Obliged or not?
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Salam,
I came upon this question on http//www.philosophersnet.com (games section)
You see an advertisement from a charity in a newspaper about a person in severe need in Australia. You can help this person at little cost to yourself. Are you morally obliged to do so?
Options for an answer
a) strongly obliged
b) weakly obliged
c) not obligedSince God ask us to do good deeds, we are then obliged to help people, right? If so, should it be option A or B?
But it won't be a sin if we do not do it, is it?(I always feel guilty when i pass by people who i perceived they need help, kindness or donation... and my heart was not strong enough to act out the kindness... -[)
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Peace
Many aid agencies are little but whitewash of dirty money, dont feel the least bad. Help those around you, and do so with your being into it. Checkbook generousity is nothing compared to the generousity of heart, and if youre lacking that. THen you should feel guilty. The thing is, this is the one part that most people are still in contact with that which is good. Thus AID agencies are so easy to misuse. People wants to do good, but rather they want to pay other people to do good for them. But here is a more interresting question for you.
If you have just paid red cross, save the children, USaid, greenpeace or whatever beggar organisation comes along with propaganda (emotional porn) and gave them fortunes. When you go to bed and know that your next door neighbour is hungry, or in trouble, have you done enough?
THis is trickery to remove responsability from ourselfes. we can walk right over people in the streets of our own town feeling oh so good, becasue we just gave a fiver to the RC punter down the corner so he could help people in africa.
The end result, nobody gets ant real lasting help, and the hands between helper and helped gets very rich.You want to do good? Try and take a homeless guy for a meal, and listen to his story. SPend some hours with him ,make sure hes fed, maybe even had a bath, and make him for that period fell 100% human and part of the human tribe. Its not longlasting, but it can be the little thing that makes him not loose hope entirely, or that little thing that gave him the hope to stand up again. We need help too, the elite holds no favorites but themself, at the cost of everybody. You cannot buy salvation, you can walk the walk.
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Peace be upon you ,
Beautifully said Magi!
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So, it is us who "walk the walk" rather than paying others to do the "walk" for us - that is better. I got it.
But let's say a person, who is from an organization, ask for donation, we should donate because God told us to give to those who asked. Unless, they did not ask for donation, then it's okay to ignore them.
I still need to know one thing, though.
Is it a sin(?) if we, for example, sees a blind man and do not help him to his destination? Is it a sin for not helping? ...even though he did not ask for it? -
But let's say a person, who is from an organization, ask for donation, we should donate because God told us to give to those who asked. Unless, they did not ask for donation, then it's okay to ignore them.
we shouldnt just give to whomever asks. If i ask you for money to a new pc, will you give it to me? If someone personally come to you and say, freind, im hungry. You would be a shitface not to buy this person a meal if you have the means, or help by some other direct way. The agencies supposedly asks on behalf of others. Do you trust their word that these "others" is in fact your brother in africa, and not a fat white gangster using this kind of slushfunds to wash bloodmoney and throw a few bags of rice out the back of an europlane?
I still need to know one thing, though.
Is it a sin(?) if we, for example, sees a blind man and do not help him to his destination? Is it a sin for not helping? ...even though he did not ask for it?Doont force your help on others. Give it freely when asked. Actually i have been in this very situation myself. A blind guy is standing at a street "looking" to get over, and he just grabs my arm. He told me as we walked that not a single individual ever denied him help, and he had walked arm in arm with gangsters, bankers, bums, desk clerks. Never had anyone given him any trouble when he grabed them and asked for help. He told me that quite a few get a little shock, but emediately understand the situation. People wants to be good, but are so easily mislead. But when confronted directly by the problem, few has the heart to say no. All the agencies does is make this worse in all countries, because if you pay someone, then obviously the hungry guy in front of you have someone helping him, some agency that we pay money to in good faith must help him we think. But the thing is, he wouldnt be asking if there were, because at the end of the day, he is getting that meal at the price of his selfesteem and pride.
@thank you idolfree1
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Peace to all,
I just have to say I agree with Magi on his analysis 100%, very well thought out and said Magi, you have a gift for analysis and argument, you are very logical and your conclusions to what can be confusing issues are spoken as a true Muslim should..
Keep it up Magi,
Kurt
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Peace Bubba
Here are some verses on giving that I came upon whilst reading chapter two that I felt held relevance to this topic.
2158 The Safa and Marwah are amongst God's symbols. So whosoever makes Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary, or is merely passing through, commits no error that he should traverse within them. And whoever donates for goodness, then God is Appreciative, Knowledgeable.
2177 Piety is not to turn your faces towards the east and the west, but piety is one who believes in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Scripture, and the prophets, and he gives money out of love to the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy and the wayfarer, and those who ask, and to free the slaves; and he honours the oath of allegiance, and he contributes towards betterment; as well as those who keep their pledges when they make a pledge, and those who are patient in the face of good and bad and when in despair. These are the ones who have been truthful, and they are the righteous.
2195 And spend in the cause of God, but do not throw your resources to disaster. And do kindness, for God loves those who do kindness.
2212 God provides for whoever He wishes without a price.
2219 And they ask you how much are they to give, Say "The excess." It is thus that God clarifies for you the revelations that you may think.
2220 In this world and the next; and they ask you regarding the orphans, Say "To fix their situation is best, and if you are to care for them, then they are your brothers." And God knows the corrupt from the good, and had God wished He could have made things difficult. God is Noble, Wise.
2261 The example of those who spend their money in the cause of God is like a seed that sprouts forth seven pods, in each pod there is one hundred seeds; and God multiplies for whoever He chooses, and God is Encompassing, Knowledgeable.
2262 Those who spend their money in the cause of God, then they do not follow what they have spent with either insult or harm; they will have their reward with their Lord, there is no fear over them nor will they grieve.
2263 Kind words and forgiveness is far better than a charity that is followed by harm. God is Rich, Compassionate.
2264 O you who believe, do not nullify your charities with insult and harm; like the one who spends his money in vanity to show the people, and he does not believe in God and the Last Day. His example is like a stone on which there is dust, then it is subjected to heavy rain which leaves it bare. They cannot do anything with what they earned; and God does not guide the rejecting people.
2265 And the example of those who spend their money seeking God's grace, and to save their souls, is like the example of a garden that is on a high ground and is subjected to a heavy rain, and because of that it produces double its crop. And if no heavy rain comes, then light rain is enough. And God is Seer over all you do.
2266 Does anyone of you desire that he have an estate with palm trees and grapevines, and rivers flowing beneath it, and in it for him are all kinds of fruits, then he is afflicted with old age and his progeny is weak, and a whirlwind with fire strikes it and it all burns? It is thus that God makes clear for you the signs that you may reflect.
2267 O you who believe, spend from the good things that you have earned, and from what We have brought forth from the Earth. And do not select the rotten out of it to give, while you would not take it yourselves unless you close your eyes regarding it. And know that God is Rich, Praiseworthy.
2268 The devil promises you poverty and orders you to evil, while God promises forgiveness from Him and favour. God is Encompassing, Knowledgeable.
2269 He grants wisdom to whom He chooses, and whoever is granted wisdom, has been given much good. Only those with understanding will remember.
2270 And whatever you spend out of your monies, or whatever you pledge as a promise, then God knows it. The wicked have no supporters.
2271 If you openly give charity, then it is acceptable; but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, then that is better for you. And He cancels some of your sins; and God is Expert to all that you do.
2272 You are not responsible for their guidance, but it is God who will guide whoever He wishes. And whatever you spend out of goodness is for your own souls. And anything you spend should be in seeking God's presence. And whatever you spend out of goodness will be retuned to you, and you will not be wronged. -
Peace Bubba
I agree somewhat with Magis analysis. I don't however see any benefit in feeling guilty if you choose not to give even when you can, for what benefit is there in guilt, to regret a circumstance that cannot be changed or to base future choices on guilt rather than something higher is not helpful to the souls development. In my eyes you can accomplish more by being loving to your self always regardless of the choices you make, for then you can fill your self full of love and the excess that will abound you can give to those who thirst, as there are many that do.
I have stopped giving money for the most part to ppl that are homeless, I have found that food is the most helpful. It does not do much use to give one starving money and expect them to make the best choice. I have often seen homeless ppl smoke or drink so I feel that I am being of the most help to them by offering food.
Remeber kindness consists not always in saying yes, it also consists in withholding as much as it does in giving.
peace,
Khalil -
Peace be upon you Khalil,
While I agree that our INITIAL response to all things should be PEACE, and constant JOY of being at Peace. Once we peacefully//clearly determine that we have done wrong, we should THEN associate not so much guilt, but REMORSE for what we have done, because all things we do require ENERGY (emotion), so we must use the emotions as our servants by adding REMORSE to the situation so that it will PUSH (energy in motion) us to do what is correct. Just remember that this is something that we WILL to do after we first respond with peace.
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Salam.
Your replies are indeed eye-opening for me, thanks very much to magi and khalil.
Believers unite!! ehehe