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You know,

in Surah Ya Sin the unbelievers ask why we should bother to feed

those who God could feed if so inclined

and there would be no need for us to have to think about it.

But the Qur'an is full of guidance

for us to care for others,

not just feeding the hungry,

to give of what we have,

to give from what we have been given.

Caring for others and giving charity

are what's best for society and the individuals in it.

And traditionally in the muslim way of life,

charity is seen as having two kinds of blessing involved,

a blessing for the giver

and also a blessing for the one who receives.

And the blessing for the one who receives

is not just what they are given,

which of course can be seen as a blessing,

but also a blessing for providing the giver

with the opportunity to give,

so they can receive blessings in their turn.

It is not shameful to be in need of help.

It is expected that when possible

we do what we can to provide for ourselves,

but just as we know that although our wealth may seem to accrue from our own efforts,

in fact it is part of our provision from God

and God can just as easily take it away.

However safe we may think we are, this life is full of potential disasters

that can make it impossible for us to satisfy our needs.

We need to eat and drink

and have clothing and shelter against the elements,

and if we can't afford these things we need help,

we need sadaqah,

charity.

But people need help in other ways.

People get sick

and lose the ability to care for themselves.

Then we need not just some money in a hat,

but a contribution of time and effort,

a different kind of sadaqah.

And it's not just our bodies that can get damaged,

so those of us who are weak in the head,

like Winnie the Pooh,

a bear of very little brain,

we need protection from those who would take advantage of us.

We need help,

we need sadaqah,

we need caring for.

Just as we need to give care and protection to vulnerable children.

The Qur'an often mentions the need

to protect and care for orphans.

And mosques were never just places to pray,

but centres of knowledge and discussion of the Deen,

and so they became the heart of the community's social welfare,

and centres of understanding of health issues and treatments.

And so these centres became the worlds first universities

and alongside them would be hospitals,

all funded by muslim charitable foundations,

known as waqfs.

Of course, nowadays it's more likely that a muslim in Scotland

would give money to the poor via their phone or on-line,

though it's never a bad idea

to give a little extra to a Big Issue seller.

And people give of their efforts in charity,

not just for Red-Nose Day or Children in Need on the TV,

but running marathons to raise money for charity

as well as giving from their earnings from everyday work.

And volunteering can be found in all sorts of organisations set up to care for others,

from care workers to ambulance and lifeboat crews.

Sadaqah is not just for muslims

but for all in need.

Think of all the ways of spreading sadaqah

around the world.

The Messenger said that

to be good muslims we need to want for our neighbours

what we want for ourselves.

Food and drink, clothing and shelter, caring neighbours and good health,

in the Deen we want all of society to feel protected and cared for,

to be grateful for God's provision that satisfies their needs,

for God is the All-Aware, the All-Provider.

So what else is good for us,

what do we need, not just as muslims but as humans?

What do we need along with Justice?

What's so special about sex?