Social psychology teaches us that when human beings sacrifice for the sake of a person or cause, their attachment and loyalty for that person or cause increases. Allah teaches us that when we give up something for His sake, He replaces it with something greater. Often we expect that 'something greater' to be some material thing--and it may be. But the greatest of all gift is not in the material replacement. It is in His nearness. It is in the increased attachment we develop with Him because of the sacrifice itself! Thus our sacrifice for God is not a gift from us to Him. It is a gift from Him to us! Allahu akbar!

Don't think of the trials in your life ('balaa') as just a 'test' in the human form. Allah is not like a professor who hands you a test, moves away and just watches from afar to see how you'll do. Allah is our murabee--the One who raises us with more mercy than a mother raises a child. The Prophet (pbuh) tells us that when Allah wills good for someone, He sends them 'balaa' (trials or tests). When Allah wills good for us, He purifies us. That is why each person is tested in what they love most. In other words our greatest possible 'competitor' in our love for God is what is withheld or must be sacrificed. This is the purification process because it cures the heart of competitors. Why was Pro

Give charity (ṣadaqa) continuously, especially when you are at your prime. The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked, 'What is the best type of charity?' He replied, 'That you give charity while you are in full health and good circumstance (ṣaḥīḥ), wanting to preserve your wealth (shaḥīḥ), worrying about lack of money and desiring to get rich! And that you don't wait until you are on your death bed, at which point you will say: 'Give this amount to that person,' and 'Give this amount to that other person,' even though [at that stage] it is effectively with those others anyway' [Bukhari]. Nothing repels Divine Anger like giving secret charity; and nothing demonstrates your

Selfless Giving

What do you value the most in your life right now? Time? Money? A particular skill you have? Your profession? How can you 'spend' that for Allah? In this verse, Allah reminds us that true piety is to give the things we hold most dear. To sacrifice something that you hold value to. The incentive in doing so is driven by the hope of attaining ‘Birr’ which is true righteousness. Why is attaining Birr important? It's because Allah says in 83:22. The truly righteous will live in bliss. When we think of ‘spending’ what usually comes to mind first is finances, but there are many other ways we can contribute for Allah’s sake. We can offer our time to those who are in need of i