Let your kindness be wrapped in generosity

Sheikh Ali Al-Tantawi, may God have mercy on him, wrote:

I saw my daughter yesterday taking curry and rice in a tray, and alongside it she placed  some cucumber, brinjal, and apricot kernels.

When she was about to leave, I asked her: "Who is this for?"

She said: "It's for the watchman. Grandmother ordered me to give it him."

I said: "Bring some plates, put everything in a plate, arrange the tray, and add a glass of water with the spoon and knife." 

She did that and then went.

On her return, she asked me why I did that. I said: "Food is charity 'of money', but the arrangement is charity 'of emotions'."

"The first fills the stomach, and the second gladdens the heart."

"The first way makes the watchman feel that he is a beggar, and we sent him leftovers. While in the second manner, he feels that he is a close friend or an honorable guest."

"There is a huge difference between giving money and giving soul.This is precious near God, and near the poor." 

If only we were to possess even a fraction of the understanding and sensitivity of our predecessors!

The biblical phrase, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you', is actually an empathetic precept rooted in Islam.

 Our beloved Prophet said: "None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." A gentle reminder for us to not just be charitable, but to be compassionate and empathetic as well.

Let your kindness be wrapped in generosity and love, not in humiliation and insult.

Sheikh Abdus Salam al-Madani 

Founder,

Aspire College of Excellence (Chennai and Bangalore)