Among the considerable signs of showing gratitude to Allah is payment of zakah and charity. When a Muslim pays his zakah or spends something in charity, his soul is purified from miserliness and he rises to the peak of magnanimity and honor. The very act of spending money in charity and zakah is itself a great sign of showing gratitude to Almighty Allah. Of course, all Muslims are commanded to show gratitude to Allah night and day and they are encouraged to give charity to all human beings regardless of differences of religion, race, color or language.
In this regard, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following: “Islam encourages giving charity to all human beings regardless of differences in religion, race, color, or language. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to the aid of the non-Muslim pagans who had fought against him. Their disbelief did not prevent him assisting them in their dire need. Allah describes the quality of faith of the true believers, “They give food to the poor, the orphan, the captive, though they love it themselves, saying, ‘We fed for the sake of God alone: We seek neither recompense nor thanks from you” (Al-Insan 76: 8-9). The prisoners mentioned here were none other than the disbelieving pagans taken as prisoners by the Muslims.
So Muslims are obligated to come to the aid of their non-Muslim neighbors, (co-workers), and fellow citizens. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If a single person goes to bed with an empty stomach, Allah’s guarantee of protection shall be taken away from them!” So let us come together to fight poverty and help those in need regardless of differences in religion, race or ethnicity, color or language. May Allah include us among those whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described when he said, “The best of mankind are those who are most helpful to the servants of Allah!”