وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْراً وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْراً وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Sadaqah ~ Charity

Sadaqah (charity) is an act performed by a person seeking the pleasure of Allah, it is considered as one of the most important deeds that can have a positive impact on people and their lives. Sadaqah helps avert calamities and alleviates hardships. Many verses in the Quran encourage giving Sadaqah, Allah says: 

مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌۭ (الحديد ١١)

“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?” (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:11).

Sadaqah is also a means of forgiveness, Quran says:

إِن تُقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا يُضَـٰعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ (التغابن ١٧)

If you advance a good loan to Allah, He will multiply it for you, and will forgive you. And Allah is Appreciative, Forbearing

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “ما من عبدٍ يتصدق بعدل تمرةٍ من كسبٍ طيبٍ، ولا يقبل الله إلا الطيب، إلا تقبَّلها الله بيمينه، فيُربيها لصاحبها كما يُرَبِّي أحدُكم فلُوَّه أو فصيله حتى يكون أعظم من الجبل”. وقال رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلم: “صَنائعُ المعروفِ تَقِي مَصارعَ السُّوءِ، وصدَقةُ السِّرِّ تُطفئُ غضبَ الرَّبِّ، وصِلةُ الرَّحِمِ تَزيدُ في العُمُرِ

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “No servant gives charity from his pure earnings – and Allah only accepts what is pure – but that Allah takes it in His right hand and nurtures it for its owner, just as one of you raises his colt or young camel, until it becomes greater than a mountain.” (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim)

وأخْرَجَ الطَّبَرانِيُّ عَنْ أبِي أُمامَةَ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: صَنائِعُ المَعْرُوفِ تَقِي مَصارِعَ السُّوءِ، وصَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ، وصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ تَزِيدُ في العُمْرِ

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Acts of kindness protect one from bad fates; secret charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord, and maintaining family ties increases lifespan.” 

عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ ‏ "‏سَقْىُ الْمَاءِ‏"‏‏

It was narrated that Sa'ad bin Ubadah said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what kind of charity is best?' He  صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: “Providing drinking water”. (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3665)

عن أبي أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال: داووا مرضاكم بالصدقة (صحيح الجامع)

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Treat your sick ones with Sadaqah (charity).”

To effectively ward off calamities and maximize the benefits of Sadaqah, we should choose the most suitable types of Sadaqah Jariyah such as digging a well, supporting the poor & needy, covering the expenses for marriage of a poor girl or boy, providing education for the orphans, building a Masjid, etc.

Ibn al-Qayyam (may Allah have mercy on him) said:  Sadaqah has a miraculous effect in repelling all types of calamities, even if it is given by a wicked or oppressive person, or even by a disbeliever. Allah, the Exalted, wards off many types of calamities through it. This is something well-known among people, both the elite and the common folk, and people across the world have experienced it.” (الوابل الصيب)

Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was the most generous of people, giving freely from what he owned. He never thought little of anything he gave for the sake of Allah, nor did he hesitate to give when asked, regardless of whether the amount was small or large. His generosity was like that of someone who does not fear poverty, and Sadaqah was the most beloved thing to him. His joy and happiness in giving were greater than that of the recipient in receiving.

He was the most generous in doing good, as his right hand gave like a gentle, unrestrained wind. Whenever he encountered someone in need, he would prefer them over himself, sometimes by sharing his food or clothing. He varied his forms of charity, sometimes giving gifts, sometimes donations, and at other times buying something to give away, as he did with Jabir Radi Allaho Anh’s camel. He would also borrow items and return more than he borrowed, or buy something and gave more than its price. He accepted gifts and reciprocated with even greater gifts or multiples of what he received, showing kindness and diversity in his acts of charity and goodness in every possible way.

His charity and kindness came from what he owned, his condition, and his words. He would give what he had, encourage Sadaqah (charity), and promote it both in action and speech. When stingy people (بخيل) saw him, his conduct urged them towards generosity and giving. Anyone who interacted with him or accompanied him, witnessing his generosity, felt inspired to be generous themselves. His manner invited to kindness, charity, and good deeds, that is why he was the most open-hearted, purest in soul, and most peaceful. (Zaad Al-Ma’ad by Ibn al-Qayyam)

Sadaqah is not limited to money or what can be valued in monetary terms; it includes every good deed, such as kind words, a smiling face, helping a person with their mount, and assisting them in carrying their burden. Delaying the repayment of a debtor is also a form of Sadaqah; as is alleviating their burdens. Indeed, an act of worship to Allah can be a Sadaqah/charity the servant gives to his Muslim brother.

وعن أبي كبشة عمرو بن سعد الأنمارى رضي الله عنه أنه سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏ثلاثة أقسم عليهن وأحدثكم حديثاً فاحفظوه‏:‏ ما نقص مال عبد من صدقة، ولا ظلم عبد مظلمة صبر عليها إلا زاده الله عزاً، ولا فتح عبد باب مسألة إلا فتح الله عليه باب فقر

Abu Kabshah Radi Allaho Anh reported that Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "I swear by Allah for three (qualities) which I am going to tell you about, remember them well: (1) The wealth of a man will not decrease by Sadaqah (charity), (2) Allah augments the honor of a man who endures an oppression patiently, (3) he who opens a gate of begging, Allah opens for him a gate of poverty." (Riyad as-Salihin 556)

The areas where charity can be spent are not restricted and can include anything that benefits people. Sadaqah can go beyond the limits of Zakaat and include acts like helping family members, aiding orphans and widows, building Masajid, schools and providing water or shelter for the needy.

The effects of Sadaqah benefit both the rich and the poor. For the wealthy, it purifies their wealth and soul, Allah says:

خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ (توبة ١٠٣)

Take Sadaqah (obligatory alms) out of their wealth through which you may cleanse and purify them, and pray for them. Indeed, your prayer is a source of peace for them. And Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing. (At-Tawbah, 9:103)

This verse points to the great psychological and financial impact of Sadaqah. It purifies the giver's soul from greed and selfishness and purifies their wealth by increasing it. It also cleanses the hearts of those receiving charity from envy and resentment.

Benefits of Sadaqah/Charity for Muslims:

• There is a strong connection between giving Sadaqah and warding off calamities, as Muslims gain significant blessings when they give for the sake of Allah.
• Sadaqah lifts calamities, alleviates sorrow, and reduces the harm of epidemics.
• Through Sadaqah, one attains the pleasure of Allah
• Sadaqah removes sins and transgressions
• Sadaqah admits a person into Paradise and protects him from the torment of Hell
• Sadaqah realizes the principle of social solidarity among community members
• Sadaqah spreads the spirit of love and forgiveness between the poor and the rich.
• Sadaqah provides shade for the servant on the Day of Judgment and protects him from Hell and torment.
• Sadaqah wards off diseases from the servant and heals the sick, as the noble Prophet said: "Treat your sick with Sadaqah
• Sadaqah is a remedy for the heart and a cure for its hardness, filling it with psychological comfort and tranquility
• Sadaqah causes wealth to grow and increase for the giver
• Sadaqah purifies the wealth & multiplies / increases it forth, by Barakah coming from the skies

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