Often when it comes to donating for the sake of Allah it can be hard. This next installment of the Ramadan Stories teaches us that by spending more in the path of Allah, we are not losing anything, but rather we gain more than we have spent!
A Thousand Camels
During the time when Umar (ra) was the Khalifah of the Muslims, there was a severe famine. All the people of Madinah were suffering due to the shortage of food. One day, a tremor in the ground was felt. It was found that a caravan made up of a thousand camels loaded with large stocks of food was arriving from Syria. Returning from successful business and trade, this caravan was owned by Uthman (ra). Upon its arrival, several merchants approached Uthman (ra) and offered to buy it all.
Uthman asked them what profit they would pay. "Five per cent," they said.
He answered that he could get higher profit than that.
They then increased their offer, and still Uthman answered that he could get an even higher profit.
The merchants continued to increase their offer until they argued that they did not know of any other merchants who would offer him more than what they had offered. Uthman then said to the merchants, "I know of one who repays a profit of more than seven hundred to a single dirham (Arabian currency)." He then recited the verse of the Noble Quran in which Allah (swt) mentioned this profit.
"The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower." [2:261]
O traders! Bear witness with me that I donate all this to the poor people of Madinah!" said Uthman (ra).
People would easily spend $2000 for a new television or shiny rims for their car. But at the same time, dropping a $20 note into a Masjid's donation box or giving to a needy brother or sister takes second thoughts (or doesnt even cross the mind at all). What we have to realise is that all our wealth comes from Allah, not from ourselves. And in order to become wealthier, we have to give in the way that Allah loves, always knowing that we will get in return something multiplied by what we had given. In addition to that, Allah also multiplies the rewards of good deeds by many times in Ramadan, so now is the best time to invest in your Akhirah (hereafter)!
~Peace.
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