All your excess to charity? or just some?
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Brother, i think what you're talking about is ZAKAT. One of the forms of zakat can be giving money for purifying yourself, maybe from sins, past offenses etc (921
Charity also atones for sins, especially anonymous charity (2271)You can give whatever you like, however, please do not overspend. Let me tell you, with charity, the fear would be from overspending. If you already are a generous/charitable person, then do not fear.
As long as you have spent from what God has provided you, and not hoard it all for yourself only (3180, 935) -
Brother, i think what you're talking about is ZAKAT. One of the forms of zakat can be giving money for purifying yourself, maybe from sins, past offenses etc (921
Charity also atones for sins, especially anonymous charity (2271)I know that I brought that in XD but it was for the sake of comparing it to modern tax systems. Considering Zakat is considered obligatory and given in the form of money, that in itself is how the tax system goes. Thus simply following the law by doing your taxes and paying them already gets it done eh?
But does doing charity in this case cover Zakat as well? considering the charity we were talking about is the voluntary type. Regardless, so as long as I am doing my taxes or rather buying things (which automatically takes 13%) then I am covered charity wise?
You can give whatever you like, however, please do not overspend. Let me tell you, with charity, the fear would be from overspending. If you already are a generous/charitable person, then do not fear.
As long as you have spent from what God has provided you, and not hoard it all for yourself only (3180, 935)Well i'm not worried about overspending XD I am more worried about underspending considering I have enough extras left which I always use to buy video games. Thus as long as I am spending something even if its not too much and not hoarding the rest I am fine? (especially considering the tax that is cut from me automatically XD) So by your word would you agree that when 2219 mentioned excess, that it was rather referring to spend from the excess and not ALL of the excess, which means we can spend some of it on enjoying life ourselves too?
Also thanks so far ^_^ i'm starting to feel better
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Charity is one thing and is mandatory and is what you are really discussing with what the excess means and who to give it too, etc.
Zakat is something a bit different in my opinion. I believe Zakat is more about growing spiritually and purifying yourself by upholding and applying God's teachings in your life and charity is just a part of that.
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Well, how much do you spend on video games?
If it's not thousands of dollars, then it might be fine...
you can have some luxury into your life, solomon had kingship, he even missed his prayer for his luxury.recreation might be fine as long as it's not wreck-creation.
If you've already paid taxes, (please be a rightful witness and state your real income on the tax forms 4135) + you have taken care of stashing some savings, then the rest of your money can be for yourself.
However, i would advise to maybe finding another hobby than video games! I myself used to spend a considerable amount of time on Runescape, then i stopped....
try free charity online like care2.com and advertising for free online etc volunteering etc.Set your priorities, do you want this life or the next?
you could have both if you want, but one should set priorities, and seek to stain self betterment. -
Well, how much do you spend on video games?
If it's not thousands of dollars, then it might be fine...
you can have some luxury into your life, solomon had kingship, he even missed his prayer for his luxury.Well over the many years since I was a child, I have spent thousands XD Course I spend a decent amount of games nowadays still but through the 13% tax of Canada for each game, that is an offering right there aside from the other things i'm doing at the moment.
That is true about Solomon. He bought himself perfect horses to have fun with with the money given him to by God.
If you've already paid taxes, (please be a rightful witness and state your real income on the tax forms 4135) + you have taken care of stashing some savings, then the rest of your money can be for yourself.
Sounds good, coruse being unemployed at the moment the only tax I pay is through the 13% for every purchase I make
However, i would advise to maybe finding another hobby than video games! I myself used to spend a considerable amount of time on Runescape, then i stopped....
try free charity online like care2.com and advertising for free online etc volunteering etc.Oh I do other things too, video games are just my absolute favourite XD Film making is one thing, another includes movies, chilling with friends, helping my mother, etc...
Set your priorities, do you want this life or the next?
you could have both if you want, but one should set priorities, and seek to stain self betterment.Set your priorities, do you want this life or the next?
you could have both if you want, but one should set priorities, and seek to stain self betterment.Well I clearly want the next life, which is why I do good deeds, I try to avoid sin, expand my knowledge and try to gain further points with Salat and Charity. Of course we are not doing traditional Islam, thus this is an easy religion so far. Of course considering 1 good deed is equal to 10 bad ones, things are also easier cause of that. Helping people add on to the good deed counter, and giving charity as we discussed is a big benefactor, of course the explanation of how our modern tax system is a form a charity is pretty amazing and thus we are automatically getting points that way too. Back then I assume such a system wasn't in place which is why one could completely absorb their wealth without a single bit going to the poor. I love modern times ^_^
Course this makes me wonder, if a person who doesn't sin and thus he doesn't have to do much good deeds? therefore doesn't have to do charity and such. Course I don't think such a person exists but hypothetically that is an interesting idea.
Regardless, based on what i've said, would you say I am doing things fine? cause I'm unsure of myself still at the moment.
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Salaam,
Just a quick word. My advice is, do not treat your good deed and bad deed like your credit card balance. E.g. as long as the saving (good deed) is greater than spending (bad deed), it's OK. Such attitude will take away the sincerity of your action.
Only God knows the weight of your action. You may think a certain deed will score you 100 brownies points from God, but in fact, God will only give you 20, or something like that. Only God knows best.
What you can do is striving as best as you can.
Remember, the believers are those who strive with their wealth, and being. Not just "limited" to what can get them to heaven.
Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant.
Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for lo! aforetime they were doers of good; They used to sleep but little of the night, And ere the dawning of each day would seek forgiveness, And in their wealth the beggar and the outcast had due share. And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure.
Salaam.
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Salaam,
Just a quick word. My advice is, do not treat your good deed and bad deed like your credit card balance. E.g. as long as the saving (good deed) is greater than spending (bad deed), it's OK. Such attitude will take away the sincerity of your action.
Only God knows the weight of your action. You may think a certain deed will score you 100 brownies points from God, but in fact, God will only give you 20, or something like that. Only God knows best.
But God has specifically said one good deed is worth 10 bad ones. I'm just stating what the Quran has stated.
Salaam,
What you can do is striving as best as you can.
Remember, the believers are those who strive with their wealth, and being. Not just "limited" to what can get them to heaven.
Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant.
Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for lo! aforetime they were doers of good; They used to sleep but little of the night, And ere the dawning of each day would seek forgiveness, And in their wealth the beggar and the outcast had due share. And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure.
Salaam.
But remember that getting into heaven is what anyone tries to aim for, thus yeah giving money gets you a lot of points with God to help your case. Afterall God has stated as well that one with a lot of rightous deeds gets into heaven, thus the more money you give the better your chances are. Course rightous deeds include many things, so it doesn't even have to be money even though that is best but any rightous deed. Course God has said not to give too much money, thus we can enjoy the good things in life like too Plus the tax system we have nowadays does a wonderful job of it XD
But just in case, what is your opinion on what I just said? Also is what i'm doing in your opinion fine?
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Salaam,
I understand where you are coming from when it concerns good deeds and bad deeds, an getting into heaven. What I was trying to convey, is that do not over-calculate your deeds. e.g. "I just gave away money, that equals xxx brownies points, I should be fine", etc. Do not put that way of thinking, because it will put limitations on what you can do as a believer.
Don't think if "it's enough", or "if I'm fine." Just strive as much as you can. That is what I was saying.
I cannot say whether what you're doing is fine, because I do not see with my own eyes what you do in your day-to-day activity. I do not know if you are modest in speech, lifestyle and appearance. I do not know if you are kind to the people around you. I do not know if you are socially active. And the list goes on. Only God knows that.
Since we know not how God judges, what we can do is live ourself to the fullest. I personally try not to think about heaven/hell. Because doing positive deeds and connecting to others give me joy and contentment, and whether heaven does exist or not, at the moment the joy I am getting is enough.
I remember someone here giving me an advice, which I will hold close to heart. "Don't think of going to paradise beyond the sky, just be in the state of paradise here on earth. Don't be someone who is I-just-want-to-be-good, just be good." And everything will be much easier. But that's just me.
Salaam.
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Salaam,
I understand where you are coming from when it concerns good deeds and bad deeds, an getting into heaven. What I was trying to convey, is that do not over-calculate your deeds. e.g. "I just gave away money, that equals xxx brownies points, I should be fine", etc. Do not put that way of thinking, because it will put limitations on what you can do as a believer.
That is very true. Good words of advice.
Don't think if "it's enough", or "if I'm fine." Just strive as much as you can. That is what I was saying.
I cannot say whether what you're doing is fine, because I do not see with my own eyes what you do in your day-to-day activity. I do not know if you are modest in speech, lifestyle and appearance. I do not know if you are kind to the people around you. I do not know if you are socially active. And the list goes on. Only God knows that.
Oh no, I do not mean me in general XD I just mean is my idea of charity as I stated correct? and thus mean I am doing it correctly?
Since we know not how God judges, what we can do is live ourself to the fullest. I personally try not to think about heaven/hell. Because doing positive deeds and connecting to others give me joy and contentment, and whether heaven does exist or not, at the moment the joy I am getting is enough.
I remember someone here giving me an advice, which I will hold close to heart. "Don't think of going to paradise beyond the sky, just be in the state of paradise here on earth. Don't be someone who is I-just-want-to-be-good, just be good." And everything will be much easier. But that's just me.
Salaam.
^_^ Those are beautiful words and I assume you have guessed it that I have been quite worried on many of these topics. Video games are one way I keep myself happy especially when I end up worrying about the afterlife thus what led me to make this topic as I wanted to know that if me buying a lot of games vs not giving all my excess money to charity was okay, which as a fellow brother described is fine thanks to the tax system
Course I want to relax once I solve my last two problems for the moment which are both charity/Zakat and Salat. Thus why I ask if my opinion on if my belief of charity is correct that when in 2219 it mentions excess, it means that you should spend from your excess pool as opposed from your necessity pool thus not meaning that you can't spend anything from your excess pool on yourself.
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Salaam,
Video games are one way I keep myself happy especially when I end up worrying about the afterlife thus what led me to make this topic as I wanted to know that if me buying a lot of games vs not giving all my excess money to charity was okay, which as a fellow brother described is fine thanks to the tax system
I will personally argue against playing video games because I don't play them myself, but I may be unfair because we have different circumstances.
You can argue that purchasing a number of video games will mean you are contributing to tax, but I personally do not see it that way. Say, if you can afford 50 dollars to give away without making yourself financially constrained, then you use the money to buy video games. In the end, only a portion of that excess actually goes to tax (about 10-15%). So you are not really giving away your excess.
Personally I will advise that you pre-determine how much money you want to give to charity. Say, you earn a certain amount, then come up with a fixed percentage (e.g. 10% before your pre-taxed income, etc). What you have left over after giving to charity, may be used for your own luxury. Note that you should do it only when you are financially stable and independent. If you are unemployed, do not force yourself to give to charity because that will impose unneccessary hardship upon you.
I don't know how much you play video games everyday, and am not in a position to tell you to stop playing all together (since you said, it is your only form of entertainment). I will, however, advise that you maintain a balance between your personal entertainment and social activism. Like everything else, playing video games is not bad, only when undertaken in excess. If you can balance that with social works, then that's good. The issue at hand right now, is not only concerning the amount of money spent on video games, but also the time you spend on playing them. Time is precious, and should be used wisely for self-development and social activism. As the Qur'aan states, mankind is at loss, except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and enjoin each other to goodness.
Coming back to charity, I suggest you ask yourself if you have spent enough. The Qur'aan leaves charity open to our judgement, it does not demand an exact percentage of our income. Instead, it tells us not to be stingy, or to be too charitable that it leaves us financially constrained. Ask yourself whether you are content with giving only the bare minimum, or whether you want to strive further and give more (in your capacity).
On that note, excess does not necessarily mean what you have left over at the end of the day. I see necessity to include food, shelter, clothing and education. Therefore if you currently do not have a shelter of your own, then what you have left over after paying your basic needs (e.g. foods, bills, transportation to work/school) is not necessarily an excess. You should not spent everything on charity, but instead, save a portion to buy a house/shelter for the future (or maybe your children's education). What remains after you take out some money for future investment, becomes your excess.
That's just my personal view. Feel free to disagree.
Salaam.
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Thanks for the reply there.
I do have a social life too, but by video games I meant this is what I do at night particularly XD during the day I am with friends and having fun too )
Regardless, so you don't see the tax system as charity. May I ask why on that end? Otherwise yeah I agree about every time I get paid I should give what I feel is right to charity.