Helping Others

As important as it is to focus on our personal acts of worship such as Prayers and Reciting Qur’an, we should also put some serious effort in Ramadhan to help others in need – this in itself is a means of success Hereafter, which is basically the goal of fasting in the first place.

And we don’t have to look very far at all – yes, there is turmoil and chaos amongst our brothers and sisters across the globe;

but the reality is, there are many among us in our own backyard, who are in difficulty and are in need of help – from amongst our own friends, neighbours, or even our own family. There is always someone in financial debt, someone is in need to feed the family, someone in need of shelter from domestic oppression, someone in need of moral support, someone lost and in need of guidance from their own recklessness, someone downed at the hospital waiting for warm company to cheer them up, etc..

But because we have perhaps been too focused on our own achievements, too narrowed by our own drama, or perhaps even a little too selfish, we fail to work out solutions for our own society.

Which begs the question: if we can’t clean up our own closets, how can we clean up the mess halfway across the globe?

Let’s put our act together and reach out – in whatever way you can. Allah has blessed all of us with different talents, skills, characteristics and abilities – so let’s assess ourselves and utilize our strengths play our part in the big picture: the betterment of the ummah.

Your deeds of kindness might seem small, but they can go a long way.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said:

مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ

“He who relieves the suffering of a brother out of the grief/difficulties of this world, Allah would alleviate his difficulties from the difficulties of the Day of Resurrection,

and he who alleviates the difficulties of a needy person who cannot pay his debt, Allah will alleviate his difficulties in both this world and the Hereafter,

and he who conceals (the faults) of a (fellow) Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the Hereafter.

Allah will Aid  a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother”

(Narrated by Muslim)

"‏ لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ ‏"‏

“Do not belittle or consider any act of goodness as being insignificant, even if it is (as simple as) meeting your brother with a cheerful face” (Narrated by Muslim)

May Allah make us amongst the Righteous believers whom He described in Surah Al-Insan…

وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾

“And they give food in spite of love for it, (providing it) for the poor, the orphan, and the captive,

 إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّـهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا ﴿٩﴾

[Saying], "We feed you only seeking the Pleasure of Allah . We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

 إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِنْ رَبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا ﴿١٠﴾

“Indeed, we fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislikeness to it)”

 فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا ﴿١١﴾

So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness

 وَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾

And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because of their patience.

(Surah Al-Insan : 8 – 12)

إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُمْ مَشْكُورًا ﴿٢٢﴾

(And it will be said to them): "Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavour has been appreciated and accepted."