Our need to voluntary work

The meaning of voluntary work is: Any physical, intellectual, or material effort a person offers for the sake of Allah without waiting for any human gratitude or personal interest.

No one can deny the importance of voluntary work by all its forms, for it depends mainly on human efforts not financial aid, each one according to his own capacity as Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allâh is All-Recogniser, All-Knower."

It is noted that the word "good" was mentioned in the Ayah as indefinite to indicate generality and inclusiveness for any good act a person does. Ayahs and Hadiths which indicated the performance of goodness are numerous, but it is not proper to mention them all here.

Of which are the following:

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression."

Of the Hadiths: The Hadith that was reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in which who said: "The most beloved to Allah is the one who benefits people and the most beloved actions to Allah (Glory be to Him) is the actions which bring about happiness to a Muslim, removes a distress, renders his debts, or keeps away hunger from him. To fulfill the need of a Muslim brother is more beloved to me than secluding a month in a masjid for worship."

It was reported in another Hadith: "Whoever fulfills a need for his Muslim brother, Allah shall make his feet firm on a Day in which feet would slip."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah's Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah will help a person as long as he helps his Muslims brother."

These Ayahs and Hadiths were classified by scholars as "benefits that are given to people" which is the best kind of benefits. It is enough that the Prophet (peace be upon him) likened the Muslim society with one body when an organ of which complains, the entire body suffers sleeplessness and fever.

Hence, we have to spread the culture of voluntary work in the Muslim society by all means. No doubt that media plays an important role in this field without overlooking the efforts of other foundations which may help in spreading this culture such as: Masjid, home, school.

Voluntary work is not limited to a group of people but it may expand to include the entire Muslim society according to certain disciplines defined by the Shari`ah. Add to this, the necessity of unifying efforts in this field and voluntary work should be effective in all times not in the time of crises and ordeals. It is a noble goal to which the Shari`ah exhorted, taking into consideration not to go beyond the specific voluntary work which the Muslim ruler had specified so as not to distort it by whims, desires, and irresponsible personal behavior which will affect the reputation of our religion and our country