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لِلْفُقَرَاء الَّذِينَ أُحصِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ
لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الأَرْضِيَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاء مِنَ
التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لاَ يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًاوَمَا
تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
One who is unaware of the circumstances of (some of the poor) supposes
them to be self-sufficient because of their dignified bearing, but you will
know them by their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people
with importunity. And whatever wealth you will spend on helping them, Allah
will know of it. [Q 2:273]
Global Situation
In this week as many in this country participate in events pertaining
to Hunger Awareness Day (First Tuesday of June, June 3rd); we are led to
reflect on the grim reality facing the human race...Hunger, poverty, and
homelessness are sources of desperation in all parts of the world. Most victims
of these social ills are found in developing countries. Consider these
statistics from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP):Worldwide:-
nearly 800 million people do not get enough food- half a billion people suffer
from some form of malnutrition, 250 million of these are children of preschool
age- The United Nations reports that each year, 15 to 20 million people die of
hunger-related causes, including diseases brought on by lowered resistance due
to malnutrition. Of every four of these, three are children. Over 40% of all
deaths in poor countries occur among children under five years of age.
The United Nations (UNICEF) states that 17 million children
died last year from preventable diseases; one every two seconds, 40 000 a day. The
outbursts of nature are reminders to all humanity that we have no control over
the planet we inhabit. Each disaster serves the purpose of reminding humankind
of its inherent weaknesses, reminds us of our enduring vulnerability in the
face of nature; making us realize that neither wealth nor authority, neither
science nor technology has any power to resist the forces greater than
ourselves. All this is a challenge to us; the greatest of which is, how we
respond in the face of such challenges. We therefore have to respond to Allah's
call for helping the distressed.
Life ~ A Test of Faith and an Opportunity
for Goodwill
How many times have we recited Surah Al-Maun - Quran: 107. It is short, easy, and we've probably had it
memorized since we were children. But we often miss its message of feeding
the hungry as an expression of our faith in God. People are possessed by
their possessions. They think that they are worth more than others, not by what
they are, but by what they own. Many become selfish and heedless.
كَلَّا بَل لَّا تُكْرِمُونَ الْيَتِيمَ وَلَا تَحَاضُّونَ
عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ وَتَأْكُلُونَ التُّرَاثَ أَكْلًا لَّمًّا
وَتُحِبُّونَ الْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا
No! But you show no kindness to the orphan, nor do you vie with each other in
the feeding the destitute. Greedily you lay your hands on the inheritance of
the weak, and you love riches with all your hearts. Q 89:20
We need to evolve our consciousness to the level where we
wish for others what we desire most for ourselves
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ
"None of you can attain unto righteousness until you avail for others of Qur'an
3:92
Note the advice of the Prophet ...
لُقان يُحبُهُمَا الله ، و خلقان يُبغِضُهُمَا الله ؛فأما
اللذان يحبهما الله ، فالسخاء و الشَجاعة ؛فأما اللذان يبغضهما الله ، فسوءُ
الخلُق ِو البُخلُ .
Allah loves two human qualities and dislikes two; The two qualities Allah loves
are generosity and courage: The two qualities Allah dislikes are bad character
and miserliness.
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By: Br. Sadullah Khan
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