Be Generous While Alive

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

The concept of wealth, wealth accumulation, wealth management and distribution is something that troubles each and everyone of us. People desire and love money, and so the test of money is one of the greatest tests on this earth. 

Allah is the One who provides and restricts our wealth as mentioned in the Quran.

ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ

Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. (Quran, Ar-Raad 13:36)

But we don't sit back waiting for the provision to come. We put in the effort, in the halal way. to make money -- maybe get a degree, apply for a jobs, etc. If we don't get it, the imam in us will accept this as qadr (Allah's decree). We don't resort to haram means to obtain the money. 

Once we obtain it, one of the ways to preserve it is generosity. The more we give, the more it is preserved.

There was a man in the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam who had a warehouse of dates. He made in his will that when he passes away, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam should distribute the dates in the warehouse to the poor people of Madinah.

The man passed away and the dates were distributed. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked if all the dates were distributed and they replied in the affirmative. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam went into the warehouse to inspect it. He stepped into the warehouse and found a rotten date remaining. It's not eatable and he picks it up and said, "if this person had distributed this date while he was alive on his own, he would have gotten more rewards than donating all the dates in the warehouse after his death."

Don't think your hard work is making you the money. If that's the case a lot of people who work hard, maybe harder than you, would have more money than you. But that's not the case. 

We are the khalifah of Allah regarding our money. Spend what Allah has given us it in the way He pleases, not as we please. 

The money is not ours to begin with. It is an amanah, entrusted trust of Allah to us.

 ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ ‎﴿٧﴾‏ 

Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward. Quran, al Hadid 57:7) 

 وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ‎﴿١٠﴾‏

And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous." (Quran, Munafiqun 63:10)

We ask Allah to give us halal rizq and mKe us  content with whatever He gives. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all. 

Wassalaam