Helping the poor and needy is self-purification

Helping the poor and needy is self-purification

Khursheed Raja

The people of the world are not equal. Some live in luxury while some can hardly make two ends meet. Perhaps the majority of people in the world are poor. Some are so poor that they beg on roads and streets. Poverty is not a sin or curse but the lack of basic needs of life. That is why charity is given great importance in Islam. Giving charity is compulsory for every Muslim in the form of food, clothing and money to the poor and needy.
According to Islam, giving charity to the poor or needy makes a balance in the world. This way, the poor can also live a normal life. Allah urges spending money on the poor and says He shall provide much more in return. There are many people around us who live in poverty but feel too ashamed to acknowledge it. We should always pay special attention towards them. It is said that a true believer is one who thinks as good for others as for oneself. Allah loves the poor the most. The holy book Quran advises Muslims to spend for the welfare of the general public and for this zakat has been made compulsory. Zakat is giving a share of one’s wealth in charity. It is regarded as a worship and a form of self-purification.
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. We should never forget to give charity during the month of Ramadan, without expecting a reward. A well-known proverb is worth mentioning here: Do good and forget. There are people who believe that charity should begin at home, but others believe it should originate from the heart. Charity, in my view, begins with the recognition of the need to show compassion to others, whether consciously or unconsciously. Everyone has problems, troubles and griefs, but charity starts with those who learn to downplay their own problems and instead extend compassion, kindness and love to others. Hence, some people set aside their own pain to relieve the pain of others.
The world is unequal in many ways and there will always be the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, living together. We should do whatever we can to help the poor and needy. We do not have to be a millionaire to make a significant difference. Every drop in the ocean counts. A small donation has the potential to change an individual’s life. The present holy month is the best time for us to give charity. The Covid-19 pandemic is also hurting the poor the most. It becomes even more our moral duty to help those who are not able to earn money in the prevailing situation. The organisations which are collecting charity must assist the poor and those who are suffering at present.

The writer is a columnist from Panzoo. [email protected]

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