The writer, Sameer Murad Kermalli (Nairobi, Kenya) is a graphic designer, and photographer and has been involved in leadership and community service positions.
Islamic Ethics
In an Instagram reel, a man stands quietly with a tap credit card in his hand, waiting patiently for senior shoppers who probably live on a bare minimum at near poverty levels, waiting for them to fumble for cash after being told their bill at the cash register, and he swoops in casually and pays their bill for that day’s shopping. Gratitude is evident on their faces.
There are several ways to look at this story. There is a side that the man is doing this and videoing it to rake up views on Instagram or any social media platform, so that they can gain popularity – commonplace in this day and age. Alternatively, one can look at it as a gesture of good faith, a gesture of being able to assist those who cannot, and in the real sense of a good deed, not to expect anything in return from those he has helped – honest and humble. Without judgment, the first option can be looked at differently than just social media likes, and seen as a way to entice or encourage people who see such a video to say, I can do that too, even if it were for one person at the market who feels deserving.
The Qur´an is beautiful when one understands its policy aspects. Surah 2, verse 264 says
O believers! Do not waste your charity with reminders ?of your generosity? or hurtful words, like those who donate their wealth just to show off and do not believe in Allah or the Last Day. Their example is that of a hard, barren rock covered with a thin layer of soil, hit by heavy rain, leaving it just a bare stone. Such people are unable to preserve the reward of their charity.
Allah does not guide ?such? disbelieving people. Clearly, when donating or doing a good deed with the intention purely to gain accolades from humans around us, it has no merit beyond that. The verse is clear in reminding us of the basic principles of the religions, faith in the lord and the day of reckoning – if the foundation is not there, building on it is impossible, or as the verse continues to explain.
The instagram reel can be looked at in this way – in the way Imam Ali a.s said to make 70 excuses; the man was taught by his mother to be altruistic, helping without seeking benefit [Surah 7 verses 7-10], accepting the role of the lords intermediary, for he is the provider and trickling those favors down only elevates the giver more and keeps him from the torment of the day of reckoning. Giving with the intention that the lord sees, and is happy with this, and finally giving so that they can share happiness in the eyes and hearts of others. Surah 2, verse 271 says
To give charity publicly is good, but to give to the poor privately is better for you, and will absolve you of your sins. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do. Allah is aware of intentions in our hearts before our intellect can perceive them.
What humans may deem as showoff, could hold more merit than imaginable, and what can be done in the darkest hours of the night can be diminished by reminders or hurtful words – or actions that can remain hidden to human eyes but not the Lord’s.
Surah 9, verse 54 says
And what prevented their donations from being accepted is that they have lost faith in Allah and His Messenger, they never come to prayer except half-heartedly, and they never donate except resentfully.
When we know and understand the lord, when we can fathom that there is nothing without his bounties, and we have faith in him and his messengers – prayers are the connector to him, calming the soul so it can return, the acceptance that the scriptures and policy manuals that came with the messengers and the admonition and reminders brought by the prophets are adhered to, then the intention of overall gratitude make apparent hidden knowledge as well; the recipient – for raising their hands in the praise of the merciful provider, the intermediary – for being given the means and the opportunity to be able to fulfil a task that does not remain unpaid by the lord, and the lord for his mercy passing through those who he calls the best of stature [Surah 95 Verse 4], given clear instructions to ponder upon.
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