I am fond of preaching about spreading love during seasons like this because I believe that it is a time that the Almighty Allah expects us to reach out to the people who are in need and helping others is something we shouldn't fix a date for, it is something we should always do once we have the power to do so.
In addition to that, festive periods aren't just the only time we can share love. it can be done anytime as long as we have the power to do it. Helping is important and good because it comes with a bigger reward and in my case, I get this inner satisfaction and peace whenever I have the opportunity to do so.
Even our holy books emphasized the need for us to always help the people who are lacking around us.
Hebrew 13 vs 16 says "
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Al Quran 2:178 says "Goodness does not consist in turning your face towards East or West. The truly good are those who believe in God and the Last Day, in the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets; who give away some of their wealth, however much they cherish it, to their relatives, to orphans, the needy, travelers, and beggars and to liberate those in debt and bondage; those who keep up the prayers and pay the prescribed alms; who keep pledges whenever they make them; who are steadfast in misfortune, adversity and times of danger. These are the ones who are true, and it is they who are aware of God.
These two verses I took from the holy book of the Quran and the Bible tell us that it is important to help regardless of our religion, tribe, belief, and any other difference we have between us.
When it comes to helping, I observe that we are making a lot of mistakes but I want to talk about the very common two that are rampant among us.
Helping at the wrong time.
I observed that many of us don't feel like helping except the situation of things warrant it. How?
Imagine you having more than enough food for yourself and someone is lacking around you but you refuse to give until the excess you have is at the edge of getting spoilt.
Aside from what the holy books say about it, it is not appropriate to behave that way. If you have enough, why not share what you can afford to give out immediately and not until it becomes leftover. What our hearts feel when helping matters a lot and that's the more reason why we must help at right time.
Helping the wrong people.
Do you know that sometimes, we could be doing help wrongly? It is hard to believe that help can be done wrongly but truly, it can be done inappropriately if you target the wrong people when giving.
Last year December, a rich man went on to share chicken with the rich men in the neighborhood as a gift when numerous families couldn't have a proper meal on Christmas day. We all knew how the Covid affected people in 2020, lots of people around the world were stripped of their means of survival, and feeding became difficult
The man who gave the chicken thought he was helping but lots of those he gave saw it as a show of wealth and their reaction surprised me, most of those chicken they got as gifts were shared with the people who are in need in the neighborhood. It was an emotional scene for many families that thought they would not be celebrating Xmas that year because of their financial condition but they somehow got help miraculously.
Using your wealth to impress people who don't need help is wrong, instead of that you can share among the less privileged and I am sure God will reward the heart that blesses the needy abundantly. Helping with the mindset of starting a relationship, conversation, the attention, win people's heart, get a connection and other selfish reasons don't attract God's blessings.
When helping, it must be done with the purest heart by the giver. In the Quran, Allah (SWT) says: “Help one another in acts of piety and righteousness. And do not assist each other in acts of sinfulness and transgression. And be aware of Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment” (Quran 5:2).
As we celebrate today, let remember that there are people who have absolutely nothing to give to their family members. Help should be done regardless of any difference we have with the person in need.
Your religion is not an excuse because all religions teach us to always spread love, I pray that we will have a happy celebration.
I forgot to mention that I haven't tasted the Sallah meat, I don't mind getting some from my Muslim virtual family. Don't mind me, I am kidding but remember to check the neighbor next door.
Please note: The religious quote was gotten from the holy books ( Quran and Bible).
Helping someone today can make you be joyed. You can feel just very much comfortable when you have helped someone. Help accelerates blessings. It can make God so much pleased and happy with you. We should have the habit of helping and helping the right people at the right time.