The importance of giving back in Ramadan

Pay It Forward is a simple concept that prescribes doing a selfless good deed for someone -- no matter how small -- as a sort of repayment for a good deed you might have received in the past.

With Ramadan on the horizon, the popular Pay It Forward philosophy is worth bringing back to the forefront - especially at a time of year when many people around the UAE can benefit from the kindness of strangers.

Pay It Forward is a simple concept that prescribes doing a selfless good deed for someone - no matter how small - as a sort of repayment for a good deed you might have received in the past. Rather than paying your debt to the original source, you have the ability to present the universe with a positive gesture of your own.

This can take on many forms, from holding open a door for the person behind you or paying for someone’s coffee to donating time at a volunteer organisation or cleaning up litter from the street. You can also help spread good news, check up on someone who looks lonely or pay someone a compliment. When the Free Hugs Campaign took over the Internet a few years ago, spreading to all corners of the globe, it was further proof that even the simplest of things can have a powerful impact on the way we interact with each other.

Think about all the good that has been done to you, all the help you’ve received in your life, and channel it outwards. As the country prepares for a month of fasting and reflection, there’s no better time to step outside our personal space and make a difference in the lives of those around us. If you think outside the scope of simple monetary donations, you’ll find that there are plenty of other ways to put a smile one someone’s face.

Maya Angelou once wrote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This way of thinking brilliantly encompasses the longevity that giving back can have. Pay It Forward is about letting someone know that they are not invisible, that they have value and worth. Like the saying goes, no one can do everything but everyone can do something.

kadry@khaleejtimes.com