The Virtues of Charity (Sadaqah) in Islam

By Dr. Ali Shehata . 05 Jan 2024

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From Allah's mercy, He has provided for the believers numerous varied opportunities to come closer to Him and to earn His forgiveness and mercy. You should know then that there are few doors of goodness that are better than the voluntary giving of charity. In the Quran, Allah teaches us:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌۭ لَّا بَيْعٌۭ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌۭ وَلَا شَفَـٰعَةٌۭ ۗ

“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.” [al-Baqarah 2:254]

And He also stated:

ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ

“Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that of which He has made you trustees. Truly, those who have believed among you and spent in charity, for them there will be a great reward.” [al-Hadeed 57:7]

And from the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) we learn:

“Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allah 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 and Muslim as narrated by Abu Hurairah)
It was also narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah said, ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)
And in a lengthy hadith narrated by Mu’adh bin Jabal wherein said: “I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey. One morning I drew close to him when we were on the move and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action that will gain me admittance to Paradise and keep me far away from Hell.’ He replied, ‘You have asked for something great, but it is easy for the one for whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate anything in worship with Him, establish prayer, pay zakah, fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House.’ Then he asked, ‘Shall I not tell you of the means of goodness? Fasting is a shield, and charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire, and a man’s prayer in the middle of the night ....’” (Ibn Maajah)
And in one more gem from Abu Hurairah, he narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Charity does not diminish wealth, Allah does not increase a man in anything for his pardoning (others) except in honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah, except that Allah raises him in status as a result.” (Tirmithi)

In truth, our noble religion is filled with encouragement to give in charity. It is one of the best ways to come closer to Allah and by which to seek His mercy, being as effective at erasing sin as water is at putting out fire. It is the best of investments, for that which you give in charity, whereas it may momentarily diminish what you hold in your hand of wealth, Allah has promised to repay that which you give in charity many times over, both in this life and the hereafter. How incredible would it be to meet Allah on the Day of Judgment with your charity having grown into mountains of good deeds? So, don't wait until your time is up and you lament over not giving charity when you had the chance as Allah has informed us:

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرْجِعُونِ

لَعَلِّىٓ أَعْمَلُ صَـٰلِحًۭا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّآ ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

[For such is the state of the disbelievers] until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I neglected!" No! It is only a word he says; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. [al-Muminoon 23:99-100]]

By Dr. Ali Shehata . 05 Jan 2024

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