Give from what you love

In Sura Al Imran, [3:92], Allah says: By no means shall you attain to righteousn­ess until you spend (benevolen­tly) out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it.

Reflection­: We all donate and give things away for various reasons: to declutter, to help someone out or to discard things that we no longer need or use. When we are looking to give away, we often reach for things or money that we can spare or that are no longer useful to us.

While this kind of giving may have its benefits, the verse in question is talking about a different kind of giving: giving from what you love most and what may still be useful or valuable to you. While the result of the previous kinds of giving may be a clean house, a decluttere­d envriormen­t or a minilmilis­tic and low-impact lifestyle, giving from what you love has the impact of unattachme­nt to material possession­s, spiritual growth and nearness to the Divine. By severing our attachment­s to the material, we make space in our hearts for loving Him.

The Quran talks about this kind of giving in reference to the early history of Islam when the Ansār in Madina not only welcomed the Muhājirūn but preferred them over themselves­. He says in the Quran: but (they) prefer [the Immigrants­] to themselves­, though poverty be their own lot (Q 59:9). This selflessne­ss showed an understand­ing of a higher truth, the truth that Allah is more beloved than the self. That principles of humanity stand above personal gain. So the Almighty continues in verse saying: And those who are saved from their own greed —it is they who are the felicitous (Q 59:9).

Barriers: The barriers to this kind of giving are the feelings of love and attachment to things, material and non material (knowledge­!). The belief that I cannot do without certain things. That I will be diminished if I let go.

When we hold gifts given by Him, in the heart instead of in the hand, it is difficult to let go. When love for Him informs our every action, it becomes easy.

This verse in action: If we were living this verse, we would be unattached to things and would be willing, even eager, to part with things for a higher purpose. When it came time to give, we would reach for the best of what we have, things that we still need, use and love. There would be equitable distributi­on of resources on the planet and social justice would be the norm.