and gifts become a trouble for him, nay, theybecomemore dangerous and destructive.

“0 you who believe ! Truly,amongyour wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves : so bewareof them! But ifyou forgive and overlook, and cover up (their faults), verily, Allah isOft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Your riches and your children may be buta trial:but in the presence of Allah, is the highest reward.”

(Taghabun: 14, 15)

Yea, the man who does not goto jihad,because he likes the proximity of his wife, or the man whorestrains hisband from giving in charity because he wants to save his wealth forsaving moreand more for his children, be is showing ungratefulness to Allah forthe goodthings of life that He has provided, and he thinks that they are really’gifts’while actually they are a trial for him.

Khaula Bint Hakim says:

“One day the Prophet came outcarrying his grandchild, and he was saying: ‘You (children) become themeans ofmiserliness, cowardice, ignorance and foolishness. And you are also thefragrance of Allah.”

(Tirmizi)

It means that the person whopreferred tobe a miser, coward and fool on account of his child, he was in a loss,and aperson who paid the dues of Allah and His slaves, he became successful.

However, being niggardly inpaying thedues and for hoarding for the children, a man’s poverty and need do notend, italso does not guarantee his becoming a wealthy person; and such a manwill notbe able to proffer any excuse which will be acceptable.

Abdullah bin Masood narratesthat theProphet PBUH said:

“Allah has blessed two typesofpersons with plenty of wealth, property, and children. He will ask thepersonsof one of these groups: ‘O Such and Such man I’ He will reply: ‘We arepresent,O our Lord! we are present.’ He will ask: ‘What have you done with thewealthand property with which I had blessed you ?’ The slave will reply:’That I haveleft for my sons, for 1 was afraid of his poverty’. The Lord will say:’If youknow the reality you will laugh less and cry more. The thing which youfear, Ihave sent it down on them.”

He will ask another person :’O Such andsuch man I’ He will reply: ‘I am present, O My Lord! I am present.’ Hewillask: ‘Had I not blessed you with plenty of wealth and property ?’ Theslavewill reply: ‘Certainly, my Lord!’ He will ask: ‘What have you done withthoseblessings ?’ He will reply: ‘I spent it in the path of your obedience,and Ileft my children to your Mercy, Kindness and Benevolence.’ Then Godwill say:’Listen, If you know the reality, you will laugh more and cry less. Thethingson which you relied, I provided him with them’. “

 (Tibrani)

Islam advises that man shouldfirst bekind to himself, then with his home people, then with his relatives andwithall humans.

A man’s being kind with hisself meansthat he should meet all his permissible and proper needs by halal orpermissible means, and should avoid haram or forbidden means.He shouldkeep himself safe from the manifestations of poverty and starvation,for a manloses his dignity because of these conditions. The necessary standardofMuslim’s honour is not maintained. But all these things should be doneinbetween miserliness and wasteful spending. Muslims are allowed to keepso muchwealth with them that it may suffice to meet their needs, and if theyhave notthese means then they are poor and needy.

Abu Saeed Khudri narrates: .

” A man in a poor conditionentered the Masjid-i-Naba,'(Prophet’s Mosque). At that time the Prophet was commanding thepeople togive charity. When the people collected the donations, he gave twoitems ofclothing to that man in poor condition. When for the second time theProphetadvised the people to give in charity, that seedy looking man threw oneitem ofclothing. The Prophet said in anger: ‘See this shabby-looking man, Ihad givenhim two pieces of clothing, and when I again advised people to give incharity,he threw his one piece.’ The Prophet reproached him considerably.”

(Abu Daud)

The holy Prophet wanted toremovepoverty, penury and want and obscenity from society, while some peopledid notcare whether they were moving about without clothes or withoutfootwear. If thepeople of this kind consider their such appearance as a manifestationofreligious teachings, then it is not correct, because Islam makes it aduty forevery Muslim to strive for so much wealth as may make him able to raisehishead with dignity in society.

Jabir has reported: 

A man came to the Prophet witha piece ofgold with him and said to the Prophet that he got it from a mine andrequestedhim to accept it ; that it was in charity and that he had nothing elsewhich hecould give in charity. The Prophet turned his face a away. So he came from the right side, and again requested. Thistime also the Prophet turned his face away. So he came from the leftside andpleaded. This time also the Prophet did not pay any attention. So hecame frombehind and repeated his request. The Prophet took it and threw ittowards him soforceful that had it touched him it would have been painful

Then he said: ‘Some of youcome to givethe entire property in charity. After this they go on begging beforeothers,and the best charity is that which comes from a wealthy person’.”

Who deserve First to Partake of your Wealth?

It is the duty of the Head ofthe familyto find out what are the reasonable needs of his household. people, andheshould meet them with generosity. It is not religiousness that a manshould lethis wife and children suffer for want of means and should spend hiswealth forother purposes, however important they may be. Family relationshipsdeservemore attention and preferable treatment over others.

The Prophet has said:

“One dinar is that which youspendin the cause of Allah, and one dinar is that which you spend forfreeing aslave; and one dinar is that which you spend on your family. But of allthese,the greatest reward will be given for the dinar which has been spent onthefamily.”

(Muslim)

In the discussion on Sinceritythis hadithhad been quoted :

“What a Muslim spends on hisfamily,for seeking the pleasure of Allah, is also counted as charity.”

(Bukhari)

By this clear guidance Islamwants thatthe allotment of the expenditure should be in proportion to thebenefits tosociety, for family is the foundation of a great society and the firstbrick.of its edifice. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to it firstand topay its dues fully.

In this teaching there is awarning forthose who spend heartily and squander money carelessly outside theirhomesamong their friends while at home they become a picture of poverty andhelplessness.

The people who deserve more tobebenefited from the excess wealth of a person are his relatives andkinsmen. Itis their right that when the hand should be raised for giving incharity itshould first be extended towards them. It also appeals to a soundintellectthat when there are needy and poor persons in the vicinity of a person,thenwhere is the sense in leaving them uncared for and extending thehelping handtowards others?

Such an action might generatea feelingof hatred and  rancor in the hearts ofthe deprived persons, and they may feel that the ignorance shown intheirrespect is with a view to harming them and putting them to great loss.  And if giving of pain and dissatisfaction isdone consciously, then this kind of charity becomes troublesome for thegiver.

A haditlt has it:

 “OCommunity of Muhammed! By the Being Who has sent me with Truth,Allah cannot accept the charity of those persons whose relatives are inwant ofhis kindness and help, and he is distributing it among others, leavingthem. Bythe Being in Whose power is my life, on the Day of Judgment Allah willnot lookat such a man.”

(Tibrani)

The wife of Hazrat Abdullahbin Masood,Zainab Saqafiah says: .. Allah’s Messenger bas said :

‘O Group of ladies Give incharity, evenif you have to sell ornaments.” She says : ‘I went to Abdullah binMasoodand told him: ‘You are a poor man and the Prophet has asked us to giveincharity. You go to the Prophet and ask him whether this thing can be analternative for charity, if so it is well, otherwise I will give incharity toothers instead of to you.’ Abdullah bin Masood said: ‘You go and askhim.’

She says that on her way tosee theProphet, she met a woman from Ansar, who was also troubled with thesamethoughts. They went together. As a precautionary measure they had tostopoutside his room. When Hazrat Bilal came out of the room, she said tohim: ‘Goand ask the Prophet and tell him that two women have come to ask youwhetherlooking after the husbands and nourishing their children can be analternativeto charity or not? And do not tell him who the women are.’

She says that Bilal went inthe presenceof the Prophet and asked him about her problem. The Prophet asked whothe womenwere. He answered that one was a woman from the Ansar and another wasZainab.The Prophet asked: ‘Which Zainab ?’ He replied: ‘The wife of AbdullahbinMasood.’ The Prophet said: ‘These two will get the reward of therelationshipand also the reward for the charity.’

(Bukbari)

Allah’s Messenger has said:

“To spend on the poor ischarity,and to spend on the relative gets the reward for double charity, one ischarityitself, I and another for kindness to relatives.” ‘

(Tinnizi)