Part One: SEERAH (Biographical Sketch) CHAPTER

C:\Users\Admin\Dropbox\The Message - Material of Maulana\16. Books and Review\Apa's Books\Life And 92 Thus the spirit of kindness and well-wishing is the essence of charity. The giver is not to expect any reward from the recipient, as there awaits for him an abundant reward from God—material, moral and spiritual—whatever God thinks it best to confer upon His servant. The Qur’an, in verse 264 of chapter 2, admonishes us not to spend “to be seen of men.” This is false charity. Spending with this motive is worse than not spending at all. In verse 265, God gives us a beautiful parable to illustrate what true charity is like. It is like a field with good soil in an elevated position. It catches good showers of rain and the moisture penetrates the soil. With these favourable conditions, its output increases enormously. Similarly, a man of true charity is spiritually healthy. He is best placed to attract God’s bounties. The Qur’an goes on to give four parables (verses 261-266) which explain the truly spiritual nature of charity and how it bears on the whole of our lives. Yet, there are some people who think that acts of charity would ruin them. Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments on such doubts: “No kind or generous act ever ruined one.” And we have never heard of anyone who, due to his generosity to good causes, has been impoverished. This is because the generous alms-giver has God’s promise that He will shower him with greater bounties. (2:268) On the other hand, false generosity, that is, extravagant expenditure for show or self-indulgence can and does lead people to ruin. Verse 271 of the second chapter of the Qur’an makes the point that publicity should never be the motive for an act of charity. We must remember that we can seek God’s pleasure only if our motives are pure. In verse 273, the Qur’an states, “Charity is for those in need.” This is a general condition to help people in need whether they are good or bad, on the right path or not, Muslims or non-Muslims. We are not supposed to sit in judgement on these matters. It is worth reiterating here that the chief motive in charity should be God’s pleasure and our own spiritual good. This verse was revealed in the first instance in Madinah, but is of general application. The concept of charity in Islam is thus linked with justice, and is not limited to the redressal of grievances. It implies, apart from the removal of handicaps,