Helping the needy Monday, 15 August 2011 04:04

By Ramzi Al Saeed

A person who seeks happiness ought to know that happiness comes by making others happy. In this holy month of Ramadan, Allah multiplies the wages for good deeds and for those who want to have a deal with Him. Hence, a person must look for the needy to make them happy. Islam is a religion of social solidarity, compassion and cooperation. And it made social justice one of the pillars of religion. Hence, the rich and the capable among the Muslim society must work for the relief of the needy and the distressed by sharing food with them in difficult moments. So, they could avoid spreading animosity and conflict among the society members.

The growth of societies and its progress are not measured by what knowledge and progress has been made in different spheres of general knowledge, but rather it is measured by something more important than that. It is measured by the spread of human values and its spread among the members. These values are love, solidarity, preference, sacrifice, integrity and cleanliness in thought, behaviour and dealing. That is why the Islamic society is different from other societies. because, the Islamic society is complete and connected to each other. Its Dawah programme is based on spreading values and cooperation among its members, that is the reason it is considered to be superior to other societies. A Muslim is considered to be social of high class, because he has been instructed to follow the Islamic principles, which makes human being progress culturally in all walks of social dealings. He is always keen to help others in his society, and remove their difficulties. It is so, because his upbringing was on the principles of truth, good and virtue.

The doors of good during these days are open for the pious. He can enter whenever he wishes and be deserved of the mercy of Allah. Because, he knows that the issue of livelihood is up to Allah, who has guaranteed to take care of all. But livelihood is not accompanied by blessing unless those who deal with Allah spend their wealth and don’t fear reduction in that. A prophetic tradition says that every good deed is an alms, and that every morning two angels come down from the sky. One of them says that “O Allah! Give the spending person a successor, and the other one says that “O Allah! Give the one who keeps his wealth damage.

So, everyone who seeks good, must look for types of righteousness, good and kindness. By so doing, Muslims will receive their returns for spending. Because, the efforts of human being and his life should be turned towards serving their family, tribe and society members.

The virtuous person whose heart has been enlightened by the ray of Imaan follows the values of Islam as ordered by Allah. He knows very well that by helping the needy, he will become closer to Allah, and hope for his mercy. He also knows that these good works will bring him blessings in livelihood and age. Because, the human soul naturally loves good, and seek ways which could increase his livelihood and blessings in age and wage as well.

The prophetic tradition addresses such a soul and directs it to the ways which could lead to increment in his livelihood and success in work. Upon this, that person by doing too much work achieves his goal. There is no doubt that such characters are the door of good, where unity and cohesion of the society get stronger. And souls are filled with comfort and confidence.

Hence, the tradition of true religion has made necessary for every Muslim that he should like for his Muslim brothers what he likes for himself. This means to seek their benefits, cooperate with them and give the helping hand to them. Whosoever removes material difficulties from a believer, Allah will remove his difficulties on the Day of Judgment.

The Peninsula