Thursday 24th July 2008
The Importance of Giving Charity
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If there is a natural disaster, it is logical that a person will try to save as much of his belongings as possible, because whatever is left behind will be destroyed. The Angel of death can be compared to a "natural disaster that is on its way to attack, and can arrive at any time. Supposed the Angel of Death comes to a person, without any warning, and he has a lot of material wealth, knowledge or influence, and is living a very carefree life and did not pay attention to what is to follow after death, i.e. the hereafter, he’ll realise two things, viz;
§ All his assets, which he worked so hard to acquire, will be left behind. In this connection Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: What is with you will vanish and what is with Allah will endure. (16:96)
§ He sent nothing that will be of benefit to him in the hereafter. Allah says about such people: There are men who say: Our Lord! Give us (from Your bounties) in this world; but they will have no portion in the Hereafter. (2:200)
Upon seeing the Angel of death, this person will beg for a little more time in this world to do good. Allah (swt) says about such people in Surah Munafiqoon,
أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُنْ مِنْ الصَّالِحِينَ وَلَنْ يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهَا وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
"O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good". But to no soul will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come; and Allah is well acquainted with (all) that ye do. (Chapter 63, verse 10-11)
Remember that this moment can be your last, and as believers we shouldn’t be scared, as Allah (swt) says in Surah Fussilat,
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ أَلاَّ تَخَافُوا وَلاَ تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
In the case of those who say, "Our Lord is Allah., and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest), "Nor grieve! But received the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), which ye were promised! (Chapter 41, verse 30)
Do not wait until death approaches to regret. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated that Prophet Muhammad (saw) is reported to have said,
A man giving a dirham as sadaqah (charity) during his life is better than giving one hundred dirhams as sadaqah (charity) at the moment of his death. (Abu Dawood)
Shaddad ibn Aws narrated that Prophet Muhammad (saw) said;
"The prudent man is he who subdues himself and works for what comes after death, but the incapable man is he who lets himself follow his passion and puts his hope in Allah." (Tirmidhi)
Death for a believer is a beautiful thing. You cannot get close to Allah (swt) while you’re in this world, you have to leave. It is even reported that the angels’ give you glad tidings. They say;
We are your friends in this world and in the next, and over there you will get whatever your heart desires. (41:31)
When one Sheikh was dying, angels descended in the room and he requested everyone present to stand because of his special visitors.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah narrated that Prophet Muhammad (saw) is reported to have said,
There would be an announcer (in Paradise) who would make this announcement: Verily! there is in store for you (everlasting) health and that you should never fall ill and that you live (for ever) and do not die at all. And that you would remain young and never grow old. And that you would always live in affluent circumstances and never become destitute, as words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, are: "And it would be announced to them: This is the Paradise. You have been made to inherit it for what you used to do." (Sahih Muslim)
Work hard and strive to cultivate humility, submission, patience and sincerity, and Allah (swt) will take care of the rest.
