Self-sacrifice
Those who think that life is restricted to this earthly life do not
put themselves out for others unless they stand to get something out
of it, and they will not take the initiative to help someone in need. This
is because they do not realise that we will receive perfect recompense
in the afterlife for the good and the evil we have done in this world. In
some verses of the Qur'an, Allah draws our attention to their perverse
way of thinking:
Truly man was created headstrong in greed. (Surat al-Ma'arij: 19)
Have you seen him who turns away and gives little, and that
grudgingly? (Surat an-Najm: 33-34)
As for those who are tight-fisted and direct others to be tight-
fisted, and hide the bounty Allah has given them, We have pre-
pared a humiliating punishment for those who disbelieve. (Surat
an-Nisa': 37)
A person must rid himself of the selfishness and meanness of his
self. In this regard, our Lord reveals the following:
So have taqwa of Allah, as much as you are able to, and listen and
obey and spend for your own benefit. It is the people who are
safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are suc-
cessful. (Surat at-Taghabun: 16)
For this reason, a person who lives according to the teachings of
the Qur'an will avoid selfishness and make an effort during the day to
share what he owns with others around him. For example, he will take
pleasure in sharing his food with someone who is hungry. He will
happily give prized possessions to someone whose need for them is
greater than his own. He will give whatever is surplus to his needs to
the needy (Surat al-Baqara: 219). He knows that he will receive a
greater reward for it in the afterlife. In the Qur'an, Allah shows us the
exemplary behaviour in this regard of the Companions of our Prophet:
160
24 Hours in the Life of a Muslim
i
i
li
