The Question of Pure Devotion: Service Without Return

Rabia asked the revolutionary question: can we serve without expecting return, without even seeking God's reward? This challenges the often-transactional nature of found family in diaspora contexts. Migration creates scarcity that can turn kinship into calculation: I help you because you might help me later. While mutual aid is essential for survival, Rabia's question invites found family to examine whether it can transcend pure transaction. Pure devotion in this context means occasionally showing up without expectation of reciprocity. One member brings food without tracking whether they've received equal meals. Another offers childcare freely, knowing they may never need the same. This doesn't mean naive self-sacrifice or boundary-erasure; it means regularly asking: can I give to this family simply because I choose this lineage? Over time, this transforms found family from a survival mechanism into a love covenant. Rabia lived in poverty and refused patrons who wanted something in return; she teaches that the deepest belonging occurs when we release the ledger. For diaspora communities that've experienced exploitation, this requires trust-building—but it's the gateway to genuine family rather than pragmatic alliance.