Law of Giving
Holy Qur'an 2/215
 
We wish all our viewers and audience peace, tranquility and prosperity. Asalamoalekum Wa Rehmatullahi Wa Barakatohu
 
It is an assurance that we harbor in our heart, due deference, dignity and good wishes for all mankind. We pray to the LORD of the Universe to shower HIS blessings and bounties on all HIS creatures on this earth! May the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, guide all human beings to the right path! Aameen!
 

Now we take recourse to the Last Book of the LORD of humanity to reform and develop our actions, emotion and deeds as endorsed by our Creator in HIS Book of Guidance. It will not only make our life worthwhile on this earth, but guarantees a grand reception in the Hereafter. Professing and testifying the Oneness of our LORD, we strive for purification and perfection of our own life by emulating the character of the Last Messenger, Muhammad (s.a.w.s) who is the role model for the entire humanity.

 
Dear Viewers, No other course on this earth can promise a comprehensive development of your personality than the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, and the system of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s).
 
Today we shall go through a few verses of second chapter of the Holy Qur’an, and find out what they signify! May our LORD guide us to the right path, and help us to come to the right conclusion. Aameen!
 
 
 
 
Before rendering these verses into English, we want to make it clear that the translation of the original wordings of the Book of ALLAH in letter and spirit is not at all possible in any language of the world. It is only an attempt to be close to what these verses signify! What is the message transmitted through these verses? What is the underlying instruction for all of us, for the entire humanity? May the LORD of the worlds help us in our humble efforts!
 
“They will ask you as to what they should spend on others. Say: Whatever of your wealth you spend, shall be first for your parents, and for the near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer; and whatever good you do, verily, ALLAH has full knowledge thereof.”
 
Every man and women in this world is in possession of some or the other resources, in the form of knowledge or information, in the form of health or power, in the form of qualification or ability, in the form of wealth or property, in the form of land or ocean, in the form of government or kingdom.
 
With all these resources at his command, a man is passing through a test in the Big Examination Hall of this world.

 
The Creator has created every human being spiritually equal and provided basic qualities like hearing, vision, feelings and senses while economically they differ in their status. The Qur’an says in verse 43/32:
 
 
“…… it is WE, The ALMIGHTY GOD Who distribute the means of livelihood among mankind in the life of this world, and raises some of them above others in ranks, so that some of them may take services of others…..”
 
And it is ensured that each one of them owns something according to his or her status. They all have been given a free choice and opportunities to discharge their duties, to fulfill their promises, and to accomplish the tasks assigned to them by their LORD. Now it is the personal preference or caliber of each individual, how keenly and sincerely he achieves his objectives. How useful he proves himself in the scheme of the things! How positively he contributes to the society! A man of conviction should be aware of the share of other fellow beings in his own belongings, as The Holy Scripture instructs us in verses 70/24-25:
 
 
“The men of convictions know that in their own wealth and belongings, there is a portion for those who are in need of help, and for have-nots.”
 

A human being strives hard to search out bounties of his Sustainer using all his wits and human faculties. After the fulfillment of his basic needs; he either squanders away his money and other assets, or contributes them for the benefit of other fellow beings. The verse recited at the beginning, instructs us that while spending our surplus possessions, we should have in mind the divine priority list.

 
According to the Book of Guidance, our parents deserve priority in taking care of. Then we must take into consideration the people in our surroundings and the kith and kin. Then comes the welfare of the community, the society, we are living in. In our contribution to the society, the preference would be given to the orphans, the deprived ones, the poor and the needy, the helpless, and the beggars. Then we should take into consideration the necessary services for travelers and other utility items for general public.
 
Now the question is why this law or system of contribution so necessary? In fact, the whole Universe has been formulated on the law of uninterrupted contribution. Every creature is playing its role as assigned by its Creator. And thus, we see the sun giving its light and energy to all humanity irrespective of caste or creed, community or nation. The silvery moonlight brightens every object or land under its purview. The dark clouds and the pouring rain that gives a new life to the dead earth does not make a distinction between the rich and the poor. The cool exhilarating breeze incessantly supplies oxygen to mankind without any discrimination. The earth and the sky appear subdued to mankind. The large mountains and the deep oceans have immense benefits for the human beings. The speechless plants and trees are continuously providing the most vital needs of the human race in different capacities.
 
In short, all creatures of GOD ALMIGHTY are untiringly contributing to the sustenance of life on this planet, mainly serving the mankind. Any sensible man, a man of logic and reason, can learn a lesson from the functions of all these elements.
 
Now what is expected of a man? Should he adopt a selfish attitude?
 
No! Certainly not! The GOD of the Universe has commanded him to contribute to the humanity as per his capacity. He should make himself useful and beneficial to his parents, to the people around him, to the society, and to the humanity at large. He must remember that whatever resources he has acquired originally and permanently belong to The One and The Only GOD, the LORD of the Universe. The man is merely a trustee of these assets. After his own requirements, it is his duty to contribute these surplus possessions generously, but judiciously for the noble causes as instructed by the Real Owner.
 

In the modern world, a successful trader is the one, who earns a huge profit with little investment. But a clever businessman is always in search of those ventures where he can multiply his shares many, manifolds. So the wise man is one who seeks multiple returns for his small contribution. The formula for such investment is mentioned in verse 2/261.

 
 
“Those who spend their wealth for the sake of their Creator may be compared to a grain, which sprouts into seven ears with a hundred grains in each ear. ALLAH grants manifold increase unto whom HE wills; and ALLAH is infinite, all-knowing.”
 

The people, who are not in possession of any worldly material, still have a priceless possession in the form of time. Every moment of our life is precious. And we should therefore utilize our spare time in such activities as are beneficial to our fellow human beings. It will definitely bring rich dividends, unimaginable profit for the faithfuls on the Day of Payment.
 
In verse 35/29 our LORD has promised great returns for any contribution made in HIS way:
 
 
“Those who truly follow ALLAH’s revelation, and are constant in prayer, and spend on others, secretly and openly, out of what WE provide for them as sustenance - it is they who may look forward to a bargain that can never fail.”
 

It is indeed a great favor of our LORD, that HE revealed HIS Book to guide mankind. May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be on the Holy Prophet who read out the Glorious verses before the misguided humanity and complemented them with his practical life! Through this Book, Almighty GOD has taught us how to encash the moments of our life. Learning lessons from the life of the Prophet, we can also earn maximum profits with minimum investments.
 
A little negligence or carelessness on our part may deprive us of these opportunities. In verse 3/134 we also find a mention of other items that the believers can contribute:
 
 
“ALMIGHTY GOD loves charitable persons who contribute to others, they themselves may be in prosperity or adversity, and they suppress their anger and excuse mankind….”
 

The list of priority as recommended by our LORD in HIS Divine Book of Guidance needs our apt attention, and we need to reform our attitude and approach in the light of these verses. Even the small contributions made according to the injunctions of ALMIGHTY, guarantee the heavy returns. They are the best and the safest investments and assure immense profits.
 
But while donating in cash or kind, while contributing the precious time in the service of humanity, there are many precautions to be taken, or unknowingly we may spoil the whole prospects of earning any profit.
 
Firstly, all these charities and contributions should be made with the sole purpose of seeking pleasure of GOD ALMIGHTY and not for any immediate gains in the world. Furthermore, there should be no hypocrisy involved in such deeds. And lastly the most important precaution that has to be strictly observed is stated by Our LORD in verse 2/264:
 
“O those who are faithful! Do not make your charities worthless by showing obligation and by hurting the self respect of the needy…..”
 
While extending a helping hand, the beneficiary should not be placed under obligation, nor his self-respect be hurt by our words or action. And this process of contribution should continue all through the life. We seek the help of our LORD to make our actions sincere and free from all evil instincts, pride, vanity and arrogance. So that we can achieve the great success, magfirah of Our LORD in the hereafter. Amen!