Giving Away Our Most Loved Ones

One time I attended a lecture at a small mushalla. Ustad who gave a lecture at that time happened to raise a theme about infaq and alms. Nothing is too special from the content of this ustad lecture except the ordinary things that we have often heard in various recitation places and speeches on Friday.

From the series of speeches delivered by this ustad there is a joke delivered by taking the example of a friend figure. One day, said the da'i, there was a friend who saw an old beggar sitting in front of a shop.

Seeing the beggar, this ustad friend was touched his heart and reached into his pants pocket. When the sheets of paper were removed from his pocket red, he quickly put them back in his pocket. Apparently this ustad friend needs several times glanced into the money caught by his hand before finding a thousand rupiah sheet and give it to old men who long enough to raise his hand waiting for gifts.

The jokes of the ustad made many people laugh. At the end of his story, the ustad even adds to his talents like this: "Yes, of course the old man was quite happy to get a thousand rupiah, but the happier I think my friend was because the money is ten thousand survived."

Apart from the clashing ustad above, there is a phenomenon that I feel quite interesting to be our reflection this time. When we want to give something to others, usually our choices fall on something we least like. Notice, for example, when we give secondhand clothing to someone. Choice usually falls on the oldest, most often we use, the most outdated, and not the other way around!

In the letter of Ali-Imran verse 92 Allah reminds:

"You will never get the reward of virtue before you give some of what you love most. And whatever you spend, God always knows."

In Arabic, the word "lan" which begins this letter describes an emphasis or pressure, which means "never." This word is different from "lam" which connotes weaker. It becomes clear to us that even if giving something is good and recorded as a reward, we are still required to give away some of our most precious possessions. It also serves as a hint of the importance of the meaning of sacrifice for the good of others, and the Muslim philosophical view that the world and matter we love is not everything.

To achieve the true virtue (Birr) we are required to do good works such as to believe in the Almighty God, to believe in the coming of the Day of Resurrection, to believe in the prophets and apostles, helping poor people, establishing prayers and fasting, keeping good promise to Allah and mankind, and be patient when faced with trials and abominations (Al-Baqarah 177). 

So much quality is demanded from a Muslim in order to achieve this "Birr" predicate. One of these qualities is giving away some of our most loved ones to others. Why so? Because this is a measure of the faith and personality of a Muslim. Therefore, in order to attract men to do this one, at the end of Ali-Imran 92 Allah promises "and whatever you spend, Allah will always know it."

Before I put an end to this article, to be a model for all of us, let us recall what the companions of Abu Talhah Ansaari had done. This companion has one of the largest palm-gardens in Medina, the gardens that are the one he loves most. The Abu Talhah gardens are located in front of the Prophet's mosque where there is a large water source. Occasionally the Apostle entered the garden and drank water there. In addition to its beauty, the garden also brings financial benefits to its owners so often become the subject of many people's discussions.

When the verse above came down, Abu Talhah went to the Messenger and said: "This garden is mine the one I love most. Now I want to put it in the way of Allah". The Prophet accepted this infaq but then returned it and said: "I accept this garden and now I will give it back to you so that you will share it with your relatives and your family."

There are so many incredible tales that happen in connection with the event of the fall of this very noble verse. Fatimah the Apostle's princess presented her clothing on her wedding day when it came to her someone asked for a secondhand dress. Abdullah ibn Ja'far bought a garden and all its contents including a slave, then gave it all to the slave and liberated him after witnessing the slave giving three pieces of bread to his food to a dog who was starving. In this man's view of Abdullah, what the slave has done has proved this slave more noble than himself.

Everyone knows that giving something we love most is not a simple behavior. However, that's one of the measurements of "Birr." If only today we have not been able to do this, hopefully tomorrow or tomorrow Allah will open our hearts for this ultimate work ....!