Ramadan Reflections: Day 17 Nafs Hack with Ain’t Afraid

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Nafs Hack: Give What You Have

Assalam alaikum! It’s Ain’t Afraid here with your Nafs Hack for today.

Growing up, our mother kept us around the masjid. She wanted to teach us our religion. She wanted to instill Islamic values within us, like charity, even though we were a poor family.

I remember when we were younger and we used to go to Muslim gatherings in the masjid, and the imam or the organizers would ask the community for donations. It was a tradition for us to go to our mother so she’d give us something to give in the basket—whether it be .50 or $1.

She later told us that she did this because she never wanted us to feel the pain that she felt when she had nothing to give. Even though our mother never had much to give out of her wealth, she always gave something out of herself. And she taught us to do the same.

The same masjids we were unable to financially help, we cared after. Those Ramadan nights when we couldn’t afford to feed people, we bought drinks and cleaned after. For events we couldn’t financially assist, we volunteered for. We brought supplies from our own home to clean the masjid, from the shoe room to the musallah.

When we could, we gave out of the money we had. And subhan’Allah, that is what it’s all about—giving what you can.

If you have it, then give it, for surely Allah (SWT) has blessed you with those means.

And if you don’t, do not despair. Any charity that you do does not go unnoticed by Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an (2:110), “Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will certainly find its reward with Allah (SWT).”

The hack is to find something to give, whether it be a smile, your time, sincere advice, or your wealth. Find something. Ramadan Mubarak!