Every year, Pakistanis donate billions of rupees to charity. We are second to none when it comes to giving alms either in the month of Ramazan, Eid-ul-Fitr, or other religious occasions. We spend billions on distributing haleem, biryani, sherbets and other items and even on lamps and lights during Islamic festivals. The givers are always much more than the takers.
During a natural calamity, we have seen the Pakistani nation immediately stands up for help. But when it comes to providing a job to unemployed youth, we seldom find anyone who reaches out. The level of disparity has reached such heights that people are forced to raise their hands because the expenses are increasing and they cannot face the burden.
With every passing day, the poor are getting poorer and the rich are becoming richer. The number of poor and downtrodden has multiplied and the common man is searching for resources to survive. I wish that our elite class donates their wealth rather than just exhibiting them to gain fame and being portrayed as heroes in the media.
We had only one Edhi Centre which used to help the poor and needy in times of trouble. We all praised the selfless devotion and services of a humble man such as Edhi. Now many other organizations and even some opportunists have propped up to emulate Edhi’s success. It is a pity that politicians now prefer people to be in need of free food or medicine and seeking help. That is why you would see ordinary people begging everywhere nowadays.
People are desperate and begging for justice, honour, education of their children, and for medicine. But unfortunately, no messiah has been born who can put them on their feet. We have become a society of the have and have not. If we give billions as charities, we can spend the same money to set up a business for someone which can reduce unemployment and improve the quality of life.
I urge you to please try to change the life of a single family with your donations, zakat, or alms and give them a chance to get financial dependence.
Open a business for someone, if he can drive, then buy him a car so that he can make a living driving a taxi. If he can cook, open a small restaurant, if there is a tailor, open a tailoring shop, and if there is a barber, then open a saloon.
In this way, many businesses can be opened which will not require much capital. We have seen that overseas Pakistanis send billions to the country every year as donations. If they create resources for Pakistani children deserving assistance to go abroad, the lives of many families can be improved. It is much better if we can change the life of a person with our charity.
Islam teaches us to improve the life of another Muslim. It said to understand for another human being as you understand for your brother. Every person would desire his brother to live a good life like him. Don’t live merely on charity handouts and begging. Changing someone’s life is better than charity that hurts one’s self-esteem. That’s why we don’t need charity but messiahs who can change people’s lives.
