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Sacrificing ourselves for the benefit of others is one of the greatest ideals we can have as a Muslim. Being self-centered is a commendable trait because knowing ourselves can help us care for others.
The following hadith stated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) affirms the above, “None of you has believed until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 5039). About this hadith, Imam an-Nawawi explains that this thing we love for others that we also love it for the non-believers. We are willing to sacrifice our time and energy for the non-believers to enjoy the things that we love regarding our faithfulness in Allah (SWT) and wanting them to experience righteousness.
In Islam, we have the concept of giving an udhiya, for example on the day of Eid ul-Adha which comes from the word udhiya, we sacrifice an animal so that we share the meat with others hoping that Allah (SWT) will increase our prosperity and forgive us of our sins. As we know, Allah (SWT) doesn’t benefit from the meat or blood of the sacrificial animal but our piety reaches Him (SWT) as told in the following ayat of the Holy Quran (Surah Al-Hajj, Ayat 37), “Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you so that you may proclaim the greatness of Allah for what He has guided you to, and give good news to the good-doers.”
To understand the meaning of caring for others and sacrificing ourselves, Allah (SWT) explains to us in Surah Al-Anam, Ayat 162, “Surely my prayer, my worship, my life, and my death are all for Allah—Lord of all worlds.” We must realize that our very existence, prayers, wealth, and death are all for Allah (SWT).
We must examine our lives and ask what we can give of ourselves to benefit others the most. What good do we have that we can share with others knowing that this is the fastest way to achieving righteousness? Allah (SWT) tells us in Surah Ale Imran, Ayat 92, “None of you [believers] will attain true piety unless you give out of what you cherish: whatever you give, God knows about it very well.” We must be willing to share and part with the things we love the most when necessary, for the betterment of others.
The Prophet (SAW) was a selfless person as he gave of his time, wealth, honor, knowledge, and efforts. There was a moment in the life of our Nabi (SAW) when a man approached him and asked to have the kameez he (SAW) was wearing. This was a time of poverty and this was the only elegant kameez our Prophet (SAW) possessed. But our Nabi (SAW) went into a nearby house to take off his kameez to give to this man and borrow another one to wear. Think about it for a moment, the Prophet (SAW) gave the shirt off his back to this man, how many among our ruling classes would do the same today but rather live a luxurious life off public money.
When the Sahaba saw this, they became angry with the man for asking the Prophet (SAW) for the only nice kameez he had. The man replied that he just wanted to take to his grave one thing of our Nabi (SAW). This illustrates how much the believers loved our Nabi (SAW) but more importantly shows how much he (SAW) was willing to give of himself. Anas ibn Malik (RA) said he never heard the Prophet (SAW) say ‘no’ except when he (SAW) would say there is ‘no God except Allah (SWT).’
Self-sacrifice is one of the highest ideals in Islam. If we examine the concept of martyrdom, a person sacrifices his/her life for the defense of his/her land, wealth, people, and honour.
The Prophet defines a shaheed as not only one who dies in battle but “He who is killed while protecting his property is a martyr, and he who is killed while defending his family, or his blood, or his religion is a martyr.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 4772)
May Allah (SWT) allow us to sacrifice the things that we cherish to provide others with their needs and deprive ourselves of something that is a want. May Allah (SWT) give us a charitable life so that on the Day of Judgement, we can proudly say that our prayers, sacrifices, life, and death were all for Allah (SWT), Lord of all the worlds.
