Lighten People’s Burden

Helping others ultimately benefits the helper. One who fulfils the needs of others gets God’s attention and God fulfils his need on a greater scale.

According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “One who wants God to save him from the torments of Doomsday must either be lenient with the borrower of money or should write off of the debt.” (Sahih Muslim 1563)

When someone borrows money to meet some of his needs, but when the time for repayment comes and he has no money to pay off his debt, in such a situation, one who has given the money should give more time to the borrower and if he sees that the borrower’s circumstances are straitened, he should write off his debt. Such a course of action is greatly loved by God. In the Hereafter, God will deal leniently with one who is lenient with God’s servants in this world.

This principle relates not only to the debt but to all matters of life. In social life it repeatedly happens that someone becomes embroiled in some problems, while some other person has the power to help him surmount his difficulties. All such occasions are precious opportunities for people to be kind to their brothers, thus receiving kindness from God in large measure.

Relieving the burden of another results in relieving his own burden. Coming to the help of others ultimately benefits the helper; his own problem is then solved. One who fulfils the needs of others gets God’s attention and God fulfils his need on a greater scale. Moreover, becoming perturbed on finding someone in difficult circumstances in one respect is a humane attitude. One thus perturbed, proves that he is a good human being. Another benefit is that by attending to others’ need, he earns God’s blessing for the good deeds he has done. The reward in the Hereafter is for the work done in this world. And, doubtless, there is no blessing greater than this.