Spending in the way of Allah

Allah, the Exalted, says:

"And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah's Cause), He will replace it.'' (34:39)


"And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves, when you spend not except seeking Allah's Countenance. And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.'' (2:272)


"And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well.'' (2:273)





The whole concept of wealth is considered a gift from Allah. How we use it and spend it is a test. The fact the one of the five pillars of Islam is about giving money to the poor reminds us that everything we have belongs to Allah. People are given their wealth as a trust from Allah, an amanat, and spending it in the right way, with the right intentions, for the best purpose, and for the sake of Allah helps free us from the love of money.

Subhannallah, think of all the things we spend our money on in this day and age. Many times we spend it without thinking, and on many items of excess. And yet, when we see people in front of us in need of money, many times our hearts harden and we shrug a shoulder to them. This is not the way of the muslim. We are the ummah of the best of creation. Our Beloved Rasool gave openly and without regret when he saw causes in need, even though he himself was not rich.

Nowadays it isn't even a question about charity and giving generously. What are we spending our money on for ourselves is a question which ought to be asked. Are we spending it in the seeking of virtuous knowledge? Are we spending it in ways that will help us get closer to our goal, which is Allah? Are we spending it on quality? Or is it all being spent on things which will help us only with the distraction which is the dunya? On entertainment and play? Moderation is something we ought to remember as we think about this. Sure we need to spend for this dunya too, we are alive afterall but this shouldnt be our main goal. This shouldnt be our only cause. Many of us are begining to forget the bigger picture.

Yet as the Quran tells us, we will not lose out if we spend consciously in the way of Allah. In the world we live in now, our nafs will probably hurt for a little while when we spend generously for the cause of Allah. Yet, Allah has promised a much greater award. Subhannallah, what is better than the rewards from our Lord? He does not need us, we need Him.





Abu Kabshah `Amr bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "I swear by Allah for three (qualities) which I am going to tell you about. Remember them well:
(1) The wealth of a man will not diminish by Sadaqah (charity).
(2) Allah augments the honour of a man who endures an oppression patiently.
(3) He who opens a gate of begging, Allah opens a gate of poverty (or he said a word similar to it).''


He (PBUH) also said, "Remember well what I am going to tell you:

The world is for four kinds of people.

(1) One upon whom Allah has bestowed wealth and knowledge and so he fears his Rubb in respect to them, joins the ties of blood relationship and acknowledges the Rights of Allah on him (and fulfills them); this type will have the best position (in Jannah).

(2) One upon whom Allah has conferred knowledge but no wealth, and he is sincere in his intention and says: `Had I possessed wealth, I would have acted like so-and-so.' If that is his intention, his reward is the same as that of the other.

(3) One whom Allah has given wealth but no knowledge and he squanders his wealth ignorantly, does not fear Allah in respect to it, does not discharge the obligations of kinship and does not acknowledge the Rights of Allah. Such a person will be in the worst position (in the Hereafter).

(4) One upon whom Allah has bestowed neither wealth nor knowledge and he says: `Had I possessed wealth, I would have acted like so-and-so (i.e., he would squander his wealth).' If this is his intention, both will have equal sin.'' [At-Tirmidhi].




May Allah help us earn our money in the halal way. May Allah help us spend our money for the best of causes, Allahs cause. May Allah bless us all with generous hearts and open hands. May Allah help us realise that we only gain when we give in charity and may He help us refrain from stingyness and a love for the material wealth of this dunya. Ameen.

Fi Rihabi-illah

Roughly Translated:

I'm abandoned at Your door
to whom else would i resort
I came to You with depression
wishing to gain Your compassion

****

O my Lord, Your my supporter, Your Merciful
Send Your mercy upon this weepy stand-up slave
Hope in You is never frustrated
You're the Tolerant and The Close
I raised my hands, hoping in You, don't reject me O Respondent

****

O my Lord, i came with baggages
laid them down and then buckled
In subservience i'm asking for satisfaction
Forgive my sins and what i gained

who would answer my prayer except You
if i'm rejected, then it's regret, suffer and misery

****

from Your downpour i sip
to Your holy door i step
Accept my prayer, O my Creator, I'm a distracted lover
Seal my life with satisfaction
Forgive my shameful past
Let paradise be my destiny, and protect me from Hell's fire

The Accepted Repentence

A man once went to Rabi'ah bint Ismail Al Adawiyyah, who was also known by the titles 'Mother of Goodness' and 'The Famous Worshipper'. He said, "Indeed, I have perpetrated a great number of sins. If i repent, do you think that Allah will accept my repentence?" She said, "Woe unto you" Do you not see that He invites those who turn away from Him;then why wouldn't He accept the repentence of those who turn towards Him?"
What she said is indeed true, for Allah is happy when we submit to Him and hasten back to Him, repentent for our sins. To worship Him is the purpose for which we were created. Glad tidings, to he who knows his purpose and puts what he knows into practice

Taken from the book 'Stories of Repentence', compiled by Muhammad Abduh Mughawiri

Friendship

Asalamu Alaikum

I recieved this message online and subhannallah it called for great reflection:

Today I'd like to share with you the following verse from Surah Qaaf (verse number 28)
[قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا لَدَيَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِالْوَعِيدِ ]
[He (ALLAH) said, "Dispute not with each other in My Presence: I had already in advance sent you Warning"]

This verse depicts a scenario likely to occur to any of us who make the wrong choices in this world.ALLAH has created man with a multitude of dimensions, including a social one. We need companionship and friendship to get through this life, share its joys and sorrows.

Friendship is a beautiful thing. Friends give you support. The bring joy to your life. They can often be a shoulder to cry on. But, unfortunately, friends can also devils in disguise and drag you down in to the hell fire.

The Prophet Mohammed PBUH said, "A man is on the path of His friend, so let one of you be careful as to whom they befriend".

There are friends who bring to you temporary joys. They guide you to vulgarity and sinful engagements. They encourage you to be 'cool' and 'rebellious', and advise you to stay away from the 'unfashionable' worship of ALLAH. They would encourage one another to indulge in sinful speech and actions, and burn hours upon hours displeasing ALLAH together. They may have laughs together, but when they stand before ALLAH, they will certainly not be laughing.

When the hour comes upon them and the angel of death drags their souls out of their flesh, and they find themselves before ALLAH SWT with the blink of an eye, they will be quick to blame one another and betray that friendship. That relationship which was held together by mutual desire for lustfulness and sinfulness, my brothers and sisters, is fragile, and it perishes on the day of judgment. At that moment, the insincere friends will be quick to lay the blame one another for their heedlessness, hoping that it will save them and burn their "friend". But no, and certainly no; ALLAH is most fair and just. He will remind them that His message to them was clear, illustriously scripted in His book. Every soul shall bear the consequences of its own actions, and they shall be dragged together in to the fire.

But not all friends are disloyal. Some will remember their good moments and remain true to their worlds companions in the hereafter. These are the elite of the elite, those described in ALLAH's book as, "the friends on that day (of judgment) will be enemies to one another, except the muttaqeen (God fearing)".

So do we want firm and true friendships, or are we satisfying with 'fake' friends who will smile to our faces in this world and betray us on the last day? Certainly no one in their right mind would want the latter type of 'friends'.Be selective with whom you befriend. Go for the one who may be mocked by a few for being god fearing, and stay away from the 'cool' dudes who don't find it befitting of their class to fear their creator. Why? because on the day of judgment the tables will turn, and there is no escaping that reality. Those who laughed in lustfulness will cry blood misery. Those who weeped to ALLAH in fear will cry tears of happiness when they see the reward of their earnings...

Find the friend that will remind of ALLAH, find the friend who will join you to Jannah...