Charity: Love in Action

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
-Lao Tzu-

Charity is an act of love. Charity is giving out of love without expecting to be repaid.

Often we hear, that we hear about declaration to world peace. No peace can be achieved if we do not understand the true meaning of charity. Rather than stealing from our brothers, we should share our wealth with our less fortunate brothers, whether they are black or white, male or female. Mankind are of the same root, thus it makes us brothers.

O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (i.e he is one of the pious). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Aware.
-Quran 49:13-

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
-Mother Teresa-

Furthermore, God loves the charity doers.

In Buddhism, in order to attain Buddhahood, it is important to cultivate the 6 paramita (as Buddha preached in the Lotus Sutra), and the first paramita is Dana paramita, which means generosity and giving of oneself.

Those who spend (in Allah's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Musinun (the good-doers).
-Quran 3:134-

Then Jesus said to his host, ""When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
-Luke 14:12-14 NIV-


How are we to give we have no money?

Often, we misunderstand that giving or doing charity means giving material good. Charity is not always material. Charity is not always saving a hungry nation from famine. Charity can be a simple act. A smile can also be charity. Helping an old lady crossing the street is also an act of charity. If we give in the name of God, surely, God will bless the righteousness in His way.

No one has ever become poor by giving
-Anne Frank-

Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given.
-Mother Teresa-

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
-Mother Teresa-

It is important that charity is done in modesty. Sending aids to the needy and later shouting about it is no charity. Giving to the poor in order to gain a reputation as a kind person, is the lowest act. God does not value the act of charity with an intention. Jesus tells us that charity should be done in secret and surely God will reward the good doers (Matthew 6:1-4).

When Jesus told us that we should not store up for ourselves treasures on earth but storing our treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). What did Jesus meant?

Jesus urges us not to cling on to the material gain on earth. Making big gains and hiding all the money in your own bank account does not pay off, in the sight of God. Spending your wealth to help the needy, is a way to cure our greediness and depositing our wealth into the treasure chest in heaven.

The third pillar of Islam, Compulsory Charity (paying Zakat), is a wonderful act. Zakat means purification. It purifies our wealth and our heart of greed, by sharing 2.5% of an individual wealth and assets. If everyone followed Islam and pays Zakat each year, our wonderful world will be free from poverty and peace will be on earth.

The Quran emphasizes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, helping those who are in need, and the more one helps, the more God helps the person, and the more one gives, the more God gives the person.
-http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/46/-

Thus, do not shout about world peace. Love can only the realized through act of kindness. Peace starts with charity. Start with little act of kindness. Start it at home and do not let it ends there.


-Proper faith-


(Proper faith thanks www.brainyquote.com for the quotes by Anne Frank, Mother Teresa and Lao Tzu)