So each day, you and I go about our business and while on the road, give away to these unfortunate souls who go from car to car at each traffic signal demanding from you in God’s name to give on your children’s/parent’s/whoever’s behalf. And having given in this way we somehow justify to ourselves our wealth and that at the end of it all that God has a plan. Of course, he does, you don’t have to give alms to figure that one out.
But we all wonder at some point or another — where does all the money go?
You give to the poor and you are not the only one who gives, so it is safe to say that by the end of the day any beggar would have collected some X amount of money. And even after taking away a certain amount for food, accommodation (assuming that these people don’t live on the street) the money must start to accumulate. But the question is why there is no change in the state these people find themselves in. Ever wonder about that? So beyond the momentary alleviation of misery your money has not done anyone any good.
Then there is the charity that you dispense closer to home. All ladies of the house will no doubt nod when they read the following. Your maasi has to marry off her youngest son, who lives in the pind/gaon and she will not be coming from the next day for the next month so that she can go home and make all the arrangements. Oh and by the way, if begum sahib would be as kind as to pay her this and next month’s salary in advance.
You oblige, after all she is poor, and has been working for you for the last couple of years, and she hasn’t really broken anything (yet) nor has she been caught lifting anything — all in all a good soul. And once again you reconcile yourself that you have done a good deed. You have given to the needy from the bounty (read money) that God has bestowed on you.
This would all be perfect if it ended there which it unfortunately doesn’t. A few weeks later it might be your driver or chowkidar with a similar request. And so this never ending cycle of giving goes on and on; and once again the benefits gained are momentary in the larger scheme of things.
A little farther from your immediate surroundings, you may end up dropping in some money in the collection box fitted to the roving ambulances of one free ambulance service, or perhaps to any one of the charities operating in your city.
Even the government wants you to give zakat, every Ramazan, rather forcefully I have always thought. Shouldn’t it be up to me where and to whom I give my zakat rather than the government take it from me? Think about it. Yes, there are ways around it, but why should those ways have to be employed in the first place.
By now you probably think that this guy hates to give. On the contrary it’s not that. The point that needs to be explored is whether the charity we give makes a difference in the lives of those who we give to. In the case of beggars or your servants, well does it? Are you even sure that your money wasn’t spent on a joint later that evening.
We need to redefine our concept of charity and move away from its monetary form. Easier said than done because we as a nation are quick to reach into our pockets but slow to bring a smile to our face. We would rather give a complete stranger money rather than smile at our neighbour and ask him/her how they are doing?
Think about it, a smile that makes someone feel better, isn’t that also charity. Perhaps helping someone whose car is stuck in the middle of the road and won’t start (rather than watching the tamasha), isn’t that charity?
Or perhaps you are walking down the road and come up on sharp rock, and decide to move it to the side clearing the way for those who might follow you — guess what — charity!
The point is that we need to find other ways of being charitable. What about forgiving? It is too easy to give cash and absolve ourselves of any further responsibility. Giving away cash is obviously helpful but remember at times a helping hand or a kind word go farther than any amount of money that you might give.
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