Sadaqa Dynamics

We all know of the numerous benefits of giving charity/sadaqa. But what is the dynamics of the givers mind?

 I recently interviewed Qamar Khan-Malik to learn how she coordinated a very successful dawah-charity drive. I asked her to list some of the reasons & factors that encourage people to donate. She offered some very good points that answer the above question.

 People are willing & happy to give if:

 * they trust the people they  are donating to,

* they feel the project will bring them much rewards,

* they believe the project they are giving to will follow up with what they promised,

* they know their contribution will make a great impact on others,

* they see the outcome and fruits of the cause they are giving to.

 Recently due to some work, I was made privy to classified information – a record of funds management of an online sadaqa promotion organization called HalfDate.

I will not go into the specifics, but, what I saw in it, made me realize the difference between fair work and fine work.

 What was so outstanding? It was the fact that their dealing, accounting & management was done on a level of excellence. It was done with Ihsaan.

 MashaAllah laquwwata illah billah. Perhaps, that is the reason for their continued success and growth. For where there is ihsaan, there is barakah.

 Lets join the barakah brigade.

                                                                                    http://halfdate.com/currentdrive/

 

Parallel Worlds

                                                      

You enter the room full of faces.

It’s drizzling in the other world.

You put on a smile so bright; it makes your eyes sparkle.

It’s drizzling in the other world.

You meet and greet every face with animated gestures.

It’s drizzling in the other world.

You even joke around, to the delight of others.

It’s still drizzling.

Then, you hear something – a word – in the buzz of the chatting faces.

Your heart leaps, skips a beat. Your face drains of color for a split second. Your stomach knots.

It’s pouring hard in the other world.

You regain your composure immediately. You look around discreetly to see if anyone noticed. The crowd of jolly faces swim around you in a mist – oblivious, busy in their animated discussions.

It’s pouring really hard now.

You take a deep breath and join the crowd – determined – once again. With more effort, you put on an even bigger smile. But your eyes don’t glisten with it anymore.

The water level is rising in the other world.

You look down and play around with the food on your plate.

You try to comprehend what the face next to you is saying.

Your mind wonders at that single word that was innocently hurled, like a stone, at the glass wall that separated the two worlds.

You worry about the crack in that wall now. You worry about the rising levels. You worry about the pressure on that crack.

The rain is pouring so hard that you can’t hear the words of the face next to you.

You sip your drink, hoping to gain enough strength to support the wall from caving in. It helps – a little.

You hurriedly give goodbye kisses to the smiling faces.

The wall shatters just as you turn.

Both worlds meet with a collision.

The raging waters, long held back, inundate everything in its path.

A heavy storm ensues.

You are just glad that the celebrating faces are behind you.

You long for solitude. A Solitude in the company of the One who Sees All and Hears All – the One who knows the states of the parallel worlds.   

 

“ اللهم إني عبدك ابن عبدك ابن أمتك ناصيتي بيدك،ماضِ في حكمك ، عدل في قضاؤك ،أسألك بكل اسم هو لك سميت به نفسك أو أنزلته في كتابك ، أو علمته أحداً من خلقك أو استأثرت به في علم الغيب عندك أن تجعل القرآن ربيع قلبي ، ونور صدري ،وجلاء حزني وذهاب همي “

{Hisn AlMuslim, Ahmad 1/391}