The New Nation - Internet Edition

A Saudi citizen on condition of anonymity has donated US $ 130 million for the 15/11 hurricane victims of Southern Bangladesh. There is no doubt that this the largest philanthropy by any individual of home and abroad. Verily it will inspire many rich of our country to come in aid of the sufferers whatsoever the causes are.

In our boyhood, we heard of the stories of Hajji Mohammad Mohsin, a great humanitarian. He spent his entire wealth for the cause of the poor, the needy, and the wayfarer. Allah has decreed that the philanthropist has immense rewards for them and will never go in vain. In this regard, let us quote several verses from the Quran.

Verse No. 2/177

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is that one shouldtgive away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the (emancipation of) the captivest"

The Prophet Muhammad (SM) said, feed the hunger, attend the sick and release the (innocent) prisoners.

Verse No. 2/271

If you give donations openly, it is well; and if you hide it and give to the poor, it is better for you. And this will do away some of your evil deeds. And Allah is aware of what you do."

Verse No.2/274

"(As for) those who spend their property by night and day, secretly and openly, they shall have their reward from their Lord and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve."

Verse No.7/56

"Surely the mercy of Allah is nigh to those who do good (to others)."

Verse No.16/128

"Verily Allah is with those who guard (against evil) and those who do good (to others)."

About the consequences of storing wealth, the Quran says:

Verse No. 100/8

"And man is mad in love of wealth of power"

The Prophet said, the two hungry leopards cannot do harm to the herd of rams, as much as does the wealth to a man. He further said, philanthropy is the tree of the paradise.

The Prophet Muhammad said, leave miserness, for, it has destroyed many generations of the yore.

Hazrat Issa ibn Marium (AS) said, the niggardly, the deceiver, whoso embezzles and the adulterer shall never enter paradise- (Ref: Al Murshidul Amin by Imam Ghazzali).

We also learn from verse nos. 3/180 and 9/36 that the hoarders of wealth will have severe punishment in the Hereafter. Their wealth will be heated in the hell-fire and then branded on their backs. Besides, the wealth will take the shape of snake to wrap their necks as does the collars of a shirt.

Ameer Hamza

Dhaka