Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Giving

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46) [Quran, Al Kahf 18:46]

The Quran is an active Book, not a passive one. Right from the beginning, from the Meccan surahs that were revealed, when Islam was a new thing and the believers were scattered in this society, the Quran challenged that society in two distinct ways. One was the challenge of tawheed -- there is the one God who created you and to whom you will return. The second challenge was a very simple one -- if you don't care for the down trodden you might find yourself in hell. It is as simple as that because the Arabian society were people who boasted of generosity. They would lay out lavish feasts for guests but they did it to a particular group, the nobles whom they get praises for. They cared nothing for the miskin, the impoverish, the orphans, the traveller, the refugee, because they meant nothing to them. So the Quran flipped it on them and said these are the people if you are not with them, then Allah is not with you. That's why this comes again and again in the Quran right from the beginning. 

This is essential to what it means to be a Muslim -- it's tawheed and being with the down trodden. 

For example, in Surah Al Haqqah, Allah says about people in hell...take them and tie them in chain of 70 cubits. What was their crime? Just two things --he didn't believe in Allah Almighty and didn't used to urge people to feed the needy. And that's why on the Day of Judgment he has no friends. Allah is the friend of those who are with the needy. If you are not with them you can find yourself in the wrath of Allah. Right from the beginning, this is the challenge of Islam to the society. 

But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I had not been given my record (25) And had not known what is my account. (26) I wish my death had been the decisive one. (27) My wealth has not availed me. (28) Gone from me is my authority." (29) [Allah will say], "Seize him and shackle him. (30) Then into Hellfire drive him. (31) Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him." (32) Indeed, he did not used to believe in Allah, the Most Great, (33) Nor did he encourage the feeding of the poor. (34) So there is not for him here this Day any devoted friend (35) Nor any food except from the discharge of wounds; (36) None will eat it except the sinners. (37) [Quran, Al Haqqa 69:25-37]

In Surah Al Muddathir, a Meccan surah, the people of Hell was asked, "What put you into Saqar (hell)?" It is because of the two things again -- "We were not of those who prayed, nor did we used to feed the poor."

Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained (38) Except the companions of the right, (39) [Who will be] in gardens, questioning each other (40) About the criminals, (41) [And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?" (42) They will say, "We were not of those who prayed, (43) Nor did we used to feed the poor. (44) And we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it], (45) And we used to deny the Day of Recompense (46) Until there came to us the certainty." (47) [Quran, Al Muddathir 74:38-47]

The mark if iman (faith in the One God) and what it meant to be a Mu'min is that there is a fixed portion of your own wealth that you always set aside just for those in need, for those who ask (i.e. those who come to your door) and don't even ask (i.e. those who don't come to your door). This is the theme of many surahs within the Quran. 

May Allah make us of those who are generous. Aameen.