In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Fear of poverty is considered one of the diseases of the heart. Scholars have said that nurturing this fear is tantamount to harboring a negative opinion about Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says,
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٦[Qur'an Hud 11:6]
And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register. (6)
وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾ فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ ﴿٢٣[Qur'am Adh-Dhariyat 51:22-23]
And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised. (22) Then by the Lord of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth - just as [sure as] it is that you are speaking. (23)
Fear of poverty is also doubting this guarantee from Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّـهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٦٨[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:268]
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (268)
One of shaytan's tricks is to keep people so occupied with the fear of losing their wealth that they end up desperately clinging to their money and depriving the needy and themselves of the goodness of giving for the sake of Allah.
A person under the spell of irrational fear is more vulnerable to transgress laws, even to the point of indulging in lewdness, for the purpose of gaining profit and wealth.
The cure for fear of poverty is to have a good opinion of Allah. Allah Almighty says,
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦﴾ مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ ﴿٥٧﴾ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ ﴿٥٨[Qur'an Adh-Dhariyat 51:57]
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (56) I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. (57) Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength. (58)
People who harbor good thoughts about their Provider deflect insidious whisperings about Him and the subtle provocations that create irrational fear. His dominion is never diminished in the least when He gives to His creation all that they need. And if someone is given more than another, one should not harbor bad thoughts toward that person. Wholesome thoughts about Allah express themselves in one's contentment with what he/she has, and not stretching one's eyes toward the assets of others.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Contentment is a treasure that is never exhausted."
If one is to have fear, let it be of Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا ﴿٣ ...[Qur'an 65:2-3]
... And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (2) And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. (3)
Allah is the Provider and source of all wealth and comfort. He has promised that those who believe in Him and expend on behalf of the poor and needy shall receive a far more valuable return than the measure of what they spend.
Leave and avoid businesses/jobs and activities that are prohibited in Islam--such alcohol, film/music, tobacco, interest/usury, insurance.
Don't be a miser. Being Muslim we have a responsibility to alleviate poverty. Muslims in the world are some of the richest. If this wealth is used as per the direction of Allah we can alleviate poverty. Islam as system and way of life is based on collective responsibility of society, ethics and principles. If we follow it we will be able to remove the poverty from our society, starting with our family, friends and neighbors. Commitment, purity and taqwa (God Fearing) is what required for success.
Pay your zakat (obligatory charity). Every Muslim who has wealth that reach a certain minimum quantum of any good or wealth (nisab) must pay zakat. In the list of priority first is close relative who are poor and needy, then neighbor and then those in close vicinity, city and nation.
Give Sadaqa (Voluntary charity). Sadaqa is a very wide term and is used in the Qur'an to cover all kinds of charity. Its scope is so vast that even the poor who can have nothing tangible to give can offer sadaqa in the shape of a smile or a glass of water to a thirsty person, or they may even just utter a kindly word. Good conduct is frequently termed sadaqa in the hadith. Planting something from which a person, bird or animal later eats also counts as sadaqa. In this extended sense, acts of loving kindness, even greeting another with a cheerful face, is regarded as sadaqa. In short, every good deal is sadaqa. Giving of sadaqa serves a number of functions. Sadaqa first and foremost act as expiation for sins. The believers are asked to give sadaqa immediately following any transgression (Ihya-e-Ulumuddin, Al-Ghazzali, 1/298). Voluntary alms-giving can also compensate for any shortcoming in the past payment of zakat, Sadaqa also gives protection against all kinds of evil.
Sadaqa wards off affliction in this world, questioning in the grave and punishment on Judgment Day. It is therefore recommended to give sadaqa by night and by day, in secret and in public to seek Allah's pleasure.
Allah Almighty says,
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٢٧٤[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:274]
Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. (274)
The constant giving of a little is better with Allah than occasional giving of much. Sadaqa is also a means of moral edification.
Take care of those who are not in position to take care of themselves. Every Muslim should know his responsibility towards other people and try to ease those who are in difficulties.
In some instances, it is better to help someone start a business than giving money outright. A man approached the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, seeking for his generosity. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, instead asked him to bring whatever he has from his home. The man returned with an old copper mug. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, then asked his companions seated with him if any of them would buy the mug. One of the companions offered to pay one dirham. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, then asked if anyone would offer two dirhams and one of them did. He then gave one dirham to the man to buy food for the day and asked him to buy an axe with the other dirham. When he came back with the axe, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, personally fixed a wooden handle to the axe and asked him to get firewood to sell at the market. A few days later, the man met the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and told him he has been getting some fifteen dirhams selling firewood within the last few days.
Adopt the Islamic inheritance law and tell others -- Islam being a complete religion gives rights to every living creature. When we adopt best practices of Islam we can surely reduce poverty. While we might not be in the position of changing the world to follow this Divine law, however, as an individual we can help reduce poverty by leaving a third of the gross inheritance (through our Will) to the poor relatives and other poor.
Be kind to your neighbor. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying: Angel Jibril advised me persistently about (kind treatment) towards the neighbor (so much) that I thought he would confer upon him the (right) of inheritance. [Muslim]
May Allah make us among those who are truthful, protect us from poverty and aid us to alleviate poverty. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakum Allahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
No comments:
Post a Comment