The Power of Infaq: Spending in the Way of Allah

 

 

In today's fast-paced world, we are often consumed by the pursuit of wealth and material possessions. However, as Muslims, we must remember that our true wealth lies in the hereafter. One of the most effective ways to attain this wealth is through infaq, which means to spend one's wealth in the cause of Allah.

Infaq is not just about offering zakat, but also spending beyond our needs and requirements for any cause of Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the importance of this act, stating that "there is something due on property apart from zakat" (Tirmidhi). By doing so, we open the paths of goodness and make our journey towards the hereafter easier.

Allah promises that those who give in charity and fear Him will be guided towards the path of bliss (92:5-10). Infaq is not just a means of accumulating blessings and abundance, but also a way to appease the Lord's anger and avert an evil death (Tirmidhi). By spending in Allah's cause, we are depositing our wealth in a much safer place than any worldly bank.

Moreover, infaq is a source of barakah and blessings in any form. Allah promises that the parable of those who spend their substance in His way is like a grain of corn that grows seven ears, each with a hundred grains (2:261). Even the angels supplicate for those who do infaq, asking Allah to compensate them and destroy every misery (Bukhari).

Infaq plays an important role in strengthening a person's faith and nourishing their righteous deeds. It is a key to the treasures of wisdom and moderation. Islam encourages us to spend as much as we can, but not to the extent that we become needy ourselves (17:29).

Yet, it is critical to remember that infaq should not be regarded as a burdensome requirement. Allah does not need our financial possessions; rather, He utilises them to test our desire to restore what is properly His. So, infaq should be performed for genuine reasons rather than for money benefit or to boast. The primary core of infaq is intentional purity, or ikhlas.

By studying the lives of the companions of the Prophet, we learn that despite some of them being poor, they considered giving charity a part of whatever little they received. We should realize that we need very little to live on, yet we are obsessed with worldly gains. Infaq helps us deal with stinginess and fight our own nafs.

Infaq is a powerful tool that, in the end, allows us to earn true riches in the hereafter. It is how you obtain Allah's favour, appease His anger, and reap His plentiful blessings. May Allah grant us the ability to donate willingly to His cause and purify our motives.