In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful.
Sadaqah means an act of giving something out of kindness, religious duty or generosity. Sadaqah helps to strengthen love, understanding, mutual support and brotherhood between rich and poor within the Muslims community.
The word sadaqah in the Qur’an usually means the two acts: giving out of charity (sadaqah) or annual alms giving (zakat).
One of the doors opened by Allah to His servants to gain enormous rewards in the month of Ramadan is through sadaqa (giving charity/alms).
Islam always encourages Muslims to give out lots of sadaqah, especially during the month Ramadan “…. Allah’s Messenger was the most generous of all the people and he used to be more generous in the month of Ramadan”. Allah (SWT) says: “And spend (in charity) of that with which we have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: “My Lord! If only you would delay me for a brief term (to the worldly life) so I would give Sadaqah (charity) of my wealth, and be among the righteous”. Q 63:10.
Charity (Sadaqah) can be given or done in different ways and manners, such as by giving money to the needy; sharing a smile or saying a pleasant word to your brother, feeding the needy, saying the azkar, giving good advice, taking care of an animal, helping someone in times of difficulties, contributing in community work; such as building a school or a mosque or an orphanage etc.
Some Quranic verses and ahadith encouraging zakat include:
1. Sadaqah purifies the soul and wealth of the giver:
Allah [swt] says: “Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke (Allah’s blessings) upon them. Indeed, your invocations are comfort for them. And Allah is Hearing and knowing” Q9:103.
2. Generosity of the Messenger of Allah in the month Ramadan:
Ibn Abbas narrated that: “Allah’s Messenger was the most generous of all the people and he used to be more generous in the month of Ramadan when Angel Jibril will meet him to read Qur’ an with Him the messenger of Allah was the most generous person, even more generous than the fair winds.” Imam Bukhari.
3. One who gives charity will be rewarded a shade in the day of Qiyamah: “There are seven people who will enjoy Allah’s shade on the day when there is no shade except His shade; (1) A just leader; (2) a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the mighty and majestic; (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 upon 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 out charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; (7) and a man who remembered Allah in private, so that his eyes shed tears. Imam Bukhari
4. Giving charity provides blessings to one’s wealth: The messenger of Allah (SAW) was reported to have said: “Wealth will not be decreased by giving [sadaqah] charity”. Imam Tirmizi
Imam an Nawawi explained that: “The scholars mentioned that it means two things. First, the wealth will be blessed and protected from dangers. Therefore the decrease will be covered with this abstract blessings. Secondly, if in fact the wealth looks decreased, this decrease will be covered by the rewards of giving charity, and the rewards indeed will be double-folded to many times.”
4. There is a door of Paradise that’ll only be entered by the charity givers: “Whoever gives charity for Allah’s sake, will be called from that gate of Paradise and will be addressed, ‘oh servant of Allah! Here is prosperity.’….. Imam Bukhari/ Muslim
5. Giving Charity is the proof of faith (iman) of the giver;
The messenger of Allah was reported to have said: “Charity is a proof.” Muslim.
Imam an Nawawi explained that: “It means the proof or evidence of the true iman the giver possesses. Hence, charity (sadaqa) is termed likewise, because it is the proof of the truth of a man’s faith in Allah and the Hereafter.
6. Obtaining additional rewards from other people’s fasting:
The messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.” Imam Ahmad
7. Sadaqah is not restricted only to giving out money or material possessions Islam considers all good deeds which increases iman as sadaqah. Abu Musa narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Every Muslim has to give in sadaqah (charity).” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (SAW)! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot do even that?” He replied, “Then he should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform all that is good and keep away from all that is evil and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Bukhari Vol. 2, Hadith 524)
8. Sadaqah can be in the form of azkar (words of remembrance of Allah) Abu Hurairah narrated that “Abu Dharr said to the Messenger of Allah, ‘The wealthy people have all the rewards; they pray as we pray; they fast as we fast; and they have surplus wealth which they give in charity; but we have no wealth which we may give in charity.’ Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: ‘Abu Dharr, should I not teach you phrases by which you acquire the rank of those who excel you? No one can acquire your rank except one who acts like you.’ He said, Why not, Allah’s Messenger (SAW)? He said: ‘Exalt Allah say: “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Most Great) after each prayer thirty-three times; and praise Him say: “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; and glorify Him say: “Subhan Allah” (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times; and end it by saying, “La ilâha illallâhu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyi wa yomeetu wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in Qadeer.” ( There is no god but Allah alone, He has no partner, to Him belongs the Kingdom, to Him praise is due and He has power over everything.) Your sins will be forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.’” (Abu Dawud 1499)
9. The reward of sadaqah comes in multiples:
Allah says: “The likeness of those who spend for Allah’s sake is as the likeness of a grain of corn, it grows seven branches every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (increases the reward of) for whom He wills, and Allah is sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower).” (Qur’an, 2:261)
10. Concealing what we give or do as sadaqah is highly encouraged:
“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)
11. Not to delay giving of sadaqah nor show negligence in giving sadaqah: 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 righteous.” (Qur’an, 63:10)
Here, I will call to the generality of the muslim ummah, especially the well- to -do among them to continue to give out charity to the poor and needy within their communities in order to assist them and ease their Ramadan tasks.
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