Page 31 - Solution, the values of the Qurʼan

Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar) 29

Allah. A person who observes Allah's commands and does not expect any
worldly gain does all these for a single purpose; to earn the approval of
Allah so that He will accept him as a slave worthy of the Garden.
However, a great number of the favors done in our day are based on
seeking a reward to be received in this world. A businessman, for
instance, who undertakes to establish a house for the poor with so-called
charitable purpose, seemingly derives no material gain from such an
undertaking. Yet, the truth is otherwise, mainly because thereby he

promotes his name, appearing on the front pages of newspapers and TV
news programs, which turns this charity into a form of showing off.
Meanwhile, his company saves money since the costs of this charitable
work are deducted from his taxes. Besides, often charity work engaged in
for similar benefits is far removed from being pertinent to the actual
needs of the recipients. A truckload of food sent to an earthquake-stricken
province, for instance, fails to meet the needs, either because it is already
rotten, or because it is something which is highly inconsistent with the
actual needs of the victims.
Politicians' attitudes often serve well to make this issue clear.
Throughout their lengthy campaigns, politicians rhetorically repeat
slogans expressing that their commitment is to serve. Once these people
are not appointed as minister, however, pushing aside all their
associations with their party and the purported "goals" set out in their
agenda, they can disclose their underlying motives for getting involved in
politics and show that they ran for "office" and status. It is incredible how
few benefits such a mentality brings to the community.
Briefly, deeds void of sincerity render service fruitless in the next life.
Allah reveals this in the following verse:
You who have faith! Do not nullify your charity by demands for gratitude
or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth, showing off to people
and not having faith in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a
smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy rain falls on it, is left
stripped bare. They have no power over anything they have earned. Allah
does not guide disbelieving people. (Surat al-Baqara: 264)