Helping others is a fundamental aspect of Islam since the teaching itself promotes peace. In Islam, relieving others of their distress is considered a duty for those who can do so and a good deed towards which people should race. The Prophet 
said: “Allah helps whoever helps his brother.” His words have become an axiom for Muslims. One of the better ways to help the poor and needy people is to give them a hand up rather than a handout. Allah says:
إِنَّهُمْ لَن يُغْنُوا عَنكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ
“Indeed, they never will avail you against Allah (in) anything. And indeed, the wrongdoers some of them (are) allies (of) others, and Allah (is the) Protector (of) the righteous.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:19)
Helping each other is a way to overcome the grief that we may experience, and it can empower us in our worship of Allah. We should help living things that exist on this planet. Help others without any selfishness, there should not be any personal interest and whatever you do selfishness, will come back again to you when you need help. Allah says:
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
“And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection, not they will be helped.” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:41)
The Quran is not only a book of complete guidance but it is also one of the most important texts you will ever read that will help you out of your gravest problems. And the best part is that the offer of help is mentioned in the Quran by Allah himself so many times if only we would read carefully. When Allah sent us into this world as humans He knew that we would have good days and bad days. Allah says:
لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
“You shall not attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love (in the way of Allah). Allah knows whatever you spend.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:92)
Helping those in need and supporting those in distress is a way of thanking and praising Allah. We see our life prospering but we do not thank Allah for it. We do wrong. If Allah helps us, He needs for us to acknowledge that it is because of Him, the Supreme Being, that we are in a happy state. When we do this, this state is called “Shukr”.
Here are some benefits of helping needy people:
- Helping others makes in relieving stress and depression
- Helping others promotes positive behaviours in teen
- Helping others reflects our gratitude to Allah
- Helping others helps us through our last day
- Helping others forbids us into the Hellfire
- Helping others Muslim as we’re one
- Helping others can cure our stress
- Helping others can erase our sins
- Helping others makes you calm
- Helping others makes us happy
- Helping others lowers blood pressure
- Helping others can help you live longer
- Helping others is good for the economy
- Helping others makes religiously satisfied
- Helping others may help with chronic pain
- Helping others as Allah will reward us goodness
- Helping others to organize with transparent aims
- Helping others to find ways to integrate your interests
- Helping others gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction
- Helping others causes a chain reaction of other altruistic acts
We are all tested by Allah Almighty God. Sometimes, we feel that we are the saddest person in this world, due to the trials we face. Doing more good and being a good person doesn’t mean you can live easily and not be tested by Allah. The more good you are, the greater tests. Islam motivates its people to have noble morals towards people. So when our grievances and problems overtake us, we must ask Allah for help. Allah says:
وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَائِكُمْ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ نَصِيرًا
“And Allah knows better about your enemies and Allah (is) sufficient (as) a Protector, and sufficient (is) Allah (as) a Helper.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:45)
Helping others is the main highlight in Islam as the religion of peace. If we are helping others, Allah promises to help us in return. Allah SWT promises us that he who rescues others in a time of difficulty, Allah SWT will rescue him in his time of difficulty; both in this life and the Hereafter. The protection of Allah is the best and strongest. His protection is accompanied by contentment and dignity. Turning to Allah and waiting for Him to overturn our problems is the state that is called “Sabr” Allah says:
وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُمْ نَصْرًا وَلَا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَنصُرُونَ
“And not they can (give) them any help and not they can help themselves.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:192)
If we are helping others, Allah promises to help us in return. Imagine that, who would be a better helper to us than Allah? What else do we need after that? The promise of Allah had been told by our Prophet (PBUH). We need to commit the act of helping each other as many times as we could. Allah is not obliged to provide for us or remove our suffering. Do your part first, then leave the rest up to Allah Who: Insha Allah: will favour you with His mercy and assistance.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And they deny [the] small kindnesses.” (Quran 107:7)
- “And Allah may help you (with) a help mighty.” (Quran 48:3)
- “A guidance and a mercy for those who do good.” (Quran 31:4)
- “Thus indeed do We reward those who do good.” (Quran 37:81)
- “The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness.” (Quran 55:61)
- “My Lord! Help me against the people the corrupters.” (Quran 29:30)
- “But they plan and Allah plans and Allah is the best of planners.” (Quran 8:30)
- “And not they can (give) them any help and not they can help themselves.” (Quran 7:192 )
- “And those saved from the covetousness of their souls; they are the ones that achieve prosperity.” (Quran 64:16)
Brotherhood actually is a faith-based community in religion. It consists of men and women as brothers and sisters. Living among a brotherhood is that kind of life full of interactions and allows us to seek or give help to others. One kind of help needed is by giving charity. Muslims need to realize the importance of helping other Muslims, otherwise, life would be wasted. Allah says:
وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ
“And of (those) whom We have created (is) a nation, who guides with the truth and thereby they establish justice.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:181)
Allah doesn’t like someone who is so greedy, that he or she is not willing to help each other. Remember, our wealth is the blessing from Allah, that we need to be grateful for. To depict our gratefulness, we need to help others instead of being greedy by keeping the wealth for our own pleasure. Indeed, Allah doesn’t like the greedy ones. Allah says:
بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
“With (the) help (of) Allah. He helps whom He wills. And He (is) the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:5)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that all Muslims in this world is gathered into the whole one. When one of them finds any difficulties, the others might get the impact too. Because of the mechanism of ‘the-whole-one’, Muslims need to realize the importance of helping other Muslims, otherwise, life would be wasted. May Allah allow us all to be forthcoming in helping others and being leaders in kindness, compassion and empathy, Aameen.
