Give from that which you love [3:92]

Here is today's reflection from the Quran:

In Sura Al Imran, [3:92], Allah says: By no means shall you attain to righteousness until you spend (benevolently) out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it.

Reflection: We all donate and give things away for various reasons: to declutter, to help someone out or to discard things that we no longer need or use. When we are looking to give away, we often reach for things or money that we can spare or that are no longer useful to us.

While this kind of giving may have its benefits, the verse in question is talking about a different kind of giving: giving from what you love most and what may still be useful or valuable to you.

While the result of the previous kinds of giving may be a clean house, a decluttered environment or a minimalistic and low-impact lifestyle, giving from what you love has the impact of unattachment to material possessions, spiritual growth and nearness to the Divine.

By severing our attachments to the material, we make space in our hearts for loving Him.

The Quran talks about this kind of giving in reference to the early history of Islam when the Ansär in Madina not only welcomed the Muhājir™n but preferred them over themselves. He says in the Quran: but (they) prefer [the Immigrants] to themselves, though poverty be their own lot (59:9). This selflessness showed an understanding of a higher truth, the truth that Allah is more beloved than the self. That principles of humanity stand above personal gain. So the Almighty continues in verse saying: And those who are saved from their own greed -it is they who shall prosper (59:9).

This is the kind of generosity that we see practiced amongst those the Beloveds of God.

One of the most eminent attributes of the first grandson of the Holy Prophet [saw], Imam Hasan (as), was his generosity. He believed that money was only a means to clothe the naked, help the destitute, pay the debts of the indebted, or satisfy the hungry.

Once, he was asked: "We do not see you disappoint a beggar. Why?" He replied: "I am asking Allah for His favors, and I love to be near Him. I am ashamed, as I am myself in need of Allah, to repulse a beggar. Allah got me used to a habit; to shower me with His bounties, and I get Him used to me showering His bounties on the people. I fear that should I stop my habit, He may stop His habit." Barriers: The barriers to this kind of giving are the feelings of love and attachment to things, material and non-material, the belief that I cannot do without certain things, that I will be diminished or inconvenienced if I let go.

When we hold gifts given by Him, in the heart (where He belongs) instead of in the hand (where the gifts belong), it is difficult to let go.

When love for Him informs our every action, it becomes easy.

This verse in action: If we were living this verse, we would be unattached to things and would be willing, even eager, to part with things for a higher purpose. Hadith tells us that "None of you believes until he desires for his neighbour/brother what he desires for himself".

When it came time to give, we would reach for the best of what we have, things that we still need, use and love. There would be equitable distribution of resources on the planet and social justice would be the norm.