Wizeboy:
As salam alaykum wa rahmotullah wa baarakatuh

The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures` needs, All-Knower.
Surah Al-Baqara, Qur'an 2:261

The Holy Quran lucidly teaches that it is the moral responsibility of the capable Muslims to help the less capable and less privileged in the society. There are many examples in the Quran which underline the responsibilities towards a vast range of people. The following verse beautifully depicts the multiple social responsibilities of a person: 

“…And do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess. For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious” (Surat An-Nisa, Qur'an 4:36).

Based on many verses of the Quran that talked extensively about helping the less privileged around us, we can all agree that one of the central principles of Islam is helping others. While most of us perceive Islam as a faith which is majorly to observe 5 daily prayers and maybe fast alone rather than positive contributions to society; the Qur’an and especially the hadith highlight how helping another human being is a fundamental aspect of Islam. Muslims’ primary goal is to worship God, but this is done not only through rituals like prayer and fasting but also through assisting the humanity and creating a conducive environment.

Before the Prophet Muhammad started to receive revelation, he would spend a great deal of time meditating in a cave outside of Mecca. One of the issues that he reflected on was how some members of his society–like women, orphans, and those without tribal protection–were treated. It is for this reason that there are many hadith that emphasize the importance of helping others.

One hadith in particular that underscores this message comes from a collection called An-Nawawi:

Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgment. Whosoever alleviates [the lot of] a needy person, Allah will alleviate [his lot] in this world and the next. Whosoever shields a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this world and the next. Allah will aid a slave [of His] so long as the slave aids his brother. Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, but tranquility and peace descends upon them, mercy envelopes them, the angels surround them, and Allah makes mention of them amongst those who are with Him. And whosoever is slowed down by his actions will not be hastened forward by his lineage.  
[Sahih Muslim (4/2074) No. 2699, Sunan Tirmidhi (5/195) No. 2945, Sunan Ibn Majah (1/152) No. 225, Musnad Ahmad (2/252) No. 7421]

It is clear from this that helping others is connected to a believer’s worship of Almighty Allah. In other words, the hadith connects responsibility to people to other acts of worship like reading Qur’an with other Muslims and seeking knowledge. Moreover, there is a clear reward for a person who aids another, both in this world and in the next. This is important for Muslims, because they believe that each person will face God on the Day of Judgment and be asked about all their deeds. It is clear from the above hadith that helping others is not optional but a religious duty.

Messages like this one are often not highlighted. However, this idea is articulated in numerous hadith and Qur’anic verses. Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad is considered by Muslims to be the highest example and he would very often help others, even if it meant that he had to sacrifice something. So by his example also, Islam is a faith that makes helping others and society a core principle.

While many of us tend to chase after special offers and reduced prices in this dunya (world), we often overlook the fact that Allah  has offered us an even better deal that will benefit us both in this dunya and the akhira.

The following points show how helping the less privileged in the society can increase our rewards in this life and in preparing for the next.

1. Sadaqah is a guaranteed investment

Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply it many times?’ [Surah Al-baqara, Qur'an 2:245]

The above verse teaches us that by generously giving to the poor and needy, Allah will increase our wealth and blessings in this life, wipe out sin, increase reward and provide shade on the Day of Judgment and more insha’Allah!

What more could we ask for? Money back, profit, good health, barakah (blessings) in our wealth, shade on the Day of Judgement, sadaqah is definitely the best investment for our dunya and akhira.

Forget special offers, reduced prices and buy one get one free deals – a true Muslim knows the ultimate best way to spend his/her wealth – in the way of Allah.

2. Sadaqah is a means of gaining barakah in your wealth.

It may be hard for us to give sadaqah when we are barely able to make ends meet. However, it is reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet  said: 

Charity does not decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives, Allah adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people). [Sahih Muslim]

and

There is not a day in which the obedient slaves rise in the morning except that two angels descend, and one of them says: ‘O Allaah! Compensate the one who spends.’ The other angel says: ‘O Allaah! Destroy the wealth of the one who is niggardly. [Sahih Muslim]

If we truly believe and apply these hadiths, we will come to learn that we can never lose from giving sadaqah, but instead we gain immensely from it.

However, gaining from sadaqah may not always be in a physical form. When we give sadaqah, it doesn’t necessarily mean that our salaries will increase or we will miraculously stumble upon a goldmine. It may mean that Allah will put barakah into our wealth and possessions instead. By regularly giving sadaqah, we will quickly notice that although we are still spending the same amount of money on the same expenses, we will still have plenty left insha’Allah.

Giving sadaqah can also put barakah in our time and personal matters. We may find that after giving sadaqah, Allah will ease all our affairs.

Sadaqah is a special offer from Allah that stands as long as we’re alive. Make sadaqah an habit throughout your life before it’s too late!

You have the opportunity to start reaping huge benefits of sadaqah from Almighty Allah with the ongoing Back to School Project/IDP, the little you contribute towards this programme may be what will be your source of Barakah and gateway to Aljanah.

Let's try to assist our brothers and sisters who were affected by the Boko Haram menace and put smile on their face as a fellow Muslims: https://www.nairaland.com/2583157/nairaland-idps-back-school-project


And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous; Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good” [Suratul Imran; Qur'an 3:133-134]

Humanbeing1st:
u all better repent ur ways, was it dat mohammed dat cant even saved himself from poison dat kill him will save u? even the the woman dat poison said he want to test mohammed maybe he is true prophet of God by seeing maybe mohammed we see d posion in d meat, but mohammed didnt knw dey were poison, even obatala or sango any other gods would have detect dat.

Mbow:
Kai!!! nawa 4 sum pple oo. I wonder whn illiterates (sumtin wey b say u no knw d precise issue) go de mind dia own business. carry pesin matta put 4 head as if any payment de, beta chng ur way. Go gt a life!

Mbow:
Kai!!! nawa 4 sum pple oo. I wonder whn illiterates (sumtin wey b say u no knw d precise issue) go de mind dia own business. carry pesin matta put 4 head as if any payment de, beta chng ur way. Go gt a life!

bukqar:
MIND YOUR BUSINESS WHEN SOME ONE IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT ASSOCIATE TO HIS RELIGION............. DO YOU EVER SEE THE WORD CHRISTAIN IN BIBLE AND IF YOU HAVE CALL ME WITH DIS NUMBER 07067682963 TO CLEARIFY ME WITH THAT....YOU WILL BE TALKING LIKE ILLITRATE....PROPHET ISA (JESUS) DONT EVEN KNOW YOU CALLING HIM WITH THAT NAME COS HIS REAL NAME IS IN HEBREW ESUS COS NO LETTER J IN HIS LANGUAGE......THE MUSLIMS ARE LONGING FOR HIS ARRIVAL TO COS IN THE HOLY QURAN IS REAVLED THAT HE IS COMING BACK TO THE WORLD AND SPEND 40YRS BEFORE HE FINALLY DIED.MIND YOU NO CREATURE THAT THE ALMIGHTY GOD(ALLAH) CREATE THAT WILL NOT TASTE DEATH.