Page 39 - The Mercy of Believers

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TO WHOM DO BELIEVERS SHOW COMPASSION AND MERCY?

recommends believers is stated as follows:

… But give them a gift—he who is wealthy accord-
ing to his means and he who is less well off accord-
ing to his means—a gift to be given with correctness
and courtesy: a duty for all good-doers. (Surat al-
Baqara: 236)
He who has plenty should spend out from his
plenty, but he whose provision is restricted should
spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does
not demand from any self more than He has given it.
Allah will appoint after difficulty, ease. (Surat at-
Talaq: 7)
Whether well-off or poor, Allah commands believers
to support women in a manner commensurate with their
own means. In societies which do not live by the values of
religion, generously supporting an ex-wife, from whom
one can no longer derive any benefits, is regarded as vain
spending. This being so, the people in question try to give
the minimum alimony possible and to this end even re-
sort to fraudulence. However, guided by his conscience
and his compassion, a believer never reneges on such an
obligation. After all, he performs this duty as a good deed
which will earn him the approval of Allah. That he has no
further expectations from her or that she has fallen in his
estimation, never influences his attitude. Besides, his hu-
mane feelings and compassion incline him to support a
person who is in need. For that reason, those who are
well-off make adequate provision for divorced women to
have a good standard of living. Similarly, a poor person
does not shirk this responsibility, by saying, "I have in-