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Rising prices… rising opportunities for reward

Rising prices... rising opportunities for reward
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May 27, 2022
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Rising prices

As the cost of living soars towards the stratosphere at the speed of a rocket, we need to revive the Qur’anic Ummah which spends for Allah’s sake and supports one another. In this current climate of acute, growing and widespread need we look to the Quran to find out how we should respond.

Charity

There are plenty of verses in the Quran and narrations in the Sunnah which stress the importance of spending in charity for the sake of Allah.

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Those who spend their wealth by night and day, privately and publicly, will receive their reward from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:274)

The active and compassionate Ummah

The Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) are meant to be an active and supportive Ummah, as described by the beautiful verse in the Quran which mentions those who are compassionate and selfless and always helping others night and day.

It is worth noting that Allah mentioned the night before the day, which is unusual as the night is a time for rest – but not for the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be on him), which is the Ummah of the Quran – the Ummah that does not rest until they feel that they have fulfilled their obligations. Their compassion does not stop when night falls. They exert their efforts to help others around the clock and they are aware of others’ needs, not cosy in their own little bubble.

Give before you are asked

In a beautiful narration, Abu Sa’id al-Khudri May Allah be pleased with him reported:

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ فِي سَفَرٍ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى رَاحِلَةٍ لَهُ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ يَصْرِفُ بَصَرَهُ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ فَضْلُ ظَهْرٍ فَلْيَعُدْ بِهِ عَلَى مَنْ لاَ ظَهْرَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ فَضْلٌ مِنْ زَادٍ فَلْيَعُدْ بِهِ عَلَى مَنْ لاَ زَادَ لَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ مِنْ أَصْنَافِ الْمَالِ مَا ذَكَرَ حَتَّى رَأَيْنَا أَنَّهُ لاَ حَقَّ لأَحَدٍ مِنَّا فِي فَضْلٍ ‏.‏رواه مسلم.

While we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey, a person came upon his mount and began to stare on the right and on the left, (it was at this moment) that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: He who has an extra mount should give that to one who has no mount for him, and he who has surplus of provisions should give them to him who has no provisions, and he made mention of so many kinds of wealth until we were of the opinion that none of us has any right over the surplus. (Muslim)

There is quite a bit that we can read between the lines of this hadith. Firstly the man who came riding stopped and looked to the right and left because he wanted the Prophet (peace be on him) to see him, however he did not articulate his need because he had dignity.

The Prophet (peace be on him), the master of humanity, seeing the man and instantly realised he was in need, from his mount and his appearance, without needing to be asked. Probably the man could barely walk. Immediately the Prophet (peace be on him) collected emergency funds from those who were present asking them to give whatever they had that was spare and surplus to their needs.

Do not embarrass your recipient

Notice that he did not say ‘Look how poor this man is! Let’s give him some charity.’ Rather he gave him what he needed without making him self-conscious about it. He simply made a general statement that anyone should give their extra supplies without saying to whom, though they immediately understood it was for that man. They sent him back with food and provisions for his family.

It is our obligation to help others

Sadly 16 million people in the UK are now in poverty. It is not a third world country but the UK! Many of our brothers and sisters in Islam and in humanity are relying on foodbanks. This is not acceptable. It is our obligation to help one another.

There are plenty of people who are too ashamed to ask for help though they are in deep poverty and they do not want anyone to know about their needs as they are trying to keep their dignity. This is why the Quran mentions the night as a time for giving as it indicates the discreet nature in which the charity is given – without drawing attention to or embarrassing the recipient.

There are plenty of needy people among us even within our own immediate families. The government is trying their best, though they have achieved failure in many of their projects, they get some credit for taking some action after years of austerity and cuts.

Allah Almighty tells us to collaborate with each other in goodness and piety:

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

And cooperate with one another in virtuous conduct and conscience, and do not cooperate with one another in sin and hostility. And fear God. God is severe in punishment. (5:2)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Everyday two angels descend and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate (more) to the person who gives (in charity)’; while the other one says, ‘O Allah! Destroy every miser the one who withholds (charity, etc)”. (Bukhari and Muslim)

The reward is multiplied

It is the right time to invest with Allah. The reward for everything you give is multiplied by 700, 70,000 – no one can give you this profit margin except Allah. Not even cryptocurrency!

Abu Sa’id Al Khudri narrated that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:


أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ إِذَا أَسْلَمَ الْعَبْدُ فَحَسُنَ إِسْلاَمُهُ يُكَفِّرُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُلَّ سَيِّئَةٍ كَانَ زَلَفَهَا، وَكَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْقِصَاصُ، الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ، وَالسَّيِّئَةُ بِمِثْلِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا ‏”‏‏.‏ البخاري

“If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to 700 times for each good deed and one evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it.” (Bukhari)

We cannot be a lazy Ummah. We have to be active and search for those who are needy yet concealed among us.

لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ

It is for the poor; those who are restrained in the way of God, and unable to travel in the land. The unaware would think them rich, due to their dignity. You will recognize them by their features. They do not ask from people insistently. Whatever charity you give, God is aware of it. (2:273)

Support your families

Have the right intention and start with your family. You will receive a double reward for supporting your family – once for giving charity and once for maintaining ties of kinship.

Salman bin Amir Dabbi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said:

“Charity given to the poor is a charity, and that given to a relative is two things: charity and upholding the ties of kinship.” (Tirmidhi and Nasa’i)

Look among your family- immediate and extended and your neighbours and your friends and your community. Do not underestimate any good deed. When you start to look Allah will reveal them to you.

Have the right intention and collect emergency funds for our families. Donate what you can – no matter how little it might be. Volunteer to help in the community.

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” (Muslim)

May Allah give relief to our Ummah. Ameen

Shaykh Haytham Tamim 27th May 2022

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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