Who Is It That Would Loan Allah a Goodly Loan?
Allah the Most High decrees in the Quran:
“You shall never attain righteousness unless you spend from what you love. And whatsoever you spend, Allah is fully aware of it.” (Ali Imran, 92)In this ayah, Allah Almighty decrees that we should participate in almsgiving (sadaqah), zakat, and other forms of charity by giving from the useful and valuable things we love. He declares that only by doing so will we obtain His rida (pleasure), lutf (grace), and inayah (favor) and thus enter Jannah.
A believer who avows the oneness of Allah by uttering the phrase known as kalima-i shahadah acknowledges that He is the only one to be worshipped and loved. This acknowledgment requires love because he who does not love Allah is not considered truly faithful. Complete and true faith requires a believer to love Allah more than the world and all things in it, and also to not set one’s heart on anything other than Him and the things He ordained. The fulfillment of the vow in the shahadah depends on this love. This is because divine love does not tolerate rivals. The degree of this love is measured by the things one sacrifices for it.
Conversely, humans hold deep affection for the possessions they have that serve as links to their material existence and offer them opportunities for enjoyment. They are often reluctant to part with these cherished belongings. For those who have an extreme love of possessions, death is a separator. It separates the person from wealth and worldly pleasures. Thus, such a person is irked and even terrified by the very thought of death. But for those who love their Lord, death is a uniter. It is the place of reunion with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and all those who love Him, the first of whom is His Beloved Prophet (alayhissalatu wassalam). Hence Mawlana Rumi (quddisa sirruhu) calls death “the wedding night” and duly welcomes it.
Therefore, it becomes clear that a believer who spends for the sake of Allah has removed the love of possessions from their heart and turned towards real love and the only one worthy of it. In other words, they have made it clear that they love the one and only God, Allah, more than their favorite possessions. They progress on the path of being a true muwahhid, that is, someone who believes in the oneness of Allah in the truest sense and lives according to it. Thus they earn the rida of Allah the Exalted, pleasing Him to such an extent that He is eternally satisfied with them. Even if they do not have many good deeds, it is hoped that Allah Almighty will lead them to good deeds that they will successfully carry out with sincerity. Believers who give from the possessions they love at every opportunity will reach a spiritual strength to give their lives on His path. Undoubtedly, it is harder to give one’s life than to hand out wealth.
Allah the Exalted says regarding the believers:
“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise.” (At-Tawbah, 111)In another ayah, it is decreed:
“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him, you will be returned.” (Al-Baqarah, 245)
When this ayah was revealed, Abu’d-Dahdah (radiyallahu anh) had come to Rasulullah (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam):
– O Messenger of Allah! Does Allah ask to borrow from us?
Our beloved Prophet said:
– Yes, O Abu’d-Dahdah, Allah asks to borrow.
Then Abu’d-Dahdah said:
– O Messenger of Allah, I then give my orchard, which has six hundred palms, as a loan to Allah. (This estate is worth a great sum today.)
Then he came to the entrance of the orchard’s fences and called his wife and children:
– O Ummu Dahdah! Leave the orchard! For I have loaned it to Allah.
Note the strength of faith his wife possesses since she answered thus:
– Abu’d-Dahdah, it seems you have made a very profitable trade! May Allah bless your trade.
They immediately evacuated the garden and delivered it to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). This pleased our beloved Prophet, and he gave the glad tidings that Abu’d-Dahdah (radiyallahu anh) would enter Jannah. (Muslim, Jana’iz, 89; Ahmad, III, 146; Shawkani, Darru’s-Sahabah, s. 422-423)
No doubt, giving away things one loves for the sake of Allah and serving Him day and night means that one has traded their possessions and life in return for Jannah. These are the deeds that crush the nafs (ego), bring forth the love of Allah, and ensure being loved by Him as well.
There are immeasurable degrees between someone who gives their wealth and soul to Allah and someone who refrains from giving their possessions to The Lord of the Worlds due to stinginess. Because of this, infaq (giving away, alms) and service are among the duties that Sufism (tasawwuf) emphasizes and uses as methods of nurturing people on the path of Allah (sayr wa suluk.)
Zakat is for removing the stinginess of the nafs and weakening its love of possession. After givingzakat, we must force ourselves (nafs) to do charity and good deeds at every opportunity so that we make a habit of giving for the sake of Allah.
From the Age of Bliss to our time, Muslims built many civilizations following the pioneers by spending on the path of Allah. Because of the waqf foundations and charity businesses that stood for centuries, i.e., sadaqah-i jariyah (continuous alms), their good deeds did not cease after they passed away. These charity organizations continue to protect their benefactors from Jahannam and elevate their ranks, similar to how factories that manufacture goods all the time continue to bring revenue even after their founder’s death. Because they meet the needs of the poor and needy, Allah the Most Gracious meets their needs.
As mentioned in the hadiths, spending for the path of Allah protects people from His wrath and delivers them from troubles, disasters, and a terrible death. It lengthens one’s life (makes it fruitful) and is a means for healing from illnesses. Most importantly, it lets us gain the pleasure of Allah Almighty, enter His Heaven, and earn His grace and favor.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was fervent and tireless in ibadahs (acts of worship) and generosity. Nothing could prevent him from doing his utmost. His friends and followers were likewise dedicated. He is uswatun hasanah, the best example for all of mankind. Therefore, we should strive to follow their example. It is our undying belief that the remedy for our troubles and predicaments is to embrace their moral values, beliefs, and characteristics to resemble them in behavior, conduct, and action.
With His tawfiq and inayah…
Sheikh Sayyid M. Mübarek Elhüseyni
