Have you come across the Lifewheel yet? It’s a really useful tool that many coaches use with their clients to help them to get a clearer picture of their life. (If you haven’t seen one yet, request a copy of my eBooklet: Can Coaching Help Me? from the sidebar of my website.) One of the areas that it looks at is how satisfied people are with their contribution to society. It’s an area that stumps many people, and they really have to dig deep to find something that they do for others, without expecting a return.
The reason I include this section in my Life Wheel is because sadaqa (voluntary giving) is not only highly recommended by Islam, but it is also a very important aspect of self-development and growth. It's part of the stage where it stops being all about you and what you want and it starts being about what you can give to others. Once you take that step amazing rewards start to follow and you not only grow in stature, but in wealth (of many different kinds) as well.
The followers of The Secret and the Laws of Attraction claim that this type of response is the Universe repaying you, whereas we know that it is Allah (subhanahu wa-ta'ala), as He says:
"Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 245)
So we have nothing to fear in giving.
When you are just starting to grow and develop you may feel that you can't afford to give any money to others. This is quite a natural feeling, but the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) taught us that: “The best of all charity is that you give it while you are healthy and desirous (of that money), hoping to become wealthy but fearing poverty.” (Abu Dawud) The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also assured us that: "No wealth (of a Servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity." (Al-Tirmidhi)
To make it easy for you to make a contribution, I’ve included a couple of Islamic Relief logos on the CoachAmal site (one in this post and the other on the sidebar) that link straight to the organization's website. (Please be assured that I gain no financial benefit from this.) From what I can see and from the personal contact I’ve had with Islamic Relief, it’s a sound charity and well managed. It’s also involved in a wide variety of projects, and gives you the chance to choose where you want your money to go.
Please try to give what you can, no matter how small, and if you absolutely can’t make a donation right now, remember that: "Every good act is charity. Your smiling at your brother is an act of charity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
~Sister~ If you're ready to make important changes in your life, ask for a phone / Skype coaching consultation to discuss how we could work together on this
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