elfurqan.com – Charity (صدقة) is the act of a Muslim giving to others voluntarily and sincerely without being restricted by time or a specific amount. Charity is broader than just zakat or voluntary alms-giving.
Because charity doesn’t only mean giving away or donating wealth. Instead, charity encompasses all kinds of good deeds or actions. As depicted in a hadith, “Giving a smile to your brother is charity.”
- Charity Can Erase Sins
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Charity can erase sins just as water extinguishes fire.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al Albani in Shahih At Tirmidhi, 614) - Those Who Give Charity Will Receive Shelter on the Day of Judgment
One type of person who will receive shelter on the Day of Judgment is:
“A person who gives charity with their right hand, so much so that their left hand doesn’t know what their right hand has given.” (Narrated by Bukhari no. 1421) - Charity Brings Blessings to Wealth
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Wealth will not decrease with charity. And a servant who forgives will surely receive added dignity from Allah.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 2588) - Allah Multiplies the Rewards of Charity
Allah says:
“Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan – it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.” (Quran, Al Hadid: 18) - There is a Gate of Paradise Only Accessible to Those Who Give Charity
“Whoever spends two kinds (of things) in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise, ‘O slave of Allah, this is good.’ So whoever was amongst the people who offered Salah (prayers), will be called from the gate of Salah; and whoever was amongst the people who fought in Jihad, will be called from the gate of Jihad; and whoever was amongst the people who used to give in charity (i.e., Zakat) will be called from the gate of charity.” (Narrated by Bukhari no.3666, Muslim no. 1027) - Charity Serves as Proof of a Person’s Faith
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Charity is proof.” (Narrated by Muslim no.223) - Charity Can Deliver from the Torment of the Grave
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Charity extinguishes the heat of the grave for its people.” (Narrated by Thabrani, authenticated by Al Albani in Shahih At Targhib, 873) - Charity Can Prevent Merchants from Engaging in Sinful Transactions
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“O merchants! Indeed, Satan and sin accompany trade. So embellish your transactions with charity.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi no. 1208, he said: “Hasan sahih”) - Those Who Give Charity Experience a Sense of Relief and Happiness
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave a good analogy about the generous person and the miser:
“The likeness of the miser and the one who gives in charity is as the likeness of two men wearing coats of armor from their breasts up to their necks, and when the giver wants to give in charity, the coat of armor (covers his whole body) and one of its arms comes to the mouth of the giver so that he cannot give any handful of food or drink.” (Narrated by Bukhari no. 1443) - The Rewards of Charity Continuously Grow
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, Allah accepts charity and takes it with His right hand. Then He raises it for one of you as a man raises his colt, until the reward becomes as large as a mountain.” (Narrated by At Tirmidzi 662, he said: “Hasan sahih”) - Charity Keeps One Away from the Fire of Hell
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Keep yourselves away from the Hell-fire even if it be with half a date.” (Narrated by Bukhari 6539, Muslim 1016) - It’s Permissible to Feel Envious of the Generous
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“There is no envy except in two: a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom (i.e., religious knowledge) and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to the others.” (Narrated by Bukhari 73, Muslim 816)