Lt. Col. Golam Towhid Al Kibria:

If you have a job and money in hand, you are a lucky person these days; many aren’t that fortunate. The pandemic has pushed 2.45 crore people into poverty in one year, according to a survey conducted by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, which was made public in April 2021. The survey also found that the rate of extreme poverty went up by four per cent in March this year. Who knows what happened after March till today! The trend doesn’t beget much optimism; however, we sincerely hope that it isn’t increasing exponentially.

Of late, many middle-class people who have never bought products from Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) trucks are seen crowding to buy essential commodities at low prices. These are unfortunate people; they have a status to maintain but don’t have enough money in hand. They queue for hours hiding their nervous faces behind their mask just to save some money. If the pandemic continues, the queue is likely to get longer and longer because earning money has become very difficult nowadays.

The government is doing its part by assuring a stimulus package for the ultra-poor and destitute families. Don’t we have any obligation as solvent citizens? If you have plenty of money, of course, you can do whatever you want. If you are rich enough, you can even explore space like the founder of Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Space Tourism Company named Blue Origin. The richest man alive, Bezos, spent about $5.5 million for roughly four minutes of weightlessness. With approximately $205 billion worth of money, it doesn’t really matter. But it matters a lot for those who earn 205 taka per day in Bangladesh, or for that matter, a little more or a little less than that.

If you are reading this, I suppose you have both spare time and pennies. For those who are leading a moderately comfortable life, this writing aims to give them something to ponder on – the power of charity. Our charity can significantly contribute to those who are devastated by the Corona pandemic; it can also make our life a little more meaningful. Our charity can support countless people who lost their jobs due to the Corona pandemic or those who live hand to mouth. It can help them to fight starvation, fulfil daily needs, help in medication, and return to a decent life.

Corona has hit us all hard. While monthly income has increased for some, it has decreased for most people. For charity, solvency is a requirement. There’s a way out even if your income has decreased. Have you marked that our tendency and practice of flaunting have downscaled? Think about the money we used to spend eating out for no reason.

How about the expenditure of inviting guests over for dinner every now and then?

How about the expenditure of buying gifts for attending thirteen festivals in twelve months (baro mashe tero parbon)! These have reduced significantly. The provision of a home office is also helping us to save travel expenses, isn’t it? There are other sectors as well; nevertheless, these are a few foods for thoughts from where we are already saving some pennies.

It only needs your sincerity, should you decide to do charity. We are facing a global crisis; even a small contribution can make a big difference. Think about the millions of ultra-poor and low and middle income people we can support with our charity. It is a religious obligation too. Charity is emphasised in all religions. Hindus believe that charity, helping others, or ‘daan’ is helping Brahman. Selfless charitable acts are seen as examples of Karma yoga. The importance of charity in Christianity is profound through several Bible quotes and verses.

Buddha once said, “If you knew what I know about daan (generosity), you would not let one meal go by without sharing it.” The ‘daan’ in Buddhism is the Pali term for giving, generosity and charity, and it is an integral part of the Buddhist ethos.

Islam teaches us to be humane all the time and insists that charity isn’t mercy or it’s not the sweet will of the rich at all. Islam proclaims that it’s the right of the poor. Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an, “And in their riches, the beggar and the dispossessed have what is truthfully their due.” (Sura Adh-Dhaariyat:19).

And if we meet the needs of our neighbours, then, Allah will meet our needs. Hadith decrees that whoever fulfils the need of his brother, Allah fulfils his need. (Sahih Bukhari 2442, Sahih Muslim 2560).

If you are sceptical regarding giving charity and sharing wealth with the poor, Islam assures otherwise. The Prophet (SM) said: “Charity does not decrease wealth.” (Sahih Muslim 6592, Sunan Tirmidhi 2029). If you have good intentions then you can do charity with simple things as well. The Prophet (SM) advised His Sahabi Abu Jarr that “O Abu Jarr! When you cook curry, increase its broth a little and share it with your neighbours.” (Sahih Muslim 2625).

Let’s take lessons from these; let’s open our hearts and do something for the greater good. Charity can generate a sense of accomplishment, fills hearts with divine pleasure, and make us increasingly better as human beings. Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Prophet (SM) said, “The giving (upper) hand is better than the receiving (lower) hand. The upper hand is one that gives and the lower hand is one that receives.” (Sahih Bukhari 1429, Sahih Muslim 1033). There are plenty of other verses of the Holy Qur’an and Sahih Hadith emphasising the significance of charity; however, here are just a few words in light of the current situation. In this epidemic, may we switch from sympathy to empathy; may we be blessed with grace and become the people with the ‘giving hand.’

The writer is a serving military officer