Ayah 2;272

[PureExistence1]

Salaam everyone,

How do you go about explaining this Ayatt to a non Muslim who argues that this Ayatt is actually encouraging people to be more self-absorbed, self concerned, selfish etc where they only do things for their own benefit and sake in the sense that they are the only ones who truly benefit from their actions?

Obviously the ayatt says we do things for Allah's sake, but at the end of the day, we are truly the only ones who are benefiting from the act, and so apparently this is coming across as a selfish action.

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 272:
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ

To make them walk in the right way is not incumbent on you, but Allah guides aright whom He pleases; and whatever good thing you spend, it is to your own good; and you do not spend but to seek Allah's pleasure; and whatever good things you spend shall be paid back to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.

Thanks for any input.
 

Edited September 22, 2021 by PureExistence1

[ShiaMan14]

Wa alaikum Salaam.

The ayah is actually saying the opposite. It's saying whatever good you do is for the sake of Allah.

 

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 2:272]

The general policy of Islamic ideology is to give freedom of choice to the individual, therefore, Allah, through His messenger, makes it clear that no one should compel any one to walk on the right path. Whatever we spend, to seek the pleasure of Allah, works out our own good - the common welfare of the society. So, a portion of Zakat and khums has to be spent, under the directions of a mujtahid, for the general benefit of the community. It is recommended that to bring the infidels from the darkness of ignorance into the light of faith, charity may also be given to them.

We spend in the way of Allah to benefit ourselves, because whatever we spend is paid back to us in full.

[Cool]

5 hours ago, PureExistence1 said:

How do you go about explaining this Ayatt to a non Muslim who argues that this Ayatt is actually encouraging people to be more self-absorbed, self concerned, selfish etc where they only do things for their own benefit and sake in the sense that they are the only ones who truly benefit from their actions?

He may be correct if he managed to get the idea of Self. 

من عرف نفسه فقد عرف ربه

Anyway, in this world of cause & effect, it is not considered selfishness. It is obvious that whatever you give someone in charity will be beneficial for him. For instance, your spending of $10 for helping a poor person is a source of benefit for him. He would certainly receive something from that, he is being credited. And apparently you are being debited,.something goes away from you. This apparent loss of yours, in this worldly life, has been turned into a benefit for you by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) as He has promised that whatever you spend will get back to you and hence is in your own benefit. 

Lastly, I would like to point out a very delicate point in this verse:

وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ

 وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ 

Your nafs & the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى). 

The growth & purity of nafs is solely related with the deeds which are performed for divine pleasure.

[313_Waiter]

6 hours ago, PureExistence1 said:

and you do not spend but to seek Allah's pleasure

Salaam sister,

Notice how the blessed verse says that “you” do not spend (in charity) except to seek Allah’s vajh / Face (for a deeper understanding of the Face of Allah see Qur’an 2:115 and 55:26-27).

Now, this is the most supreme way of giving charity. I once asked ethereal if an atheist gives a poor man called “hungry John” food to please or satiate him, isn’t this superior to a theist who is giving it to please his God? This was his response:
 

Quote

 

If God is understood as "a" being, then the intention to please Him is defective.

If the Atheist tries to please "a" being (namely hungry John) then the atheist's intention is also defective.

                                                            "a" being = one of many beings.

"A" being means this being has a border, a boundary, a defining or a distinguishing mark.  A being is an individual and is therefore limited.  Now whether you call this individual Superman, God, or John, it is still "a" being and is therefore limited in some way.

But if the intention is to participate in the joy, bliss of Being as such (rather than "a" being), where John is understood as a mode of expression of Being as such, then this is pure.   Being as such is like an ocean, and the waves that appear from and that disappear into this Ocean of Being are like the different modes of its expression.  The waves don't exist in and of themselves for they are nothing in substance but One Ocean.  The waves are simply the way the Ocean appears.  So John, being the wave, ought to be understood not as a separate independent being, but as a modality of God. 

This is why we should not please anyone, we should only please God.  Because God is the reality of all things just as the reality of the waves are in fact none other than the Ocean.

 

As for goodness resulting in goodness, this is a common theme in the Qur’an and I believe it is based on cause and effect.

[Dave follower of The Way]

My perspective as a non Muslim non Qur'anic schollar - so maybe my perspective is invallid - is that this verse tells us something that our societies have forgot.  That God's desires for us are that: we live in community in harmoney with one another, and in this world caring for it and protecting it.

If we do what God calls us to do and live in the way he intends it provides a stable and secure society and a safe and stable world and environment.  Of course these things will have a positive effect on our own lives, but it is not the reason we live according to God's perfect template it is a "spin off" of following his amazing original design for humanity and the planet.

Let's love one another as God loves us and care for our planet as a treasure entrusted to us by our maker.

[Shahrukh K]

On 9/22/2021 at 6:11 AM, PureExistence1 said:

To make them walk in the right way is not incumbent on you, but Allah guides aright whom He pleases; and whatever good thing you spend, it is to your own good; and you do not spend but to seek Allah's pleasure; and whatever good things you spend shall be paid back to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.

You are not here to save anyone. You are not here to fix the world. You are here to bless the world,  And in that holy space that you hold open, people can more easily receive the blessing and healing that God is always pouring on them. You save no one. You fix nothing. You simply become a helpful reminder. Then people remember and return to the truth of who they really are.

Through your good deeds Allah send his blessings to others, since you are spreading those blessings to others you are soul beneficiary of that good deed. So there is benefit for you and also for others.

[Dave follower of The Way]

On 10/13/2021 at 8:24 AM, Shahrukh K said:

You are here to bless the world,  And in that holy space that you hold open, people can more easily receive the blessing and healing that God is always pouring on them.

This reminds me of the so called "Prayer of St. Francis"

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

ent of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

Read more at: https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/famous_prayers/make_me_a_channel_of_your_peace_lyrics.html