Sadaqah

“And whatever you spend in charity or whatever vow you make, be sure Allah knows it all. But the wrongdoers have no helpers. If you disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if you conceal them and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you. It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And Allah is well acquainted with what you do.” (Qur’an, 2:270-271)

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) said, “Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His. They are: 1. a just ruler, 2. a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, 3. a man whose heart is attached to the mosque, 4. two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting for that. 5. a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position but he says, “I fear Allah”, 6. a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity, and 7. a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari (Eng. translation) vol.2, hadeeth no. 504)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from the honestly earned money and Allah accepts only the honestly earned money Allah takes it in His Right (hand). And then, enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much so that it becomes as big as a mountain.” (Bukhari, Vol.2, Hadith 491)

Hakim ibn Hizam narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand, (i.e., he who gives charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses.) And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient.” (Bukhari, Vol.2, Hadith 508)

Abu Umamah (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger said: “O son of Adam, it is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold means necessary) for a living. And begin (charity) with your dependents; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand.” (Muslim, 2256)

And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, “O my Rabb (only God and Sustainer)! Why do you not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.” (Qur’an, 63:10)

Haritha ibn Wahb narrated that he heard the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying, “O people! Give in charity as a time will come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and anyone (who will be requested to take it) will say, “If you had brought it yesterday, I would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it.” (Bukhari Vol. 2, Hadith 492)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that a man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and asked, “O Allah’s Messenger which charity is the most superior in reward?” He replied, “The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, ‘Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.’ (And it has already belonged to such and such (his heirs).” (Bukhari Vol. 2, Hadith 500)

“Do not show lethargy or negligence in giving alms and charity till your last breath.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

“Spend in charity and do not keep count for then Allah will also keep count in giving you provision.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Do not expect favor or reward from any person for the sadaqah you give: “Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification, and have in their minds no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return, but only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Creator Most High; and soon will they attain (complete) satisfaction.” (Qur’an, 92:18-21)

From the above virtuous teachings, we can conclude that indeed, Islam opens for us many ways of increasing our eeman and good deeds through sadaqah. We can perform easy good deeds like smiling and dhikr (remembrance of Allah), which we can do at anytime and get rewards. The rich among us can earn more rewards if we give part of our wealth to the poor members of our relatives, friends, neighbors and the society at large. If we have the ability to extend sadaqah especially to other poor Muslims outside our community or country then we must extend our help. Another virtuous way of giving sadaqah is by supporting individuals and groups who are doing Da’wah (inviting people to Islam or the Truth) for the pleasure of Allah the Almighty. Let us take inspiration from the following Qur’anic ayah:

“And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and supports) it — such are the men who do right. They shall have all that they wish for, with their Rabb (Only God, Cherisher and Sustainer). Such is the reward of those who do good: so that Allah will remit from them (even) the worst in their deeds and give them their reward according to the best of what they have done.” (Qur’an 39:33-35) Let us hasten to give sadaqah for life in this world is short and temporary while the world in the Hereafter is everlasting. We never know when death has been decreed for us. Today we live and we never know how long we will enjoy the pleasure of this world. But one thing is certain: life in this world is nothing compared to the everlasting life in the Hereafter. Allah (s.w.t.) tells us: “Nothing is the life of this world but play and amusement, but best is the Home in the Hereafter, for those who are righteous, will you not then understand?” (Qur’an, 6:32)

“Allah does enlarge, or grant by (strict) measure, the sustenance (which He gives) to whom so He pleases — (the worldly) rejoice in the life of this world. But the life of this world is but little comfort compared to the Hereafter.” (Qur’an, 13:26)

Let us prepare ourselves for the everlasting world to come. Let us be among those who will earn Allah’s rewards in Jannah (the Garden of Bliss or Paradise) through giving sadaqah in many ways. Let us continue earning Allah’s rewards of our good deeds by giving sadaqah that continues to benefit others. Let us think of giving sadaqah to support Islamic projects like building of mosques, Islamic schools, Islamic libraries, orphanage and da’wah centers. If Allah has blessed us with wealth, let us not delay to build any or all of the said Islamic projects for the sole pleasure of Allah. If we do so, we will certainly attain the rewards of doing good deeds continuously even after we die. Let us be inspired to give sadaqah with the following authentic hadeeth:

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said: “Verily what a believer continues to receive (in the form of reward) for his action and his virtues after his death is the knowledge which he acquired and then disseminated; the pious son that he left behind him; or a copy of the Qur’an which he left as a legacy; or the mosques that he had built; or the inn that he had built for the wayfarers; or the canal that he caused to flow, or a sadaqah which he gave out of his property in the state when he was healthy and alive. (These are the acts of goodness the reward of which) reaches him even after his death.” (Tirmidhi, 254; Ibn Majah and Bayhaqi)

For those who are wealthy but miser or negligent in giving sadaqah may they take admonitions from the following words of Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.s.): So he who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah), and (in all sincerity) testifies to the Best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Ease. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, and gives the lie to the Best, — We will indeed make smooth for him the Path of Misery; nor will his wealth profit him when he falls headlong (into the Pit). Verily We take upon Us to guide, and verily unto Us (belong) the End and the Beginning. Therefore do I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely; none shall burn therein but those most unfortunate ones who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs. But those most devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it. (Qur’an, 92:4-17)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “The example of a miser and the one who gives in charity, is like the example of two men wearing iron cloaks so tightly that their arms are raised forcibly towards their collar-bones. So, whenever a charitable person wants to give in charity, his cloak spreads over his body so much so that it wipes out his traces. But whenever the miser wants to give in charity, the rings (of the iron cloak) come closer to each other and press over his body and his hands get connected to his collar-bones. Abu Huraira heard the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying, “The miser then tries to widen it but in vain.” (Bukhari, Vol. 4, Hadith 166; also see Vol. 2, Hadith 523)

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your cause’, and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allah! Destroy every miser.” (Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadith 522)

Abu Dharr (r.a.) narrated that… Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “Those who have much wealth (in this world) will be the least rewarded (in the Hereafter) except those who do like this and like this (i.e., spend their money in charity).” (Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadith 285)

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “A crafty one, a miser, and one who keeps reminding people of what he has given, will not enter Paradise.” (Tirmidhi, 1873)

May Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful give us opportunities to do many ways of giving sadaqah for His pleasure and reward us best life, especially in the Hereafter. May we spend our lives, time, money and efforts or everything in us to do deeds that Allah accepts as forms of sadaqah solely for His Sake. May our Rabb save us from the Hell-Fire by protecting us from being miser. Ameen.