By the Book

There was once a man who was chosen by God. Chosen to receive a message, and given the mission to transmit this message. The first word that Allah revealed to the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) was IQRA. A word that carries multiple meanings. However, the 2 commonly cited meanings are to "read" or to "recite". God states further that He has taught man, using words/books, taught man what he knew not...

So, books, language and speech come from God.

These words that you are reading, originate from God. Now, a discerning person will of course state that everything does come from God, everything has it's origins in God. I wonder though... if these words come from God, if everything comes from God, and everything will return to God and in fact, nothing is ever separate from God...

Then did I play any part in writing this?

Of course I did, that's the true paradox here and it is a paradox that has been created by us. If I did not play a role in writing this page, then I am exempt from blame for any errors made on it. That is a tempting thought isn't it? Whatever you do, you are truly blameless. You cannot be held accountable for doing anything

That's also incredibly dangerous, but isn't it true?

No, it isn't. It cannot be.

I was playing a video game, where everything is made as realistically as possible, an entire world, created so that one can live within it. The only thing was that characters are driven to make unethical choices in order to progress quickly. If you live within your current ethical guidelines, you'll be stuck and won't truly get to enjoy the many pleasures of the world... and your reward? Absolutely none.

If our world played the same way, I may agree that we truly are not accountable.

However, it doesn't. Those who cheat do wind up ahead many times, those who make unethical choices do gain more toys it seems at times. However, the opposite is also true. Living a good, ethical life carries so many rewards. Living a life filled with goodness, doing good for others, living for others and serving others brings so much joy and happiness.

If there was truly no accountability for our actions, there would also be no rewards for them. Being good to others would not bring joy. Service for the weak would not elevate some deep, innate part of the self. Waking up at 3 in the morning to meditate would not benefit the self and would only steal precious hours of sleep.

We are given rewards while we live on this world, so that we become aware of some of the proofs of God's existence. It can be argued that these bits of joy, happiness are actually from our evolutionary history where altruism and working for the good of the community was encouraged to further survival... and this is likely true, but doesn't it seem like an awfully convenient situation?

I don't really believe in coincidences, I choose instead to believe in a benevolent, invisible, all-powerful force that guides and nurtures everything that is good within me and within others.

After all is said and done, I think I'll go by the book on this one.

Charity

Giving is a great thing, when we give we feel amazing!

A big part of this is rooted in our motivation for giving. Most of us willingly give to causes or individuals that we feel "deserve" it, or those who truly, "need" it. I put the above in quotation marks because my personal definitions of "deserve" and "need" will no doubt differ from yours, some would say that that new Louis Vuitton bag is a need, others would say drinking water is a need... you get the picture.

As I was saying, the motivation for giving... We are motivated by our perception of requirement. If we believe someone needs something, we are likely to give and to help them. Most of us want to help others, we just differ in our definitions of how best to help and when help is truly needed or desired.

However, there are a few problems with the above. If we don't see that an individual or a group needs help, they often get overlooked. Look at the poorest members of our societies in North America, they are often completely overlooked. We have beggars in the streets, we have children who must skip meals. Even more poignantly, look at those in other countries... Oftentimes, we fail to see need and requirement in our own streets... how could we possibly see it on the other side of the world?

The Persian poet Saadi once wrote,

The children of Adam are limbs of each other

Having been created of one essence.

When the calamity of time afflicts one limb

The other limbs cannot remain at rest.

If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others

You are not worthy to be called by the name of "man".

Charity is a way that we have to express humanity, it is a way in which we can share what we have with other parts of our whole... we are not truly individuals, we are a collective. When one part of the collective feels pain, the entire body should... but it doesn't. Our ability to communicate with each other, to share our pain seems diminished. Nowadays, we have the ability to communicate with almost anyone, anywhere, anytime... however our ABILITY to communicate seems to have vanished. We are able to hold meaningful monologues, we can even dialogue with others... but expressing emotion? Expressing love? These things aren't the same.

Expressing emotions in our society today has become very commercialized... Do you love her? Then buy her a ring or flowers! That's the best way to show it. Are you happy for another? Get them a spa package. Appreciate your mother? Buy her this set of knives.

Charity is becoming the same... I met a woman today who asked for food... but if you truly looked into her eyes, she needed hope.

Don't let charity be a simple handout to make yourself feel better. Don't let the opportunity to give be overshadowed by the benefit you receive. Each of us is a part of a whole, so give and give freely and happily. It is food for the soul.