Those who spend in prosperity and adversity and those who control anger and forgive people. And Allah loves those who do good. (3:134).
Allah Almighty has made God-fearing Muslims to live as models for others. The first part of the above ayat emphasises the habit of spending in the way of Allah in prosperity and adversity. It means, that we must be so used to spending for the good pleasure of Allah that we do spend whatever we can under all conditions, be it prosperity or adversity – more from more and less from less. Three points must be noted here:That those poor among us should not consider themselves to be totally free from the obligation of spending in the way of Allah. By doing so, they may be depriving themselves of the open opportunity to spend in His way and its tremendous rewards, for the status of spending one rupee out of a thousand rupees is the same with Allah Almighty as is the status of spending one paisa out of a thousand paisa.
On the other hand, the point made here is that those among us who keep on spending within the limitations of their capacity to spend, especially when their circumstances are straightened, would discover to their delight that, by doing so, the blessed style of giving and the wonderful habit of sharing with others less fortunate has come to stay and that it will not go extinct. May be, the very benedictory quality of such conduct draws mercy from Allah Almighty and He, in His infinite grace, bestows on such a person new openings and new increases in his means of sustenance.
Yet another beneficial aspect of this guidance is worthy of serious notice. Think of one who is in the habit of spending what he has on other human beings, making it possible for them to benefit through his efforts, helping the poor, the needy and the deprived. It is obvious that such a person would never even think of usurping the rights of others against their wishes.
So, the core of this quality of character is that as true Muslims, the God-fearing and the favoured servants of Allah, we must always be on the lookout for opportunities to pass on benefits to other human beings irrespective of our being rich or poor. There was an occasion when Sayyidah A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), gave away just one piece of grape in charity because she had absolutely nothing with her at that time. According to another early report, there was a time when she gave one onion in charity. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has said: Guard yourself against the Fire even if it be by giving a piece of date in charity and do not turn back one who begs empty-handed even if it be by giving a cloven hoof from a goat.
In a hadith reported by Imam al-Razi it is said that the Blessed Prophet, on a certain day, exhorted people to spend in charity. In response, those who had gold and silver with them lost no time in giving these out in charity. Somebody brought date-flakes because he had nothing else to give away. The date-flakes were accepted and given in charity. Then came another person who said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have nothing to spend in charity, however, I am known as a man of honour among my people, so I give my sense of honour in charity, after which I shall never be angry with a person in future, no matter how much he insults me’.
The teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and the way they were understood and practised by the noble Companion (may Allah be pleased with them all) make it obvious that spending in the way of Allah is not limited to the well-to-do and the wealthy. This quality of character can also be possessed by the poor and the less fortunate. They too can have that great attribute by spending in the way of Allah a little of whatever they can in proportion to their respective capacities.
It is important to note at this point that the Qur’an uses the word yunfaqun which means that they spend in the way of Allah under all conditions, of prosperity and of adversity. However, it is not categorically mentioned what to spend – Allah has left it open. This seems to suggest that it includes not only money, but everything else that can be ‘spent’. For example, one who ‘spends’ his time and labour in the way of Allah, he too shall be credited with the quality of infaq fi sabilillah or spending in the way of Allah. The hadith quoted above supports this view.
There are two conditions of life in which we knowingly or unknowingly tend to forget Allah. We do that when are very rich and rolling in luxury or we could also do that, fairly often, when worrying about our adversity. So, the ayat clearly guides us not to forget Allah whatever the situation may be – Allah wants us to develop this unique character.
By developing the above traits and marks of God-fearing Muslims, we may become deserving candidates of ultimate success and of elevated stations in Paradise, in shaa Allah.