Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Quranalyze It

Home
Most Read
Surah Summaries
Short Blogs
Meet The Author
Resources
Subscribe & Archives
Categories
- Meet The Author
  - Interviews
- Published Elsewhere
- Quran
- Uncategorized

Home
Muslim
Transcending Doing Good Works for a Heavenly Reward: The Need Of Being Altrusitic! | Ro Waseem

Transcending Doing Good Works for a Heavenly Reward: The Need Of Being Altrusitic! | Ro Waseem

Last updated on: April 1, 2015 at 3:25 am by Ro Waseem

Transcending Doing Good Works for a Heavenly Reward: The Need Of Being Altrusitic! | Ro Waseem 2015-04-01T03:25:52+05:00 Ro Waseem

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

God has given us an amazing gift in the form of life, what are we doing to give back?

Our prime purpose in this life is to give, to benefit humanity in some way. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the importance of spending in “the way of God” to help those who are not as fortunate as we are. Nothing, I repeat, nothing is stressed more than this! When we distribute our resources with others, we perform the real act of Shukr (giving thanks!) and acknowledge the fact that everything we temporarily own, and the means through which we earned it, ultimately comes from God!

My concern, however, is that we have become too focused on ourselves, even when we are giving away. As per popular opinion, spending in the month of Ramadan supposedly earns more rewards as it is deemed to be a “blessed” month, for example. But to donate money in hopes of accumulating rewards is very paradoxical indeed!

The purpose of giving is just that: giving! No more, no less. We should do good to our fellow humans simply because it is the right thing to do. It is what the soul yearns for! Expecting “rewards” for our service makes the whole process unnatural. It’s no more about benefiting others anymore, it becomes self centered. The ego comes in: “What can I get from this?”

I realized this truth some time ago, and I believe it is crucial for all of us to understand this to evolve as spiritual beings. An example would suffice: A mother is selfless. She loves her child because she feels that way, not because she wants someone to take care of her in old age. Although a good upbringing will bring comfort to her when she does get old, her intention of loving the child is not based on that. Furthermore, observe nature. It is selfless, too! A tree gives, but does not ask anything in return. Nature is self-less, and so should we!

So, in conclusion, don’t fret over accumulating rewards or recognition for yourself. Help someone just because they need your help, because they deserve it! In the famous words of Rumi: “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy!”

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of God is like sowing a seed that brings numerous shoots, each shoot with a hundred grains. This is how God’s Law of Recompense rewards men and women. God is Inﬁnite, Knower.” Quran 2:261

“You will never attain exponential growth of the ‘self’ unless you open up for others the possessions you cherish. And whatever you spend, God is well Aware of it. [God, the Knower of your own ‘self’, reminds that Paradise is for those who attain self-actualization by giving. 92:18]” Quran 3:61

Previous Post

January 2, 2014

Let Your Conscience Be Your Moral Compass | Ro Waseem

Next Post

January 9, 2014 Why A Helping Hand Is Always Better Than Praying Lips

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Interviews Meet The Author Quran Short Blogs Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2016 March 2016 December 2015 November 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 May 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul Solomon David Nehemiah