Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً ﴿274﴾

ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنفَقُوا مَنًّا وَلَا أَذًى ۙ لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ ﴿262﴾

Sadaqa Llahu l-‘Azim (Qur’ān 02:274-262). Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla says, ‘Al-Ladhīna Yunfiqūna ‘Amwālahum Bil-Layli Wa An-Nahāri Sirrāan Wa Alāniyatan ﴾274﴿ Thumma Lā Yutbiūna Mā ‘Anfaqū Mannāan Wa Lā ‘Adhan Lahum ‘Ajruhum ﴾262﴿’, ‘Those who spend their wealth [in Allah’s way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly ﴾274﴿ And then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders of their generosity or with injury will have their reward ﴾262﴿.’

Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla says that some people use their wealth for charity day and night, openly and secretly. They don’t follow up their charity with reminders of their generosity, and they don’t hurt [others]. They have a big reward in the presence of Allah ﷻ. These people give money or wealth for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. Allah ﷻ has given this to them. And Rizq comes to people through them. If Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla had wanted, He would have given Rizq to those people directly. However, in order to be useful to people, Allah ﷻ appointed such people. The Rizq of Allah ﷻ is distributed through their hands and they earn Thawab for it. People who have this knowledge are lucky people.

We see people have millions and billions. They hide them by their side and don’t even give a penny. How does it happen? It is the dirt of Dunya. If it flows, it will be clean. It won’t stink. When the river flows, it remains clean. When they save it; money is the dirt of Dunya, when it is still, it brings no benefit but loss. It will turn into sewage and start stinking. This is it.

People save more and more but give neither Zakah, nor Sadaqah. They think that they are doing something, whereas, Allah ﷻ is the One who gives. And through them, He gives Rizq to others as well. That Rizq is Halal to those who give and benefit to those who are given. As we said, they are a beautiful means of Allah ﷻ that this charity is done through them.

People of old times, the Ottomans had Adab and manners. They used to give more secretly. They didn’t show so that people wouldn't feel embarrassed. They used to help them secretly. But nowadays, people don’t come close to giving, neither openly nor secretly. And when they give, they boast about feeding people to seven neighborhoods, embarrassing them and reminding them of that favor.

Don’t remind people of a favor. Don’t show it. You should not remind people but be happy, for Allah ﷻ let it be given through you. May Allah ﷻ protect us, you could have been in the place of those people and you could have been reminded of the favor done then. Allah ﷻ has favored you and gave you that thing. Make Shukr when you give. “Shukr to Allah ﷻ, we earned and gave it. We have Rizq and they have Rizq through us”, you should make Shukr to Allah ﷻ by saying so.

The best of Islamic Adab was practiced by the Ottomans. We don’t know about the older nations. But the most recent and the best examples are from the Ottomans. They removed them [these practices] and replaced them with various things which are not nice. People remind others of their favors, denigrate and embarrass others. Of course, Thawab becomes less then. They get Thawab. But with the Thawab, they commit a sin as well. May Allah ﷻ help us all. May we always be means for giving Rizq. And may He ﷻ not make us in need of anyone insha’Allah. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Adil ق