THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

in need. For example, the Prophet of Islam mentioned that among those promised Paradise is the one who, when given wealth by God, spends it to help others (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 16966). Spending one’s earnings to meet the needs of others is among the highest human virtues, and Islam places strong emphasis on this value. Any wealth a person acquires is, in reality, a gift from God. Without the necessary means provided by Him, no one would be able to earn anything. Therefore, when someone is blessed with wealth, it becomes their responsibility to show gratitude to God by setting aside a portion of it and using it to support their fellow human beings. HUMANITY IN GENERAL According to Islamic teachings, all of humanity is God’s family. There is a narration in Baihaqi where the Prophet of Islam said that all human beings are like God’s family, and the most beloved person to God is the one who treats His family (the people) in the best way (Musnad Al-Bazzar, Hadith No. 6947). Altaf Husain Hali (1837-1914), a renowned Urdu poet and writer, beautifully conveys this concept in a verse: Yeh pehla sabaq tha kitab-e-huda ka Ki hai sari makhluq kunba khuda ka This was the first lesson in the Book of Guidance That all creatures are members of God’s family.