The idea that helping others makes our lives richer and deeper has been around for thousands of years. Aristotle believed that we could achieve lasting happiness and fulfillment “by loving rather than in being loved.” Philanthropists the world over are demonstrating through their own personal actions that there is great economic, spiritual and social wisdom in exchanging their fortunes for something far more valuable the chance to improve the quality of life for countless others.
Having pots of money doesn’t necessarily make you happy. But giving it — even if you’re not rich — is likely to make you feel wealthier, and also happier. More and more people are developing this vision. Many of the wealth creators are now outpacing their peers in benevolence as against the earlier culture of competing with each other for bigger homes, more ostentatious weddings, luxury cars, more expensive clothes, and so on. They are realising that their life belongs to the whole community and giving takes them out of themselves and allows them to expand beyond earthly bounds.
A unique feature of our social bond is that most of those who give will probably never meet those whom they give to. The motivation isn’t because of kinship rooted in socially constructed value, shared culture or common heritage. Caring beyond our own walls is not just a matter of altruism; it is enlightened self-interest. Service rendered unsolicited is the most fulfilling and elevating.
Every giver possesses two disconnected commodities — wealth and convictions. Alone, they have no spiritual value. But the alchemy of these virtues can empower the wealthy to transmute the dross of their wealth into the gold of a happy human community.
Moin Qazi is a well-known banker, author and Islamic researcher. He can be reached at oinqazi123@gmail.com
