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- The Arithmetic ➕ of the Heart ❤️
Greetings!
Have you ever experienced the unexpected joy of giving?
Recently, I had a powerful reminder.
A few weeks ago reconnected with a mentor after almost 2 decades. His guidance played an important role in shaping who I am today and contributed to my journey that led to starting Sufi Comics.
During our conversation, I began expressing my gratitude, feeling fortunate to have been his student. But before I could finish, he interjected with a surprising perspective:
"I'm the lucky one," he said, "blessed to share my life's learnings."
This exchange reminded me that the act of giving enriches us in ways we can't measure.
When we give, we might offer our time, money or other resource, but what we receive in return is immeasurable.
Our hearts collect treasures that no economic system can quantify.
Art by Charbak Dipta
"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing." (Quran 2:261)
The above verse talks about how God multiplies when we give, which is in stark contrast to the prevailing mindset in our modern world.
Our current economic model is built on a foundation of scarcity and that we’re all separate beings that need to look out for ourselves.
It whispers constant warnings:
There's never enough to go around.
Our safety lies in hoarding, not sharing.
We are independent individuals fighting for limited resources.
Giving doesn't make sense because more for you means less for me.
But what if we shifted our perspective?
What if we recognized that, in reality, we're all interconnected in myriad ways? When it comes to our necessities, there's actually enough for everyone.
True, some may have more than others. However, genuine security doesn't stem from accumulation, but from cultivating strong bonds and nurturing deep relationships.
For example when we look at the world in this way, we see that:
The more helpful we are, the more value we create.
The more value we create, the more support we receive.
Helping others strengthens the entire community.
By challenging the scarcity mindset, we open ourselves to the abundance that flows from generosity and community. We begin to see that:
Our interconnectedness is our greatest asset.
Giving creates a cycle of abundance that benefits everyone.
True security comes from strong relationships, not material hoarding.
God is the ultimate provider. By giving, we're not losing—we're receiving in ways we may not immediately recognize.
Each act of generosity, no matter how small, contributes to a more abundant world for all.
So the next time you feel stressed or rushed in this competitive world, pause.
Take a deep breath.
Remind yourself that true wealth lies not in what we hoard, but in what we share.
Reply to this email or leave a comment here if you have any reflections on the above! 🙂
Warm regards,
Mohammed Ali
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The thread above is a summary of an excerpt from the book "The Alchemy of Happiness" by Imam Al-Ghazali. Check it out here!