How Islam sees seva

Thu, Jun 12 01:35 AM

It is the duty of every human to take care of the other. The Holy Scriptures state that the share of poor and needy persons has been fixed in the wealth of the rich.

This just due should be transferred without hesitation otherwise the system will fail and disallow overall human development. Once a person asked Imam Husein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, what was the good of giving to an unworthy person.

Benevolence is like torrential rain which showers on fields as well as wasteland without any discrimination, replied Imam Hussein. If a person is in need he should be helped even though he may be your worst enemy, he added.

Prophet Muhammad used to say that there is no worship greater than charity and benevolence. And if we have no time, asked one of his companions.

He replied, at least pick up the stones from the public streets so that others may not get hurt. Saf'wan says that he was accompanying Imam Husein when a person came to him.

"He had a problem and Hussein ordered me to solve it. I left with him and returned after some time.

Allah has made it all right I said. By offering your little time you have earned the benefit of more than a thousand prayers said the Imam to me," reports Saf'wan.

Another time, a person went to Imam Hasan for help and he readily agreed. On the way he found his elder brother Husein and asked the person why he did not ask Husein to help.

"He is in I'tikaf (a prayer in which a person distances himself from social life for a limited period), so I thought it better not to disturb him." "By God, he may have not found a better opportunity to help you," said Hasan, " for he thinks that helping a needy person is worthier than a hundred days of I'tikaf.

" By such citations we understand that an act of benevolence is better than a thousand prayers, that Allah loves this attitude in human beings.

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