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Giving for the Sake of Allah
Allah subhaana
wa ta’aala says: “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of
Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven years, and each year
has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And
Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.” (2:261)
The total reward
for one is seven hundred. Allah says that He gives manifold increase to who He
wills – so there is even more reward!
Ibn ‘Abbaas says
that one dirham (one dollar) in hajj or jihad will be multiplied 700 times.
That is about 70,000% increase on your wealth. What investment in the world
will give you that return? None. And this reward is not abiding by the stock
market; it won’t go up or down. It is guaranteed. Whatever you spend in
depression or an economic boom, it doesn’t make a difference; it is guaranteed
for Allah.
In Hajj, say you
spend $3,000. Multiply that by 700, and you have 2,100,000. That is the return!
Over 2 million dollars! That is the generosity of Allah.
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Sabr (Patience) and Siyaam
(Fasting)
Allah says:
“[...] those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without
measure!” (39:10) The reward here is limitless.
This is also the
reward for patience. Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s
Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as saying: “Every (good) deed of the son
of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven
hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the
exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it,
for one abandons his passion and food for My sake. There are two occasions of
joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord,
and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance
of musk.” [Muslim, 6/2567]
This hadith
truly shows the Generosity of Allah: The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,
narrating about his Lord, said, “Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you)
that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how
(to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then
Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he
intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him
(in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to
many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do
it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he
intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one
bad deed (in his account).” [Bukhaari, 8/76/498]
·
Repentance
Another example
of the generosity and mercy of Allah is what Allah will give to the ones who
repent. “And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor
kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit
illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.
The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will
abide therein in disgrace.” (25:68-69) Allah talks about three major sins here
and says they will be punished severely in the hell fire, except the ones who
repent. “Except those who repent and believe and do righteous deeds, for those,
Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.” (25:70) If a person who has a long record of sins, but he repents,
not only will Allah erase those sins, but Allah will transfer those sins into
rewards. SubhaanAllah.
Abu Dharr
reported that Allah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “I know the
last of the inhabitants of Paradise to enter it and the last of the inhabitants
of Hell to come out of it. He is a man who would be brought on the Day of
Resurrection and it will be said: ‘Present his minor sins to him, and withhold
from him his serious Sins.’ Then the minor sins would be placed before him, and
it would be said: ‘On such and such a day you did so and so and on such and
such a day you did so and so.’ He would say: ‘Yes.’ It will not be possible for
him to deny, while he would be afraid lest serious sins should be presented
before him. It would be said to him: ‘In place of every evil deed you will have
good deed.’ He will say: ‘My Lord! I have done things I do not see here.’ I
indeed saw the Messenger of Allah laugh till his front teeth were exposed.
[Muslim, 1/365] RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was laughing because
the man was mentioning his bad deeds because he saw the generosity of Allah.
