TOKYO (AFP) – A Japanese police station Wednesday paid tribute to an anonymous donor who has handed in envelopes full of cash to give to the needy every month for more than 33 years.The police station in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, received the first envelope in August 1974, which contained 1,000 yen, or nine dollars at the current rate.

It did not bear a sender’s name but enclosed a piece of paper only saying: “Please use this for the unprivileged people.”

The envelopes kept arriving punctually every month with the enclosed money gradually increasing to 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen and eventually 8,000 yen, the police said.

The station received the 400th envelope on Tuesday, taking the total amount donated to 1,744,000 yen, the police said, adding that the money had been given to the town’s social welfare council.

“I just take my hat off for the act of continuing sending donations over three decades without expecting rewards,” said station chief Taisuke Kimura.

“We will continue working for the safety of this town in return for this goodwill act,” he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080109/od_afp/japanpolicecharityoffbeat
Wed Jan 9, 7:59 AM ET

When I read this article it reminded me of this Hadith about charity.

It is Narrated by Abu Hurairah that on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, (who said): “There is a man who gives a charity and he conceals it so much so that his left hand does not know what his right hand spends.” (B. & M-Msh. 6:6.)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His.

They are:

1. a just ruler
2. a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah
3. a man whose heart is attached to the mosque
4. two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting for that.
5. a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position but he says, I fear Allah
6. a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity
7. a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah & collected in Sahih al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629 & Sahih Muslim english trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248

In too many cases nowadays we give for the sake of the self, rather than for the act of charity and service to humanity. Warren Buffet gives more than $30 billion, with the all associated publicity and self congratulations.

This Japanese donor, in my opinion, has given a greater act of charity than Warren Buffet. There is no match. It was given for the right purpose.

What is even more amazing, is that fact that for 33 years the Japanese police received and distributed this money for the purpose for which it was intentioned.

Try doing that is some other Asian countries that have been the news lately. I won’t mention the names directly, but most people will know of countries with Police that are more corrupt and more criminal than the criminals themselves. Try sending envelopes with cash to the Police in some other countries and see what happens to it. Mostly likely it will stay in the Police and get distributed amongst the Police.

I say God bless this person and the Japanese Police for their integrity. Translating this example to our personal lives, an act of charity does not have to be in monetary terms, it can take on many other forms.

Abu Hurairah who quotes the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as saying: “A charity is due for every joint in each person on everyday the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Some other Hadiths pertaining to Charity;

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” – Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said: “Every act of goodness is charity.” – Sahih Muslim, Hadith 496

Subhan Allah!

Websites that you can visit for more Hadiths and related knowledge;

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/
http://www.islamawareness.net/Hadith/htopic_charity.html
http://www.islam-quran-sunnah.blogspot.com/
http://www.sunnipath.com/Library/
http://www.ishwar.com/islam