MISTAKE # 3: FORGETTING THE POOR AND NEEDY
In Islam, the poor have a right to a portion of ones wealth. Giving from that wealth to the poor, therefore, should not be considered as a favor to the poor. Rather, giving to the poor is an obligation, exercising which shows our submission to Allah that in turn further makes us eligible for more of His blessings. For example, Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam and ongoing charity can lead us toward more of Allah’s blessings. In such situations, we should be wary of getting in Satan’s traps as he can easily push us in rationalizing that since we earned that wealth, the poor has no rights over it.
In Quran, Allah reminds us of the people who are the righteous in Surah Adh-Dhariyat and one of their attributes is the following:
“And in their properties there was the right of the beggar, and the Mahroom (the poor who does not ask the others)”
Quran (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 19)
While giving from our wealth in charity is a recipe for success, withholding charity can lead us to destruction. Whether Allah destroys the wealth that one has or deprives one from other blessings is up to Him.
Consider the following hadith of the prophet (Sallellahu Alayhi Wa Sallam):
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RadiyAllahu Anhu) that the Prophet (Sallellahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says: ‘O Allah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says: ‘O Allah, destroy the one who withholds.’”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1374; Muslim, 1010.]
The point to remember is that charity is quite essential and the future of our blessings and provisions can be tied to our giving or withholding. The One who has the power to grant, not only can grant more but also has the power to take it away.