The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
mains unlit the entire year. The reason is that they would not get the
same recognition for lighting the mas;id all year as they would for
lighting it during Rama9an. It would have been better for them to
give the poor the money which they had spent on candles.
Others get lighter (golden) dinars (made from less gold), and give
them as charity in public, just so people say: So and so gave away a
dinar.
Early righteous people used to do the exact opposite. They used
to wrap a heavy dinar, one that weighs one and a half dinars, with a
piece of paper. They used to give it to a poor person in secret.
When the poor man used to look at the wrapped charity he used to
think that it was a piece of bread, but then realized it was a dinar.
Then he would assume it was a light dinar, but then realized it was a
heavy dinar. So the poor person would become happy at each stage,
and the reward of the giver multiplies each time.
Some wealthy people donate to foreigners but do not donate to
more deserving relatives.
Allah's Messenger (;I) said: "Charity to the poor is only a charity.
But charity to those of kin is two things: a charity and a reason for
maintaining ties of kinship."2 76
And some people know the virtue of giving charity to poor relatives,
but they do not give them because of family feuds. If they
were to donate to them, they would get the reward of: charity, giving
a relative and fighting lust.
Some people perform f:lqjj again and again in order to gain people's
praise.
276
Abu Dawiid #2355, and TirmidhI #658792.
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