Both the Bible and Quran emphatically emphasize that “righteous will be rewarded.” In the Quran(Surah 21:105-A. Yussuf Ali translation) says “ My servants, The righteous, shall inherit the earth.” The Bible(Psalms 37:29--Amplified) says “[Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
Islam means the submission to the Will of God. As a Muslim(one who practices Islam) they are obliged under the Five Pillars of Islam to perform charity-it is considered an act of worship and a form of social investment.
As in Christianity we have Tithes, Offerings, Sowing of Seeds, and First Fruits; Islam also has different types of giving Zakat, Sadaqah, Ata(giving) and Da’wah. One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.
Zakat means grow (in goodness) or ‘increase’, ‘purifying’ or ‘making pure’. According to Islam the act of giving zakat means purifying ones’ wealth to gain God’s blessings to make it grow in goodness. Zakat is the major economic means for establishing social justice and leading the Muslim society to prosperity and security.
Giving the Zakat is considered an act of worship because it is a form of offering thanks to God for the means of material well-being one has acquired. It is obligatory upon all Muslims to 2.5% of wealth, savings, and assets each year. It is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Sadaqah is a voluntary act of giving alms for the cause of God. It is for Muslims that want to contribute more than their obligatory Zakah payment. It may be given in periods of sadness or happiness as a sign of gratitude
Da’wah is also another form of charitable giving to the poor and needy.
Covenant With God
The basis for understanding the spiritual principles of wealth is first understanding that we have a covenant with God. And it is the love, respect ,obedience and desire to uphold this covenant with God that enables us to practice covenant principles.
All men who come to God are under a spiritual obligation-an implied covenant that is wholly based on the love God has for us. “And call in remembrance the favor of God unto you, and his covenant which he ratified with you, when ye said: ‘We hear and we obey’….”(Surah 5:8--A. Yussuf Ali translation)
In Genesis 9:9-12, God told Noah that “Behold , I establish My covenant or pledge with you and with your descendants after you….” In Genesis 17:7, God told Abraham that “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting, solemn pledge, to be a God to you and to your posterity after you.”
In the book of John 6 of the Bible and Surah 5 of the Quran Jesus tells the people to have faith; especially when Jesus shows them that God can send manna(bread) from heaven.
The Quran states that “…..The hand of God is over their hands: then anyone who violates his oath, does so to the harm of his own Soul, and any one who Fulfils what he has Covenanted with God, God will soon grant him a great reward.”(Surah 48:10-A. Yussuf Ali translation)
Giving
The Bible consistently tells Christians to give especially since it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. 2nd Corinthians 9:7(Amplified), explicitly states that “Let each one give as he has made up his own mind……..for God loves (he takes pleasure in , prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].”
The Quran indisputably gives so much of the same guidance. In (Surah 2:195-A. Yussuf Ali translation) says “ And spend of your substance in the cause of God, And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction…….”
(Surah 2:245-A. Yussuf Ali translation)says “Who is he that will loan to God a beautiful loan, which God will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is God that giveth (you) Want or Plenty and to him shall be your return.”
(Surah 2:265-A. Yussuf Ali translation) says “ And the likeness of those Who spend their substance, seeking to please God and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not heavy rain, light moisture sufficieth it. God seeth well whatever ye do.”
Sowing Seed
In the Bible, (1st Corint 3:7-Amplified) says “So neither he who plants is anything now he who waters, but [only] God who makes it grow and become greater.”
(Surah 56:63-64-A. Yussuf Ali translation) says “ See ye the seed that ye sow in the ground? Is it ye that cause it to grow, or are we the cause?”
Both holy books speak on making vows to God. (Surah 2:270)-King Fahd Cmplx translation) says “…..or whatever vow you make, be sure God knows it all……..” , (Psalms 61:5-Amplified) says “For You, O God, have heard my vows;………”
Wealth is a Promise
God wants us to be wealthy. In fact in Deuteronomy 28, he tells us that blessings will come upon us and overtake us. He will command blessings in all we undertake. He wants our wealth to be a sign to all people. In Genesis 12, God tells us that he will make our names famous and distinguished and we will be blessings (dispensing good to others).
In the Quran-Surah 48:20 says “God has promised you many gains that ye shall acquire and he has given you these beforehand and he has restrained the hands of men from you; that it may be a sign for the believers……”
God has infinite resources available to us. In the Bible in in (Isaiah 45:3-Amplified ), God says “And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places that you may know that it is I the Lord, the God……..”
This is interrelated to the Quran in Surah 48:21--King Fahd Cmplx translation) which states “And (other victories and much booty he promises you)which are not yet within your power; indeed God compasses them and God is Ever Able to do all things.”
Rain of Abundance
Throughout the Bible we are told that we can have the rain of abundance, in Deuterononmy 11:14, God tells us he will give us the early and latter rain so we many gather in our grain, new wine and oil.
This blessing from God is also consistent in the Quran(Surah 71:11-12--A. Yussuf Ali translation) says “ He will send rain to you in abudance; Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers(of flowing water).”
True charity is like a field with good soil that catches good showers of rain, and supposing the rain is not abundant, it catches dew that is sufficient for it- therefore a man of true charity is spiritually healthy. ( A Yussuf Ali)
