The Significance of Charitable Giving in This World
In Islam, charitable giving, or sadaqah, is recognized as one of the most vital avenues of goodness and community support. It exemplifies the blessed principle of mutual assistance among Muslims. Consequently, the concept of sadaqah holds a prominent position in the Hadith literature, emphasizing its benefits in this life. Here are several prophetic sayings that highlight the advantages of charitable giving in our worldly existence:
- Charitable donations enhance wealth and invoke blessings, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “The charity does not decrease wealth.”
- Charitable acts protect individuals from calamities and hardships with God’s permission. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) noted: “Acts of kindness safeguard against dire situations and disasters. Those who do good in this world will be rewarded similarly in the Hereafter.”
- Making donations leads to angels praying for the benefactor. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Every day, two angels descend, saying, ‘O Allah, grant a replacement to the one who spends,’ while the other says, ‘O Allah, grant destruction to the one who holds back.’
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) articulated that “This life is for four types of people: a servant whom Allah has blessed with wealth and knowledge so he fears his Lord, maintains family ties, and fulfills Allah’s rights with it; such a person occupies the highest rank.”
- Giving sadaqah softens the heart, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised: “If you wish for your heart to soften, feed the needy and gently stroke the head of an orphan.”
The Virtues of Charity in the Hereafter
Charitable giving carries immense rewards that the giver will experience in the afterlife. Below are Hadiths indicating the significance of sadaqah in the context of the Hereafter:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned among the seven who will be shaded by Allah’s shadow on the Day of Judgment: “A man who donates in secrecy, so much so that his right hand does not know what his left hand spends.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Every person will remain in the shade of their charity until the people’s affairs are settled.”
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) recounted a story in which a woman prioritized giving a date to her daughters over herself, to which the Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: “Indeed, Allah has guaranteed her Paradise or freed her from Hellfire through that act.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed: “Charity extinguishes sin just as water extinguishes fire.”
- Charitable donations multiply rewards on the Day of Judgment, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) explained: “Whoever donates the equivalent of a date from lawful earnings, only good deeds ascend to Allah; He takes it in His right hand and increases it for the donor until it becomes like a mountain.”
- Charity serves as a means of protection from Hellfire. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned, “There is not one of you but will be addressed by Allah, with no translator between them. Then they will look to their right and only see what they sent forth; they will look to their left and only see what they sent forth; they will look ahead and see nothing but Hellfire in front of them. So, protect yourselves from the Fire even if by giving half a date.”
- Charity continues to benefit a person after their death. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: “Three follow the deceased: family, wealth, and deeds; family and wealth return, while deeds remain with him.”
- Charity compensates for any shortfall in obligatory zakah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The first matter for which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection is their prayer. If it is complete, it will be recorded as complete; if not, Allah will say, ‘Look if you find any voluntary prayers to complete his obligatory prayer.’ The same applies to zakah, and deeds will be evaluated accordingly.”
- Charity invokes Allah’s mercy towards His servant, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) shared: “Allah does not show mercy to those who do not show mercy to people.”
- Charity helps alleviate the hardships that individuals may face on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Whoever alleviates a believer’s distress in this world, Allah will alleviate his distress on the Day of Resurrection, and whoever facilitates for a debtor, Allah will facilitate for him in this life and the Hereafter.”
Various Forms of Charity in Islam
Sadaqah is not limited to financial contributions; numerous commendable deeds qualify as forms of charity as well. Some examples include:
- Planting trees or crops. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Whenever a Muslim plants a plant or sows seeds that are eaten by a bird, or a human, or an animal, it counts as charity for him.”
- Removing harm from others. The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: “Keeping your harm away from people is an act of charity on your part.”
- Granting respite to someone in debt. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever gives a debtor time, he will earn a charity for each day he delays their debt repayment; if he grants time after it has been resolved, he will receive a similar reward for each day.”
- Feeding one’s family with the intention of charity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is not a single expense you spend seeking Allah’s pleasure except that you are rewarded for it, even what you place in your wife’s mouth.”
- Fulfilling the rights of God’s servants. The Prophet (peace be upon him) enumerated five obligations a Muslim has towards another, which are: returning the greeting, responding to sneezes, accepting invitations, visiting the sick, and attending funerals.
- Showing kindness to animals. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “In every living thing there is a reward.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) asserted: “Every good deed is considered a charity.”
Additional Hadiths on the Importance of Charity
The topic of charity has been given significant emphasis in the prophetic traditions, reflecting its importance and esteemed status in Islam. Here are additional Hadiths concerning the significance of sadaqah:
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The one who works for the widow and the poor is like a warrior in Allah’s cause, or a fasting individual during the day and a standing worshipper at night.”
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If a woman spends from her household food without causing any waste, she receives a reward for what she spends, as does her husband for what he earns, and the same for the steward, with none diminishing the reward of the others.”
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “Allah said: ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “The caretaker of an orphan is with me in Paradise, and he indicated with two fingers.”