Pay it forward (DW#412)
Sura Qassas: and do good (to others) as Allah has done good to you[28:77]
This verse, addressed to the rich despot Qarun, reminds him that the bounties that he has been granted are a gift from God, to be used in good works and charity. That he should be a conduit of these blessings, keeping the flow of blessings going by passing some of them on to those in need, rather than hoarding them all for himself.
Qarun believed that what he had was solely a result of his own hard work. He failed to see that the abundance of blessings can be a test to see how we will use these blessings. He forgot about all those who could have benefited from sharing in the blessings that were granted to him and instead he squandered them in meaningless ways and to feed his whims and passions.
The lesson for us is this: whatever we have been granted of material, intellectual or social bounties are a trust from Him. These gifts need to be engaged as a force for good in this world rather than hoarded solely for our own personal consumption and pleasure.
A spiritual perspective in life means that we recognize that we are simply guardians of what we have been blessed with – a conduit – a means by which these blessings can be spread for good on this planet.
So let us recognize what good has been done to us:
1) Is it money or financial resources?
2) Bodily strength or ability?
3) Knowledge?
4) Social connections? A position of power and authority?
5) Some other gift or ability?
6) A life of ease and plenty?
7) Time to spare?
How are we paying some of these blessings forward? How much are we sharing with our brothers in faith and in humanity? Is the world better off because we have been granted these blessings?
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