Page 79 - The Mercy of Believers

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EXEMPLARY VALUES OF BELIEVERS REFLECTING THEIR MERCY

when you give, things you would only take with
your eyes tight shut! Know that Allah is Rich
Beyond Need, Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Baqara: 267)

The justice and compassion of believers call for the
rights of all believers to be protected; believers can never
accept that other believers should have lower living stan-
dards than their own and thus be in difficulties, when
they themselves enjoy better conditions. Similarly, they
do not allow others to consider needy people as being
worthy only of inferior conditions. To needy believers,
they try to provide the best conditions they can afford, so
that they can also attain a standard of living at least
matching their own.
While giving in charity to earn Allah's approval, it is
essential to make sacrifices from the possessions for
which one feels some attachment rather than what one's
lower self would not like to give away. As is clear, it is not
a sacrifice to give away something to which a person at-
taches no importance. By listening to their conscience, be-
lievers can readily make this distinction. They choose the
things that are to be given away from the fine food and
clothing they have and the possessions they cherish. This
is a clear manifestation of the mercy and compassion they
have for other believers.
The following is another verse by which Allah en-
courages believers to give of the things they hold dear:
You will not attain true goodness until you give of
what you love. Whatever you give away, Allah
knows it. (Surah Al 'Imran: 92)