The true meaning of giving
Today I felt the need to write more about “The True Meaning of Giving” by answering some of the questions I’ve received about people’s general definition of “giving”. I would like to shed light on the essence of giving in my opinion and point out that it is a much broader concept than many of us have confined it to. I’d also like to clear up some misconceptions about “giving”, from the feedback I’ve received.
Perhaps the first two things that usually come to mind when we hear the word “give” is charity, meaning giving money, or volunteering, meaning giving time and, even though both areas are forms widely accepted to give in society, I say both. they are still relatively a slice of a big cake called “dar”. It is also worth discussing here the greater impact created by the way of “giving” that we choose to be a part of. Although it is a very noble way to contribute or help our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world, most charitable and voluntary efforts tend to have a short-term impact on the recipients by providing basic necessities such as food, drink, housing and clothing. In my opinion, this will not help the recipient people or communities to maintain an advantage in the long term, therefore the aid is expected to come again and the question here is: “What value has this type of donation added to the world?” until now?”
At best, there will be larger schools, hospitals or investments made through humanitarian efforts to boost long-term social and economic values like education or health. In particular, I admire those projects or development initiatives that are launched to empower individuals or communities to manage their lives by giving them the right tools and furthermore teaching them how to use these tools to create a brighter future for themselves and their families. I commend programs that train and mentor people on how to be productive members of society, how to get the right education that will enlighten their lives, and in turn can be a blessing to others once they become self-sufficient. Can you imagine the kind of world we would be creating if each of us contributed by “giving” a solution to other people’s problems that can change their lives instead of just “giving” them a meal or some money that can only last one day? . more or less. The beauty is in “giving” people hope by positively altering the way they choose to live their lives. For me, this is the true meaning of giving. On this occasion, I cannot fail to mention the Chinese quote that says: “Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.”
Also, one of the most common misconceptions about “giving” that I wanted to clear up here, is that most people want to have a “holy” mindset when they think about “giving.” I’ve heard a lot of comments around: “if there’s a personal gain for me in doing this or that, then how can that be related to giving?”, which implies that “giving” must in all cases be one-sided or not. return. ! I don’t even know where that distorted image of “giving” originated from. In life, balance is required to ensure consistency and continuity. One thing we must understand is that God has created this universe with abundance. There’s enough to go around here and even sharing will create plenty of supply.
Research has shown that people strive for long-term reciprocity and that people who get some kind of material or emotional reward as a result of their contributions are more likely to give more; and this is a basic human need too. So, depriving yourself to give to others will make, even if you give, not give with love, at the same time; Your giving activities won’t last long because you can’t see the, “What’s in it for me?” Mother Teresa said: “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
In the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”; is a strong indication that this balance is a requirement of our human nature for healthy individuals and peaceful societies. You are an emotionally healthy person if you love the good things for yourself. As important; it is that you must love for your fellow men the same good that you choose for yourself. If any of the two conditions is missing; then you are neither a true believer nor an effective giver.
To conclude, “giving” is a very deep term, we cannot limit it to a few activities just because this is what we see most common around us. The essence of “giving” is about freeing people from their psychological chains or idols, altering their way of thinking, giving them solutions, revealing new possibilities they have never heard of and empowering them to take charge of their lives once again. . I truly believe in taking personal time to share knowledge, coach, and train others to help them succeed spiritually, mentally, and physically. Once they’re successful, they’re ready to make a bigger impact in other people’s lives by helping them succeed too. Here, I can proudly say that we have understood the true meaning of “giving”.