Spending in Allah's Way
It is indeed only Allah who has given man
whatever he possesses. Man's life and all his belongings are the bounties of Allah.
The only befitting way man can express his gratitude to acknowledge this truth is by
presenting everything he has in his possession at the disposal of Allah. Spending a part
of one's wealth in the way of Allah is only a symbolic expression of that attitude.
Whatever one earns is attributable to the
fact that God has given man the physical abilities to earn it: hands to work with, eyes
and tongue to see and speak with, mind to plan with. Moreover, He has given man to live in
a world which is completely subservient to him. Everything in this world has been designed
in such a manner that man can use it to the best of his advantage. If it were not the
case, man despite possessing all his physical and mental abilities, could not have been
able to usefully employ them. If the seeds of wheat were to refuse to grow but were
instead to continue languishing like pebbles in the dust, man could not have been able to
get the sort of flourishing crops he now gets to use them as his food. Likewise, if nature
was to refuse to play its subservient role, generating electricity would become
impossible, similarly all transportation facilities would come to a standstill. The truth
is that in the present world man earns only as a direct consequence of God's
graciousness. The right return for this kindness is that man should spend his earnings in
the way of Allah. He should use his wealth to help out the poor people. He should spend
his God-given wealth on God-proposed avenues.
The only spending that can qualify to be
described as having been done in the way of Allah is the one that is meant to please Allah
alone, not the one that is done for earning fame, respect or reward. Man normally spends
wealth to get away from the troubles of this world; wealth spent in the way of Allah is so
done to save one from the troubles of the hereafter.
(Adapted from Wahiduddin
Khan's works)