i relate to your feelings.

“And they ask you what they should spend. Say, “The excess [beyond needs].” Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought. To this world and the Hereafter.” – al-Baqarah

for this reason i have attempted to figure out to my satisfaction, what is my “excess”, aside from my needs and to assure my continued independence (the longer you’re financially independent, the longer and more consistently you can give). what you will be comfortable as “excess” vary according to how close it is between what actually is “enough” and what you feel is “enough” – to gauge the size of this intermediate space, regular, committed charity helps.

also i consider ‘excess’ to include, on what basis do i choose the things i buy even for my own needs, because i personally can afford choice (excess in options). what criteria do i have for where i invest my money? between different brands, on what basis do i choose which to buy? what businesses and values do i indirectly enable with my purchases? i have found this leads to a need to become aware of all the issues that you say cause you concern – from the nature of modern capitalism, environmental destruction, social oppression, inhumane working conditions, armed conflict perpetuation, unnecessary use of animals in chemical testing, and uneven access to energy and food. and yes, i have also indirectly realised that indeed being a Muslim requires knowledge – not just what we usually assume, but knowledge of what is going on in the world *today*. and that this is true even if our local leaders do not at all see many of these as topics important or even relevant to religion and a Muslim’s practice of faith since they can’t find it exactly matching content in the books from 500 years ago, missing the common themes of injustice, oppression, sustainability etc. – the same people who keep repeating that Islam is “holistic and a complete way of life”.

You’ve pointed out a few things but within my scope of knowledge I would like to correct something. The point of this article is not about the generosity of the woman who bought the shoes. It’s about the woman who sold the slippers – putting our faith in Allah to make a way out of all things. The woman was determined not to beg. There is bigger barakah in trade/business/effort than begging. Human beings should ask from Allah, not from other human beings.

I wonder, though.
How can it be that Allah wrote for millions of babies in Africa to be dying of starvation and the majority of people in the West to enjoy such luxuries as electricity, cars, jewelry, hot water, abundant food?

I pose these questions because, so often, the poor and struggling working classes of people are told that this is the portion that Allah allotted to them. This idea results in a kind of resignation to the economic injustices of a capitalist system rather than an actualization of those very systems of oppression.

Whenever Muslims talk about the poor and God’s rizq, it is usually devoid of any discussion of the injustices which human beings have created with their own hands and ideas–inequities which leave millions of African babies dead and millions of American babies fed fresh, organic foods and milk.

I wish we would elevate our thinking and writing to more than, “Oh, what a sweet article. I feel warm and fuzzy inside about this act of goodness of buying a (dignified) woman’s slippers for a few pounds as she bears a baby and walks barefoot.” Come on now. That’s not enough. I am ashamed of myself for the computers I use which are manufactured by labor in China and the clothes on my back sewn by low-wage workers in Indonesia and tomatoes grown by Immokalee Workers exposed to dangerous chemicals.

I am not writing this to provoke anyone’s feelings or as criticism. It is more of the overwhelming feeling of sadness I have.

Thanks to the writer for making us consider such issues.