The Holy Quran serves as a guide for believers and touches on every aspect of humanity. Spending in the way of Allah is a great virtue. It occupies paramount importance in divine religions. All Prophets of Allah emphatically urged their followers to spend in the way of Allah. Man normally spends wealth to get away from the troubles of this world; wealth spent in the way of Allah is so done to save one from the troubles of the Hereafter. Allah says:

وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

“And (the) example (of) those who spend their wealth seeking (the) pleasure (of) Allah, and certainty from their (inner) souls, (is) like a garden on a height, fell on it heavy rain so it yielded its harvest double. Then if (does) not fall (on) it heavy rain, then a drizzle. And Allah of what you do (is) All-Seer.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:265)

Mankind, by the nature of his creation, is predominated by the love of wealth, and therefore, he may claim that he is the absolute owner of his wealth. The greatest benefit of spending in the way of Allah is that it establishes a strong bond between a person and his Creator. Love for humanity is an offshoot of one’s love for God and both provide a rock-solid base for religion. Allah says:

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“Example (of) those who spend their wealth in (the) way (of) Allah, (is) like a grain which grows seven ears, in each ear hundred grain(s). And Allah gives manifold to whom He wills. And Allah (is) All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261)

This is the fruit of giving in charity, relying on Allah, asking Allah only and dispensing with what people have. In addition to the reward of the Hereafter, spending money for the Sake of Allah has good consequences in this worldly life including blessing one’s age, sustenance, the righteousness of the offspring and protection from calamities. We must remember that the fear within ourselves is the devil’s whisper and thus, we must place our trust solely in Allah as He is the source of all the rewards and blessings. Allah says:

يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

“Destroys Allah the usury and (gives) increase (for) the charities. And Allah (does) not love every ungrateful sinner.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:276)

This spending no doubt will bear fruit in the Hereafter but in this very world, the person who spends in God’s way enjoys a fabulous increase, for the needy people who are helped pray for their benefactor. And, as these people are pitiful, they much deserve that their prayers be granted. The love for life of this world and the love for worldly possessions have been identified as the root causes of sins, therefore Allah reminds people to spend in His way.

Rewards of Spending in Allah’s Cause:

1. Allah made the multiplication of rewards for those who spend in His cause
2. Allah’s likeness with those who spend their wealth seeking to please Allah
3. Allah enjoins “Zakat”, annual almsgiving of 2.5% of the capital
4. Allah uses it to test the endurance of the poor
5. One should start giving first to his dependents
6. Every good deed will be multiplied ten folds
7. Allah guides not those who reject faith
8. Allah sees well whatever you do
9. It is the duty of the rich to take care of the poor
10. Whatever you give of a truth Allah knows it well
11. This fosters good relationships and kindness among us
12. Islam teaches us to seek wealth spend on all deservers
13. It’s the best object of charity to be given by a wealthy person
14. Islam teaches Muslims to spend their personal wealth, on charity
15. Don’t delay giving in charity till the time when you are on the death bed

The opportunity that Allah has given us to live in this world should be used wisely to seek Allah’s rewards as much as possible in order to earn our share in the hereafter. Everything given to us is with the grace of Allah SWT than we should not be reluctant to spend our money in His ways. We will be favoured and blessed by Allah SWT if we will spend in His ways provided that our intention is to please Him and we don’t seek fame and otherworldly benefit from this righteous act. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنفَقُوا مَنًّا وَلَا أَذًى لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Those who spend their wealth in (the) way (of) Allah then not they follow what they spend (with) reminders of generosity and not hurt – for them their reward (is) with their Lord, and (there will be) no fear on them and not they will grieve.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:262)

At a time when there is so much suffering in our country, there is no justification for extravagant spending on our part. Our generosity to others should be at its peak when there is so much misery all around us- people with no roofs over their heads, some paralyzed from the neck or waist down, some with no limbs, and with no certainty of their future or their survival. This is a real trial and test of conscience for all those around who have so much while others have so little.

Quranic verses on how to use your money Allah Almighty says:

• “ But the bounty of your Lord-rehearse and proclaim.” (Quran 93;11)
• “They ask you how much they are to spend; Say: “What is beyond your needs.” (Quran 2;219)
• “O you who believe! do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him and strive with might and main in His cause, that you may prosper.” (Quran 5;35)
• “Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? For that is the one who drives away the orphan. And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.” (Quran 107: 1-3)
• “And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, justly moderate” (Quran 25:67)
• “And do not make your hand as chained to your neck or extend it completely and thereby become blamed and insolvent.” (Quran 17:29)
• “And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Saba’ 34:3)
• “Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded: that is the supreme achievement.” (Quran 9;111)

Those who spend their wealth (in Allâh’s Cause) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord:

• Elimination of Depression: Allah will take away the depression of those who spend frequently in the ways of Allah
• Increase in Provisions: It is the general mentality that when we spend in way of Allah we think that our wealth is decreasing but it is not the case. Whenever we spend in the way of Allah. He opens new avenues of income for us
• Elimination of Sins: When we spend in the way of Allah it results in the elimination of our sins.
• Better Return On The Day Of Judgement: The worldly life whereas the advantages of the hereafter are beyond comprehension. Allah has told us about the reward of the person spending in His way. Allah says:

وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَآتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدًا

“And for all, We have made heirs to what is left by parents and relatives. And to those whom your oaths have bound [to you] – give them their share. Indeed Allah is ever, over all things, a Witness.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:33)

Thus, Allah has revealed His guidance through the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet, on how a man can conquer his fear in order to spend his wealth in the cause of Allah. It is indeed only Allah who has given man whatever he possesses. Man’s life and all his belongings are the bounties of Allah. The only befitting way man can express his gratitude to acknowledge this truth is by presenting everything he has in his possession at the disposal of Allah. Spending a part of one’s wealth in the way of Allah is only a symbolic expression of that attitude. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

O you who believe[d]! Spend of what We (have) provided you, from before that comes a Day no bargaining in it and no friendship and no intercession. And the deniers – they (are) the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:254)

Allah reminds us that the time to act and do righteous deeds is “now”. On the Day of Judgment, no one will be able to bargain on behalf of himself or ransom himself with any amount even if it was the earth’s fill of gold; nor will his friends or relations to anyone benefit him. On the Day of Judgment, deeds will not be up for sale. They cannot be borrowed from a friend either. Once caught by the punishment, one cannot be released on someone’s intercession, unless Allah wills to forgive the person. Therefore, the time to act is now. Allah says:

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى الصُّورِ فَلاَ أَنسَـبَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلاَ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

“So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun 23: 101)

Allah commands His servants to spend for His sake, in the path of righteousness, from what He has granted them so that they acquire and keep the reward of this righteous deed with their Lord and King. Let them rush to perform this deed in this life, “before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession.” The Day refers to the Day of Resurrection. May Allah save us from the evils of wealth and poverty (Ameen).