Genuine help does not expect 'pahala'

I would like to comment on Fazal-E-Mujeeb's letter published in The Jakarta Post on May 27.

His answer to Agus Utoro's concern is typical of what you would expect from your parents or ustadz (cleric).

Theoretically, it sounds so perfect and so beautiful: By complying with all those rituals, you'll be a good person and you'll go to heaven. It sounds so simple. You need more analytical thinking to understand that in reality, the principle of cause and effect is not as simple as if you do A, then the result will be B.

Unfortunately there is no study that can prove empirically that by doing those rituals then you'll be punctual, clean, fair, and possess self-restraint, etc. But you do not need to be a brain surgeon to understand that the relationship is doubtful, as long as you are willing to open your mind and challenge what your beliefs.

In terms of by doing the rituals for the purpose of gaining pahala (reward), I found this makes most people obsessed with life after death. They do good deeds for the sake of gaining pahala and not for the sake of the people they help. My mother said to me not so long ago after finding out that I helped a sick aunt: "Don't be afraid that your money will be finished, it will come back to you." Or a banner on the street saying that: "If you want to join the prophet in the akhirat (here-after), then donate your money to orphanages", after which is listed the name of the institution and an account number.

Or a consultant colleague of mine who does a pro-bono project for disadvantaged people saying that he is doing it for the akhirat, not for money. The behavior may look the same, i.e. helping others, but the concept underlying the motivation of two persons may be totally the opposite.

One person is driven by the individual concept; He/she does it in expectation of receiving pahala and heaven. The other one does it because he/she genuinely wants the orphanages or poor people to excel and be self-sufficient in the future (social concept). You can see the impact of that difference on the society. This may explain why many people commit corruption despite the fact that they never miss a single prayer or day of fasting, or corruptors laundering their money by supporting mosques and orphanages.

More specifically, on the issue that shalat teaches you equality, why put women at the back (of the mosque)? Why can't they lead the call to prayer, and why are they not allowed to become an imam? Of course there is always an answer for that, that may seem rational, that is, if you use a low level of analytical thinking. I know exactly what the answer is; so does Agus Utoro. We've heard it all too often.

YANI PRASATYA, Jakarta