Spending in the way of Allah

SPENDING IN THE WAY OF ALLAH

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

After this, in praise of a muttaqi, Allah the Exalted states:

وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنُٰهُمْ یـُنْفِقُوْنَ

And they spend out of what We have provided for them.

Here, the words ‘mimma’ (i.e. from out of what) have been used when referring to a righteous person because he is still in a state of blindness. And so, he dedicates for the sake of God only a portion from among that which God has given him. But the truth is that if he possessed a discerning eye, he would see that nothing belongs to him at all and that everything belongs to God Almighty. This lack of understanding is like a veil, which is a necessary element in the state of 'righteousness’ or ittiqa. The demands of this state push one to give a portion from that which is endowed to him by God. In his last days, the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, inquired of Hazrat Ayeshah, may Allah be pleased with her, if there was anything in the house. It came to light that there was one dinar at home. At this, the Holy Prophet (saw) said that an individual cannot attain true nearness to God if they do not sacrifice everything in His cause. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had surpassed the level of righteousness or ittiqa and had attained unto salahiyyat (i.e. a level of higher virtue). Therefore, the words ‘mimma’ were never used for the Holy Prophet (saw), for blind is the one who keeps some for himself and gives some to God. Nonetheless, as mentioned, this is part and parcel of a righteous person, because for such a person, even giving in the cause of God first required a battle with the inner self. As a result, he gave some and kept some. Of course, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave everything that he had in the way of God and kept nothing for himself.

As has been expounded in the treatise that was read out in the Conference of Great Religions (Dharam Mahautsav), there are three states that man traverses through, from the beginning of life until the end. In this context, the Quran, which was sent down to lead man through all the stages of progress, starts with the state of righteousness (ittiqa), which is a path of forced effort. It is a perilous arena, as it were, in which man stands against a foe—both with swords in hand. If one is able to escape death, salvation is his; otherwise, he becomes the lowest of the low. As such, when describing the attributes of a muttaqi, Allah has not stated that they spend in entirety all that He has bestowed upon them. A muttaqi does not possess the same faith that characterise the grandeur of a Prophet, so that like our Perfect Guide, they are able to return to God, whatever He bestowed on them in entirety. And so, initially, man is taxed insignificantly so that the sweet taste of this sacrifice motivates him to an even greater degree.

Allah the Exalted states: 

وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنُٰهُمْ یـُنْفِقُوْنَ

And they spend out of what We have provided for them.

Provision does not only imply wealth. In fact, it connotes everything that is endowed to humans, whether knowledge, wisdom or experience in medicine. All of this is considered ‘provision’ and man is to spend out of all this in the way of God.

(Malfuzat Vol 1 pp 36-38)