Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

     Righteousness Defined
[Quran 2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves ... 

As we see from 2:177, charity should be given cheerfully. Consulting dictionaries, "cheerfully" can be understood as happily, positively, without any reluctance, etc. And, God willing, that's how we feel (or strive to feel) when we give to charity seeking to please God alone.

Charity is for our own good (Quran 2:272). God doesn't need our money, but it grows our soul when we are able to let go of our worldly attachments to work righteousness, giving priority to the soul and the Hereafter over our body. God reserves His mercy (Quran 7:156) for those who give the obligatory charity (Zakat). And God reminds us that those who give to charity seeking His pleasure are rewarded manifold (Quran 30:39).

May God help our hearts be reverent and cheerful as we give to charity.


References:
The Obligatory Charity (Zakat), https://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix15.html#zakat
Zakat and Charity, https://www.masjidtucson.org/submission/practices/zakat/
Blessing of Giving (a parable), https://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2003/apr/page4.html


Peace.