Helping Out People is Highly Rewarded if the Intention is to Please Allah.
Answered by Imam Yama Niazi
Question:
Helping out people is highly rewarded if the intention is to please Allah.
Answer:
Virtues of serving or helping others
The Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) said, “If anyone relieves a Muslim believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. If anyone makes it easy for the one who is indebted to him (while finding it difficult to repay), Allah will make it easy for him in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, and if anyone conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps His slave as long as he helps his brother.” [Muslim]
Rejecting a request
While the Prophet Muhammad [peace and blessings be upon him] never turned anyone away, at times, he would send them to someone who could help if he couldn’t without rejecting them or saying no.
You can direct them to who can help them if you can’t. If saying no is hard, you can let them know that if you have time, you can contact them to inform them if you can help them.
You will have to learn to say no and bring balance to your own health and sanity at a certain point. Do not take on more than you can handle!
Sincerity
Everything you do, do it for the sake of Allah. Therefore, the hope for reward should be only from Allah. If you did it for Allah, then you shouldn’t have any feelings of resentment. Make dua to Allah to make it easy for you and also to grant you sincerity.
As for when it is your mother who asks you for help, and you are unable to fulfill her request or need, then ask to be excused and make sure she doesn’t become angry. Prioritize your mother’s request over the others.
Conclusion
Take it one week at a time and slowly work on balancing your time between prioritizing the most important people with the most critical matters.
Make your intention for Allah and ask for His help, and do not take on more than what you can comfortably.
Allah knows best.
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
