In one of the stories we learned from the Prophet (s.a.w) narrated by Abu Hurairah (r.t.a) said, “While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud saying: ‘Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ Thereupon the cloud drifted in a certain direction and discharged its water over a rocky plain. The stream-lets flowed into a channel. This man followed the channel until it reached a garden and he saw the owner of the garden standing in its center, working with his spade spreading the water (changing the course of the water).

He asked him: “O slave of Allah, what is your name?” He told his name, which was the same that he heard from the cloud. The owner of the garden then asked him: “O slave of Allah, why did you ask my name?” He replied: “I heard a voice from a cloud which poured down this water saying: ‘Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ I would like to know what do you do with it.” He said: “Now that you asked me, I will tell you. I estimate the produce of the garden and distribute one-third of it in charity, I spend one-third on myself and my family and invest one third back into the garden.”

Not many Muslims consider charity as the best way to take anything from Allah. Giving from what you have, in fact what you cherish most not necessarily the crumbs is a way of increasing in sustenance and wealth.

The existence of countless starving, poor, hungry and destitute Muslims and non-Muslims in the society points to the need for this essential teaching to be put into practice.  There are many Muslims who is dieing in their hospital bed just because they cannot pay their bills; there are young people who could not go to school just because their guardians or parents are financially handicapped. It is amazing that with the noble and popular hadith of the Prophet that “you will not believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself”; yet we have innumerable number of such cases in our society. Affluent Muslims may not realize how their wealth could strengthen the whole Muslims in this country.  If a Muslim feels the pain of his or her fellow human being, and wishes the same comfort and good life for others which he wishes for himself then, it is incumbent upon him to give in charity, to ease the suffering of others.

There are various Muslim organisations around that collect sadaqah and offer assistance to Muslims in need. The Zakaat&Zadaqah foundation has been doing well. A lot of Muslims have found succour in them. They spend millions of naira monthly in empowering lots of needy Muslims. Recently, another group named Amal Mabruuk was unveiled in Ikeja. Their mission is clear, simply to assist needy Muslims in various areas, such as healthcare, education, business or capacity building. It only requires everyone who desire to share part of the reward to pay N1000 monthly as sadaqah to provide assistance to these needy Muslims. This will go a long way in ending the circle of poverty among the Ummah.

According to the Chairman of the foundation, Alhaji Abdul-Jaleel Olori-Aje, “the foundation  requires every willing Muslim to make a monthly donation of N1,000 ($3) to support the less- privileged in our society. He noted that the foundation is pivoted on Sadaqah (charity), which is enjoined by Allah on all Muslims and can be found in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Verse 110: “ And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity and whatever you send forth for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah; For Allah sees well all that you do.”

He said: “Take for instance, if 2million Muslims can contribute N1,000, this would translate to N2billion. You can then imagine the impact of the infrastructure or intervention provided by that kind of funds. You can be sure that there would be an improvement in the welfare of the poor. Such resources would be available to build medical centres, educational/vocational centres and uplift the general well-being of the needy among others. Once we are able to do that, it means we have fulfilled part of our Deen as Muslims,” he said.

As concerned Muslims, we just have to get involved, be proactive and show tangible concern in the lives of other people in need. In fact, this is the only way we can lift the Ummah out of the poverty line being ascribed to us. We as Muslims have a greater responsibility not only because they are our fellow Muslim brethren but also because it is a religious duty to help those in need, it is ibadah to remove pain from somebody and it is most rewarding even in the hereafter to give happiness to those who are unhappy. We should always note that the needy and deprived have a “recognised right,over our wealth. So, by giving, we are fulfilling a duty to those in need,

If you sleep, eat and live better, you have a religious duty on others who are not privileged to have all those.  If you found happiness, spread it and give to others.  Living a worthy life does not depend on how happy you are; but how happy you can make others to be. Jumuah Mubarak!