Charity, Interest & Debt V261-281

This starting verse sets out a mental picture for us to imagine, a single corn which blooms into 7 seven ears and each of those ears yielding a hundred grains. SubhanAllah, with the right intention a single act of charity will blossom into so much hasanath for an individual. Spending a little of what we have is a means to get us closer to Allah and paradise. Allahs is most merciful, allowing an act of charity not to be a 1 for 1 transaction, rather a 1 for multiple transaction. It is in the interest for all believers to indulge their wealth into good causes with a best level of sincerity as Allah can give abundantly as His giving does not deplete.

The next verse gives us a condition. For us to be sincere in our charity and not to "follow their charity with reminders or hurtful words". Reminding the recipient of your charity can make them feel worthless. Also it shows that the charity you've given wasn't truly done for the sake of Allah SWT, rather you've seen it as something that has come out of your own pocket which is far from the truth. The charity you're giving is what Allah has provisioned you with so that you may use it in the correct manner. Reminders aren't just in the manner of reminding the recipient, however it is also the reminder in your own thoughts. Thinking about how you've done so and so a favour. This will also make your charity redundant in the eyes of Allah SWT.

In the event where you cannot give charity, as an example it is better to give kind words to the beggar, in the hopes of it to uplift him. However, if he mistreats you e.g. resort to foul speech, it is better than you forgive him rather than put blame on him. These are two simples acts of kindness that is far better for you rather than giving charity and then spoiling it with insincere thoughts. We are met with the parables of how the wrong intentions is a waste, like dead soil. No amount of rain will be substantial enough for it grow crops. On the other hand, the charity done with right intentions will yield as much reward as Allah SWT sees fit, just like the fertile soil that grows abundant crops all year round.

How about the one whom Allah SWT says "will have a fiery whirlwind hits the garden". This is a person who had his intentions correct and doing acts of worship i.e. charity for the sake of Allah SWT but then he nullifies it all by following it up with a bad act or losing sight of the end goal of sowing these deeds for the sake of Allah SWT. The picture this paints should deter a person from doing that which nullifies his good deeds. A man who will stand in front of Allah hoping for his worldly deeds to be displayed only for it all to be like dust which has been scattered.

Another condition is given in V267, where we are instructed to give of the good things which you have earned. Allah has chosen you to have that which is good so will you not then help your brother in need and give him some of that which is good. Giving of those things that are most desired to us helps us believe Allah SWT replace this with something of similar or even better! The shaytan tricks you to hold that which is good and maybe give the scraps of things you do not want in the hope to put fear of poverty into you. Is Allah not the Self-Sufficient? Can Allah not replace that which you have replaced with something better? Giving unwanted scraps is not having conviction in Allah to replace it!

We now come across of the manner we do our charity & the recipients. We can donate both openly as well as secretly. The verse indicated that if charity is given to the poor, then it is better than you give it in secret as you will get more reward. However, for charities that may not necessarily be given to the poor, it can be given openly in the hopes that it encourages others to also donate and get involved. You are also required to give it to those who are most in need. These can be the poor, those that are occupied in the cause of Allah SWT, those that cannot earn a living by travelling, those whom have patience and dignity not to ask & those who do not ask persistently.

We've concluded that charity is something which brings abundant of good deeds for the giver, however what would the opposite be? The opposite is interest. The V275 mentions how the one who functioned off of interest will be resurrected like a madman that has been beaten by shaytan. He will resurrect in a way that he knows a punishment is coming, moving like a insane drunk that has no control of his thoughts and movements. What he uses from the interest will only bring him closer to the depths of hell and prepare for a war with Allah SWT and his Messenger! All is not lost, if you repent and stay away from it, then Allah SWT not only forgives but he also allows you to keep your initial capital.

We are finally met with how to deal with one who has outstanding debt. In the previous verse Allah SWT tells us how the one who deals with interest will be forgiven for giving it up. In the same case, when there is someone struggling to pay his debt, give him time to pay it back. Did Allah not give you time before you decided to finally give it back? And if he still cannot pay it off then it may be of interest to waive it off (fully or partially) as an act of charity. This comes back full circle to charity and elevating your brothers hardship. If the answer to abolishing debt and interest is charity, then why do we get the answers before the questions? Islam promotes the idea of prevention is better cure! The prevention & cure in this case is charity, whereas the illness lies in dealing with interest, both for the one who gains from it as well as the one who falls into debt due to it. Charity allows assets to be spread across all those in an ecosystem.

May Allah keep us far away from interest and help us give charity with sincere intentions, Ameen.