Re: Good Non-Muslim People
Peace tweety_pie
To be a Muslim is the surest way to be granted Paradise, because even if we have to serve a punishment the final destination is Paradise.
It is true atheists can do many things to make themselves feel happy, but when they give charity one asks what are they doing it for then?
They don’t believe in Paradise so why rid yourself of wealth that you can spend on yourself to make yourself feel happy? The real answer lies in ethics or the fitra, which contains within it a tenent that is our natural need to help one another, we do help one another because Allah (SWT) has placed within us a conscience such that if we see others in pain or anguish it makes us feel that pain and anguish, some people do some people don’t it depends on their sense of humanity, which is based on a given upbringing and education.
It is usually for a selfish reason why a Godless person thus gives and would in that case give either to feel that pain lessen or to feel a sense of pride in helping others. When a believer in God gives and does so not in pursuit of this natural need, but in hope and fear … in faith to please Allah (SWT) then the side-effect of feeling good will naturally occur, but then this feeling should be handled carefully i.e. it should not enter our heart that we are helping anyone, rather we should humble ourselves and feel that God helps whomsoever He Wills. It is this mindset that is preferable to God and it is this that is called the goodness in a good deed. Though generally speaking I agree all people can do good deeds without belief in God but the motive behind those deeds are critically different. Also, you will find that the more rational atheists and the ones that adhere to the scientific precepts and base life on the workings of evolution, they are not likely to be the ones giving charity because for them and according to their understanding the weak and poor are in a position that should be wiped out to give way for the strong to dominate and prosper. It is the philosophical atheist that takes a different stance with regards to helping others.
Humans are essentially selfish because we have to be that is the proviso for any action that we undertake, I guess faith is delayed selfishness and materialism is immediate gratification. Faith is also optimal happiness whereas worldliness is convenient happiness. The question to ask is … can a non-believer give charity even if it causes him hardship in the process?
Beautiful answer Br. Psyah. Infact just yesterday I was discussing with a brother at some gathering who was giving me the argument about the essentials of humanity being present in all religions so our good deeds should be for helping humanity. Same old argument about How can people like Mother Teresa go to hell and he did not understand the difference between helping someone and helping for the sake of Allah SWT. Your answer really puts it very well.
