Class07-Charity beyond Ramadan
Class 7
‘Charity beyond Ramadan’
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
- “O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)”
[al-Baqarah 2:254] - “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allaah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower. Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allaah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” [al-Baqarah 2:261-262]
- “O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it, (though) you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein. And know that Allaah is Rich (Free of all needs), and Worthy of all praise” [al-Baqarah 2:267]
- “Believe in Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allaah’s way), theirs will be a great reward” [al-Hadeed 57:7]
The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people and he was at his most generous during Ramadaan. (Bukhaari& Muslim)
But He ﷺ also gave regular charity in the rest of the year. Remember—Allah (swt) loves consistency more than anything. Giving Sadaqah is a powerful way for us to extinguish sin and purify ourselves, which will make us feel better in no time.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Sadaqah extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire’. (Sunan Ibn Majah)
The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people in giving in charity, and that he did not think anything too valuable or anything too insignificant to give in charity. Rather if anyone was to ask for something then he ﷺ would give it to them. Whether it was little or whether it was great. His ﷺ happiness and his ﷺ joy in giving were greater than the joy of the one who was receiving that charity from him.
VIRTUES OF CHARITY
We are blessed with more
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
- “Allaah said: ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’” (Bukhari & Muslim)
- “Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allaah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allaah will take it in His right hand and tend it for the one who gave it as any one of you tends his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
Angles pray for us (or against us if we don’t give)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
- “There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allaah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allaah, destroy the one who withholds.’” (Bukhari & Muslim)
- ‘Fear Allaah even if it is with half a date.’ [Bukhari & Muslim]
So try and not make a day pass from you from the days of Allaah except that you stretch your hand as much as it is in your ability to do, even if it is a little.
Be with the Prophet ﷺ in Jannah (Sponsor an Orphan)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The one who sponsors an orphan, whether it is a relative of his or not, he and I ﷺ will be like these two in Paradise,” and (pointed with his forefinger and middle finger). (Muslim)
Expiates sins and saves a person from punishment
The Prophet ﷺ said:
- The fitnah [trial] of a man is in his family and his wealth and his neighbour, it is expiated by way of the prayer and the fasting and the giving of charity.(Bukhari)
- “O assemblage of women; give in charity, and be plentiful in seeking forgiveness, for I saw that you form the majority of the people of Hell.”(Bukhari)
- “Whoever among you who is able to screen [protect] himself against the Fire, even if it should be with half a date; then he should do so”. (Muslim)
Charity will be a means of shade on the Day of Resurrection
The Prophet ﷺ said:
- “Every person will be in the shade of his charity until judgment is carried out upon the people.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
- “Indeed the sadaqah [charity] extinguishes from its people the heat of the graves, and the believer will be shaded on the Day of Resurrection in the shade of his charity.” (Tabarani, Hasan)
Special Gate in Paradise for those who give in Charity
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever spends two things in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, ‘Oh slave of Allah, here is prosperity!’ So whoever was among the people who used to offer their prayers will be called from the gate of the prayer; and whoever was among the people who used to participate in jihaad will be called from the gate of jiihaad; and whoever was among those who used to observer fasts will be called from the gate of ar-Rayyaan; and whoever was among those who used to give charity will be called from the gate of charity.” (Bukhari)
An investment in this life and the hereafter
A return on investment isn’t something you would associate with spending money on charitable causes. However, Allah promises us that he will increase our wealth and sustenance and bring us success in this life and the hereafter when we give Sadaqah.
Allah says, “Indeed, those men and women who give in charity and lend to Allah a good loan will have it multiplied for them, and they will have an honourable reward.” (Quran 57:18)
Sadaqah purifies the Nafs
Our purpose in life is to strive in the way of Allah through worship and good deeds to attain righteousness, and one of the best ways to attain righteousness is by spending for the sake of Allah. Our wealth is a test from Allah and can even be a burden as we are accountable for how we spend it. We should spend on charity to distinguish worldly desires and attain the reward of the Hereafter.
Allah says, ‘By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love. And whatever you spend; indeed, Allah is Knowing of it’. [3:92]
It can be a means of continuous rewards (even after death)
By giving SadaqahJariyah you can invest in the hereafter for yourself or for your loved ones by earning continuous rewards. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: SadaqahJariyah (continuous charity), knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him’. [Muslim]
SADAQAH JAARIYAH
Ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) is a charity the reward of which continues after a person dies. As for the charity of which the reward does not continue, such as charity in the form of food given to a poor person, that is not ongoing charity .
Based on that, giving iftar to those who are fasting, sponsoring orphans and taking care of the elderly – although these are acts of charity – are not ongoing charity. But you can contribute to the building of an orphanage or home for seniors, and that will be an ongoing charity for which you will earn reward so long as that institution continues to benefit people.
Types of Sadaqah Jaariyah
Types and examples of ongoing charity are many, including:
- building mosques,
- planting trees,
- digging wells,
- printing and distributing Mus-hafs (copies of Quran),
- spreading beneficial knowledge (in person or online)
- Donating to places where they teach Islam, so those who learn from them and implement will be a source of ongoing charity.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Among the good deeds the reward of which will reach a believer after his death are: knowledge which he learned and then spread; a righteous son whom he leaves behind; a copy of the Quran that he leaves as a legacy; a mosque that he built; a house that he built for wayfarers; a canal that he dug; or charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah, classed as hasan by al-Albani).
So hasten to give charity and strive to make your charity ongoing, so that you may benefit from it after death.
VARIOUS WAYS OF DOING CHARITY
Monetary Donations
- Help orphans
As mentioned above the virtue and reward of this deed is to be in Paradise with the Prophet ﷺ.
- Spending on your family
The Prophetﷺ said, “When a Muslim spends something on his family intending to receive Allah’s reward it is regarded as Sadaqa for him.”
- Give water to the needy
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Who will buy the well of Roomah and drink from it as other Muslims do, in return for something better than it in Paradise?” ‘Uthmaan said: So I bought it with my own wealth. (Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi).
- Plant Trees
The Prophet ﷺsaid: ‘It is a charitable donation when a Muslim plants a tree or grows crops and the birds, humans or cattle eat from it.’“ (Bukhari & Muslim)
- Granting concession to the debtor,
The Prophet ﷺ said ‘“Whoever grants respite to (a debtor) who is in difficulty, Allaah will grant him relief in this world and in the Hereafter”. (Sahih Muslim)
Non-Monetary
- To Smile,
The Prophet ﷺ said “Your smile for your brother is a charity” (Bukhari)
- Dhikr,
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Has not Allah made things for you to give in charity? Truly, each Tasbeehah (saying Subhaana Allah, i.e. glory be to Allah) is a charity, each Takbeerah (saying Allahu Akbar, i.e. Allah is the Greatest) is a charity, and each Tahmeedah (saying Al-Hamdulillah, i.e. All praise is due to Allah) is a charity, and each Tahleelah (saying LaaIlaahailla Allah, i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah) is a charity,…….” (Muslim)
- Removing harmful things from the road
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Every small bone of everyone has upon it a charitable act for everyday upon which the sun rises. Bringing about justice between two is an act of charity. Helping a man get on his mount, lifting him onto it or helping him put his belongings onto it, is a charitable act. A good word is a charitable act. Every step you take toward the prayer is a charitable act. And removing a harmful thing from the path is a charitable act.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
- Guiding others, (Same reference as above)
- Helping others, (Same hadeeth as above)
- Bringing Justice (Same hadeeth as above)
- Reconciling between people,
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Shall I not tell you something that is better than the status of (voluntary) fasting, prayer and charity?” They said: “Yes.” He ﷺ said: “Reconciling in a case of discord, for the evil of discord is the shaver.” Al-Tirmidhi said: It was narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “It is the shaver, and I do not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (i.e., destroys) religious commitment.” (Abu Dawood & al-Tirmidhi; classed as hasan by al-Albaani).
- Putting a morsel in the wife’s mouth
Prophet ﷺ said, “Whatever you spend seeking thereby the Pleasure of Allah, will have its reward, even the morsel which you put in the mouth of your wife“. (Bukhari & Muslim)
- Helping your brother,
The Prophet ﷺ said, “…the one who meets the needs of his brother, Allah will meet his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of distress, Allah will relieve him of distress on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari & Muslim) Also He ﷺ said, “Allaah will help a person so long as he is helping his brother.” (Sahih Muslim)
- Helping & taking care of the Sick,
Helping the one who is sick and serving him is an act of charity.
- Volunteering,
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The honest Muslim trustee who carries out duties assigned to him (in another narration he said, “Who gives”), and he gives that in full, with his heart overflowing with cheerfulness, to whom he is ordered, he is one of the two givers of charity.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is a charity. Your guidance of a person who is lost is a charity’. [Bukhari]. Sadaqah is about benefiting the whole community and looking after the vulnerable for the betterment of society.
What is the best way to give sadaqah?
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The dearest of people to Allah, may He be exalted, is the one who does most benefit to people, and the dearest of deeds to Allah, may He be exalted, is joy that you bring to a Muslim, or relieving him of distress, or paying off debt for him, or dispelling his hunger. And to walk with a brother to meet his needs is dearer to me than observing i‘tikaaf in this mosque – meaning the mosque of Madinah – for a month.” (Narrated by at-Tabaraani (12/453); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
The Muslim should give his charity to several causes, so that he will have a share of the reward from different sources. So you could allocate some of your wealth to providing iftar for those who are fasting, another part for sponsoring orphans, a third part to support a seniors’ home, a fourth part to contribute to the building of a mosque, a fifth part to distributing books and Mus-hafs, and so on.
May Allah give us the hidayah to be amongst the amongst the people give in Charity regularly and hence becoming the people who enter Jannah through the gate of Charity. May Allah make us all beneficial to the Ummah by wealth, word, care, actions & duas.