The Essence of the Holy Qur’an

Allah loves those who do good

Spend in the way of God and do not, with your own hands, cast yourselves into ruin. And be virtuous. Truly God loves the virtuous. (Surah No. 2, Baqarah, Verse No.195)

Dear brothers and sisters,
To destroy something means to change its functional state or to lose it completely. In fact, destruction is the opposite of life. Life is not mere breathing and movement; rather life is to perform your intended purpose. Animals are alive when they perform their intended function in nature. Likewise, plants have life and laws that govern their existence. By this measure, even inanimate objects have a life. It is not like yours or mine, but it is suitable to their function. So, if you think that ‘I don’t have any plans or I don’t have a map for my life’, then you would destroy yourself.
How can you avoid destroying yourself? Allah says at the beginning of the verse “Spend in the way God” because spending money and time for the helpless people is the means to build a strong, happy and safe society. Successful people always look for opportunities to help others, but unsuccessful people always ask, “What’s in it for me?” Just be happy that others are happy. Don’t destroy yourself by trying to destroy others.
The command here is general, covering all aspects of life. Hence, if excellence is required when spending money, then it is also necessary when earning it. Excellence is required in investment, and it is needed in charity.  If you don’t happen to have money to spare, then Allah wants you to give your effort to help others or share your knowledge to teach those around you and so on. Allah values your effort, earnings, and education. If you are strong, help protect the weak. If you are a lawyer, then stand up for the rights of others. If you live near a river or a lake, then help keep it clean and free of pollution. So, God says in the last phrase: God loves those who do good.

Jobayer Al Mahmud
Student, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.