Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 232
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 8 232 The Third Mark of a Muttaq i Then another sign of the muttaq i [a righteous one] is set forth َو اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر َنْوُقِفْنُي َو اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر َنْوُقِفْنُي [ wa mimm a razaqn a hum yunfiq u na ]; that is to say, they spend [in the way of Allah] from whatsoever We have provided for them. This is the initial state which every- one shares in common since it is universally an obligation upon human nature that if a beggar comes to someone, he inevitably gives him something or another. If there are ten slices of bread at home, and some beggar comes asking, then he will give one slice to him as well. This matter is not because of guidance but an innate feature of human nature. One should also remem- ber that here اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر َنْوُقِفْنُي اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر َنْوُقِفْنُي [ mimm a razaqn a hum yunfiq u na— spend out of what We have provided for them] is generic. It does not refer to any particular item, money, or food and clothing; instead, they keep spending something or other from whatever Allah the Exalted has given them. Therefore, this spending is routine spending, and for this there is no requirement to be a Muslim or a non-Muslim. This spending is of two types. One is intrinsic, and the other is under the influence of prophethood. The intrinsic [spending] is the same as I have just explained. Who is there among you that if a prisoner, or a hungry man who has not eaten for days, or some- one unclothed, approaches you and asks [for your help], but you refuse to give him something or the other? It is because such action is inherent in nature. And I have also explained that اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر [ mimm a razaqn a- hum— what We have provided for them] is not specific to money, whether it is physical or intellectual; everything is included in it. He who gives from knowledge is also included. He who gives from wealth is also included. He, who is a doctor, is also included.