The first entry in Riwaya’s official blog, with a new blog being posted every two weeks inshallah! 

Long before the trendy self-care hashtags of the modern world. Allah (subhana tallah) in his infinite wisdom reminded us of the fundamental importance of reaching out to others. Beautifully revealed in a detailed reading of Surah Maun (107:1) where we find great emphasis placed on the importance of sincere acts of kindness. It seems our need to connect is locked into our very DNA. Therefore, we can never underestimate the impact of a sincere thoughtful gift.

It is often said that money does not buy happiness if it did then we as a nation would be enjoying peaks in our happiness. Sadly, this does not seem to be the case. However, this is also not entirely untrue either. Money can it seems buy happiness if it spent on others: if it is shared. Money is after all a small part of the blessings of Rizq that Allah will hold us accountable for.

Surah Maun (107:1) reminds us of the impact of gift giving. A thoughtful present can shift the mood of the recipient almost immediately. The Prophet (pbuh) reminds us that giving softens the hearts and increases love for one another.  What better way to combine the two than through an unexpected gift?  With the increase in mental health issues especially during the ‘Covid’ era everyone it seems is feeling overwhelmed with some aspect of their lives.

A simple gift can often translate into a powerful gesture.  As our beloved Prophet (pbuh) taught us a genuine smile, a thoughtful gift and a heart-warming hug unite to become a powerful force towards healing our desperately wounded humanity.