“[and who only hope] that God may reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did, and give them, out of His bounty, more [than they deserve]: for, God grants sustenance unto whom He wills, beyond all reckoning.” (The Quran, 24:38)
“And as for those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds, We shall most certainly efface their [previous] bad deeds, and shall most certainly reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did.” (The Quran, 29:7)
“The parable of those who spend their possessions for the sake of God is that of a grain out of which grow seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains: for God grants manifold increase unto whom He wills; and God is infinite, all-knowing.” (The Quran, 2:261)
Points of Reflection
1. All the above verses illustrate the generosity of God Almighty in rewarding His servants who serve His religion. There are many similar verses in the Quran.
2. One characteristic of God’s generosity is He always multiply the rewards of His servants’ good deeds or acts of devotion or repay them in the best manner.
3. Worldly rewards should not be dakwah activists’ primary motivation. However, it is important for dakwah organisation to show generosity, as exemplified by God Almighty, when rewarding those who have come to contribute to its mission whether they are salaried staff or volunteers. This act of generosity is also a manifestation of gratitude that Islam enjoins upon Muslims. Indeed, those who are not are not grateful to fellow human, he is not grateful to God Almighty.
4. However when rewarding with the best, it must not be done in a way that is excessive (see The Quran, 25: 67).
5. When facing less than ideal reward/remuneration or less grateful dakwah organisation, dakwah activist or staff should not compromise the belief that what is promised by God for the contribution made to His religion is better and must maintain a firm belief that God will never forsake or forgot his deeds, although fellow human do.
