This document discusses the Islamic perspective on sacrifice and altruism. It begins by contrasting Western views that promote selfishness versus Islamic teachings. Islam teaches that true sacrifice is done for God, not for worldly gain or recognition. Sacrifice infuses life with meaning and is a sign of love and devotion to God. Several Quranic verses and hadith are cited showing that sacrifice purifies the soul and brings one closer to God. Examples of the Prophet and others demonstrating sacrifice through selfless acts like charity, debt relief, and feeding the hungry are provided. The path to God in Islam involves willingly making sacrifices without expecting anything in return.

1. ITHAR: THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE
Mumin Builder Retreat – October 2015

2. SELFISHNESS/EGOCENTRISM
 Self centeredness is natural
 Development stage
 Baby Child
 Theory of Mind
EMPATHY

3. EGOCENTRISM
Western society
Originally considered a sin
Shift
Present capitalist theory
Selfish behaviour = Invisible hand economy
ex: Ayn Rand
“If civilization is the survive, it is the morality of
altruism that men have to reject”

4. ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
“So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can; listen
and obey; and spend in charity, that is better for yourselves. And
whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, then they are the
successful ones” [64:16]
Takes self-interest and makes it for the akhira

5. SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE
It’s all about us
Want to share with others
WHY?
It’s all about Him
Yunus Emre:
Yaratilami severiz, Yaratandan ötürü
“We love the creation because of the Creator”

6. SHARED EXPERIENCES
Infuse meaning in life

7. ALTRUISM
Definition
Action at cost to onself but for the benefit of others
without expectation of reciprocity
Ex: Ansar
“…but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are
in privation…” [59:9]

8. SACRIFICE
 We all sacrifice for something
 Wordly or spiritual
 Causes are different
 To give something up for some belief
 Related to worship
Hadith
“Perish the slave of the dinar and the slave of the dirham and
the slave of fine clothing…” (Bukhari)

9. Sacrifice for the world = Emptiness
Sacrifice for a higher purpose = Satisfaction

10. HOLINESS
 What is sacrifice?
 Sign of love
Definition: to make holy
‫قربان‬ - literally a way to get close to God
"Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches
Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you
may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good
tidings to the doers of good"[22:37]

11. ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
 Charity is giving away what we have
 Hadith
 "Charity does not decrease wealth" (Muslim)
 "Proof of faith"
 Only thing of true value that lasts
 Hadith
 “All of it remains except the shoulder“ (Tirmidhi)

12. HONOUR IN ISLAM
 Most honoured person:
 Mother
 Why?
SACRIFICE
 Highest form of goodness:
 Birr = righteousness
"By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that
which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well"
[3:92]

13. EXAMPLES
 Prophet giving cloak when asked
 Qays ibn Sad ibn Ubada – debt relief
 Hungry boy – feeding dog

14. ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
 Rights & Responsibilities
 In Islam, we discharge our responsibilities and give
others their rights
 Irrespective of what they do to us

15. PATH TO GOD
Path to God = SACRIFICE
He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!
[37:99]