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Usually in life, the reason you do something is either to get pleasure or to avoid pain. So, let’s see how Qur’an presents the pleasure and pain associated with giving or not giving Sadaqah.

FIRST: ATTAIN PLEASURE FROM GIVING

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
Say: “Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Saba’ 34:39)
First Allah gave you the money so you can give for His sake. Now, after you give out for His sake, he replaces it for you with a gain. So, basically, it’s free Hasanat (rewards).

SECOND PAIN: AVOID PAIN OF NOT GIVING

هَاأَنتُمْ هَؤُلَاء تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاء وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُمْ

Behold! You are those who are called to spend in the Cause of Allâh, Yet among you are some who are niggardly. And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his own self. But Allâh is Rich (Free of all wants), and you (mankind) are poor. And if you turn away (from Islâm and the obedience of Allâh), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes. (Muhammad 47:38)

So, say Allah gives you and another person, and now he asks both of you to give back, but only one of you respond to his call. So, in human short-sighted logic, the one who doesn’t give saves the money and the one who gives loses, right? But no! The one who doesn’t give is in reality on the brink of being FIRED (exchanged). So, even if there is no reward or pleasure associated with giving, simply the pain is severe enough to avoid it at all cost.

Conclusion, whether you operate under the logic of attaining pleasure or the logic of avoid pain. In both cases, giving Sadaqah is really a no brainer.

This post was originally submitted to MissionRamadan of 1429, a project run by http://productivemuslim.com

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