23/09/2022
GIVE AND YOU WILL GET MORE.
Most people limit "Give and you will get more" to mean: if I give out 10,000 naira, Allah will give me that same amount and more. I'm not denying the fact that such will happen, it does happen. But the real essence of giving beyond the material returns.
A story was narrated about the wife of the Prophet SAW, Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her. She gave out the remaining food that was left in her house, a handful of barley which she would useful to break her fast. She wasn't expecting anything material in return and a neighbour appeared to gift her a goat. Then she said, “I swear by Allah, none of you can be a true believer until his trust in Allah is stronger than that which he sees and has in the palm of his hands.”
We will give out easily when we're aware that our wealth is from Allah, He is the real owner of it and He can take it away and replenish whenever He wills. We have materialised the reward of giving such that it is so difficult for us to give an amount from what we have. Perhaps, we gave in the past and the money didn't become more while we think it should.
The reward for charity is far more greater, not excluding the material portion of it. Giving out will make us grateful of Allah's favours upon us, the joy in the face of the one we gifted will in turn makes us joyous also. Charity detaches us from material things, makes us humble and most importantly instill the awe of Allah in us.
Giving out also helps alleviates trials and tribulation. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said ‘Give the sadaqah without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.’ (Tirmidhi)
Charity is of the good deeds that Allah so much cherishes. Several verses in the Quran portray how charity purifies one's wealth and accumulates a lot of reward. The best of them that I know is verse 261 of Suratul Baqarah which portrays that giving out is an investment for the hereafter.
"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing."
Al-Baqarah 2:261
Our wealth will cease to be ours when death approaches.
"And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be of the righteous."
Al Munafiqun( 63: 10)