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Should the rich help the poor financially? I think so, especially in times of economic pressure. Especially in these un-precedented economic times.

Some may argue, that it is not their fault that others did not ensure their financial stability such as they did. Aha, in Islam, it is believed that your wealth comes from God, the Creator, and He only loaned to you what is rightfully His.

This loan is a test, as Allah has given it to you, to see what you will do with it. Muslims believe that on the day of Al-Qiyamah, the Day of Judgment, you will be asked how you earned your wealth and how you used it.

We all know that verse from the Bible, Luke 48-12 "to whom much is given, much is expected". So if God has endowed you with worldly blessings, it would behoove you to be fair and just in how it is used by you, indeed that is a heavy burden, which however, can be a wonderful blessing if the endowed one is intelligent, sincere and grateful enough to do good things with one's financial gift from the Almighty.

Some say that the wealth of the world is unevenly and unfairly distributed. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Yes, it does look this way, doesn't it? But it is my firm belief that we as members of the human race could and should help one another, as we should all "want for our brothers, what we want for ourselves."

As you are aware, this disparity is getting us nowhere. We need to help one another, right now. The Quran says in Al Anfal (The Spoils): 63 "He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers. And He has united their (i.e. believers') hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise."

In Islam, the third pillar of faith is to uphold "Zakah" Zakah is a portion of one's wealth that is mandatory to be given to the poor, especially by those who are financially able.

Zakah translated into English, means to purify or cleanse, so indeed Zakah is a good thing for one as it gives the opportunity yet again through God's mercy to get it right by our deeds. The giving of Zakah saves one from greed and selfishness and encourages us to be truthful and God-fearing in our financial dealings.

Another purpose is to help the poor and the needy and to assist other causes in the way of Allah (God). Muslims know that it is a profitable investment (and not a loss) to help the cause of Allah (God) because it will establish economic balance and social justice, and at the same time earn an immense reward in the Hereafter.

As said earlier, from the Islamic point of view, wealth belongs to Allah and is held by human beings in trust; so a person has no right to use it to satisfy his whims. He has to observe the Divine commandments here, as elsewhere.

For those whom Allah has blessed with wealth, it is a test; and Muslims should strive to pass this test by not becoming worshippers of hoarded wealth. They should rather use the wealth only in ways Allah has permitted and realize that the amount of Zakah to be given is not really their money but, rather, it belongs to those who have less than they do.

Zakah is one of those unique forms of worship that bring out both the individual and the social aspects of 'ibadah' (worship). Indeed the giving of Zakah has a positive bearing on socio-political values as it assists society from the ill feelings arising out of class distinction and distain, as poverty makes enemies for the rich.

The sharing of wealth allows people to sympathise with the hardships of the poor and the giving of Zakah fosters neither selfishness nor rejection. It also strengthens a sense of brotherhood and establishes social cohesion. In the end, it's all-good.

So let us give cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver! Ameen.[[In-content Ad]]

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