Sadaqah & us.

It was a sunny fine day when I was in MMA (Manawatu Muslim Association)'s stall helped them selling Arabic Coffee comes with 3 seeds of dates for $1. An Esplanade Day which as usual, had heaps of stalls selling things and also companies making kind of fun-fairs specially for kids. Many parents brought their children to play over and they themselves wanna have a look at the stalls and be relax after a long weekdays while at the same time, tighten the parents-children bond.

Me and Fatimah, an Egypt girl were advertising about Arabic Coffee which is great to have it with dates. Even though I do not like the taste because it contains spices and herbs which is very unacceptable for me. Special thing about it is it's lack of sugar, ones should bite date first before take a sip. Many English people came over our small, round table and we received lots of comments about the coffee. Most of them love it and one of them even asked Fatimah where to buy it. And two funny Kiwi mothers asked where to get the silver water pot that we'd on the table!

Fuhhh.. It was very tiring yet another happy and fun experience I'd gain.

Here the real story I really wanna tell you, there was a non-Muslim woman who gave me $2 and then, I wanna give her change back, which what I supposed to do. But then, she said, " That's okay. You can save it for your donation.". Masya-Allah! Can you see what I wanna tell you here?

If you can't, please let me explain.

Question: Although we are Muslims, do we have that kind of akhlaq (something you do without thinking/ spontaneous acts)?

There as many verses from Holy Quran that say about sadaqah. Too many. It's like Allah S.W.T speaks directly to us to be generous and giving properties He lends us to either needy or not.

One verse that's give a strong hit at my face is :

The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah ;2:261)

Allah-Akhbar!

1000gooddeeds.com

The more we donate, the wealthier we'll become! It's like a plot which Allah sets for us. Quoting from Sis Zabrina's Life is An Open Secret 2nd book:

Work --> Gain --> Donate --> Wealth --> Work --> Gain --> Donate --> Wealth --> Work .. ..

Sorry if it's wrong or something..

Things I want to stress here is; don't be stingy. Give people everything you have like what Ansars did to Muhajirins. Because whatever we have right here, right now are not ours. Its just something Allah lends to us so that we can give to others. Its like we are the medium to give anyone that need our helps and test us whether we are willing or not, without them asking us to give our money from our salary or properties to our own family like what is says in verse below:

And give to the kindred his due and to the Miskin (poor) and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. (Al-Isra'; 17:26)

So, guys, let be generous. Stop wasting on stuffs that are unnecessary. And, please, please, please stop being stingy. Plus, people will respect us even more. After all, there is nothing, absolutely nothing we have to lost for right?

And because (read the bold words) ..

Hakim ibn Hizam narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand, (i.e., he who gives charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses.) And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient.” (Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadith 508)


Take this as a challenge, if non-Muslims can do it so do us :)