Giving something of the wealth over which Allah has given us temporary custody is a critical part of our deen. The Prophet (sas) said:
"Man yatasaddaqa bi 'idli tamratin min kasbin tayyibin - wa laa yaqbalu Allahu illa at-tayyib - fa inna Allaha yaqbaluhaa bi yameenihi thumma yurbeehaa li saahibihaa kamaa yurbiy ahadukum falwahu hattaa takoona mithla al-jabali." "Whoever gives in charity the value of a single date from pure earnings - and Allah accepts nothing but the pure - verily Allah receives it with his right hand then he makes it grow like the way one of you causes a dowry to grow until it becomes like a mountain." Muslim & Bukhari
The meaning of sadaqa is the giving of wealth to another as an act of worship and seeking to come closer to Allah Most High. It is an effective barrier between the giver and evil. It repels trials and hardships and prevents an awful death. All of this is only by the permission of Allah and the giving of sadaqa is the cause which Allah has attached to these benefits. It is also used allegorically to refer to all acts of "giving" and kindness other than those involving wealth such as giving the greeting, smiling in your brother's face, seeking to solve a problem between two others for no gain to yourself, being attentive to your spouse in your bed and other actions.
As the hadith says, giving of your wealth to another while physically between you and another human is an action received directly by Allah Most High. This has also been mentioned in the Qur'an:
{A lam ta'lamoo anna Allaha huwa yaqbalu at-taubata 'an 'ibaadihi wa ya'khudhu as-sadaqaati wa anna Allaha huwa at-tawaabu ar-raheem.} {Did you not know that Allah is the One who accepts repentence from his slaves and takes their charities and that Allah is the ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.} At-Tauba:104
Generally, the best way to give sadaqa is in secret, although it can also be done publicly. Sometimes it is actually better to give publicly if that will encourage others to follow suit and increase tha amount of giving among the Muslims. Because the Prophet (sas) said: "Whoever starts a good practice will get its reward and the reward of all those who do it after him without that decreasing his reward in the least and whoever starts a bad practice will get its sin and the sin of all those who do it after him without that diminishing their sin in the least." Allah said:
{In tubdoo as-sadaqaati ta ni'immaa hiya wa in tukhfoohaa wa tu'toohaa al-fuqaraa'a fa huwa khairun lakum wa yukaffiru 'ankum min sayyi'aatikum wa Allahu bimaa ta'maloona khabeerun.} {If you show your charitibal giving that is just fine and if you conceal it and give it to the needy that is better for you and it will expiate for you some of your bad deeds and Allah is fully aware of all that you do.} Al-Baqara:271
While giving may seem like a diminishing of one's wealth and putting it in a savings account or lending it out for interest may seem like an increase in one's wealth, the reality is quite the opposite. Allah said:
{Yamhaqu Allahu ar-ribaa wa yurbiy as-sadaqaati wa Allahu laa yuhibbu kulla kaffaarin atheemin.} {Allah obliterates interest and causes charity to grow and Allah does not love every one of those extreme in disbelief and extreme in sin.} Al-Baqara:276
Sadaqa, to be acceptable must be an act done for the sake of Allah with consciousness that what is being given is not truly "yours" or something you have earned or deserved. Rather, it is the sustenance (rizq) of Allah and His favor upon you and something which Allah has simply made you the temporary custodian (mustakhlaf) over. It was possessed by others before you and will be possessed by others after you.
When one has this consciousness, then they will realize that the receiver is actually giving them a great gift and a great help by allowing them to worship and come close to Allah in this way - and not the other way around. So Muslims of understanding will never humiliate or belittle those to whom they give nor feel that they have done them a favor or that the receivers "owe" them anything like the ignorant and disbelieving do. If one does these things, it shows that their sadaqa is not genuine and it is invalidated and does them no good with Allah no matter how big and generous it may be. Allah said:
{Yaa ayyuhaa alladhina aamanoo laa tubtiloo sadaqaatikum bi al-manni wa al-adhaa ka alladhiy yunfiqu maalahu ri'aa'a an-naasi wa laa yu'minu bi Allahi wa al-yaumi al-aakhiri...} {O, you who believe do not invalidate your charities with claims of generosity and harmfulness like the one who spends his wealth for the people to see but doesn't believe in Allah and in the Last Day...} Al-Baqara:264
Islam encourages the giving of charity, but does not encourage the taking of charity let alone asking for it. Since there are always among us those who need assistance, this means that it is obligatory upon those with the means to LOOK for places to put their sadaqa such those in need never need to ask and seek their help. The Prophet (sas) said:
"Al-yadu al-'ulyaa khairun min al-yadi as-suflaa wa ibda' bi man ta'oolu wa khairu as-sadaqa maa kaana 'an dhahri ghinaa wa man yasta'fif ya'iffuhu Allahu wa man yastighni yughnihi Allahu." "The upper hand is superior to the lower hand. Start with those for whom you are responsible. The best charity is the one which leaves you free of need. Whoever abstains, Allah will dignify them and whoever maintains self-sufficiency, Allah will make them self-sufficient." Al-Bukhari
Sadaqa is one of the seven things which will get you shade in the Throne of Allah on the terrifying day of al-mahshar when there is no shade except for the shade of Allah. In the hadith:
"Saba'atun yudhilluhum Allahu fiy dhillihi yauma laa dhilla illa dhilluhu... wa rajulun tasaddaqa bi sadaqatin fa ikhfaahaa hattaa laa ta'lamu shimaaluhu maa tunfiqu yameenuhu..." "Seven who Allahu will shade in His shade on the day when there is no shade except His shade... and a man who gave something in charity secretly such that his left hand did not know what his right hand had given..." Muslim & Bukhari
Before you think that your property is little or that you need to receive and not give, remember your standing before Allah. If two Muslims have a little and cling to it thinking "I have only a little", then they will get no good deed from their wealth with which to face Allah. If the same two people give something of their meager wealth and, because Muslims are giving they also receive, they may end up with the same or more sustenance but also have a good deed with which to face Allah Most High. What a win-win situation giving is!
On that day, we will need everything possible to help us. Do not neglect any opportunity to send something forward for that day. Even a tiny act of giving could be the critical item which determines your fate in the eternal hereafter. The Prophet (sas) said:
"Maa minkum min ahadin illa sayukallimuhu Allahu laisa bainahu wa bainahu turjumaan. Fa yandhuru aimana minhu falaa yaraa illa maa qaddama wa yandhuru ash'ama minhu falaa yaraa illa maa qaddam wa yandhuru baina yadaihi falaa yaraa illa an-naara tilqaa'a wajhihi fa ittaqoo an-naara wa lau bi shiqqi tamratin." "There is not one single one of you but that Allah will speak to him with no interpreter between them. He will look to his right and see nothing but what he has sent forth. He will look to his left and see nothing but what he has sent forth. He will look in front of him and see nothing but the fire facing him. So beware of the fire - even if with just half a date." Muslim & Bukhari
Do you think tax is not enough for us, and then you add As-sadaqa? What, then more. People can’t work only for tax and charity; the life has other sense. In addition it’s very short.
Yes life is short this is why we should do our best to help the poor and the needy and give as much sada9a as we can so that allah sobhanah grant us janah inchalah.
Sada9a is not all about giving money - even a penniless person can give sada9a:
Good deeds are Sadaqah Hadrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hadrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "Every act of kindness is sadaqah." (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Hadrat Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying that every Muslim must give sadaqah. He was asked how this could apply to one who had nothing and replied that he should work with his hands, gaining benefit for himself thereby, and give sadaqa. He was asked what would happen if he were unable to do this or did not do it, and replied that he should help one who was in need and sad. He was asked what he should do if he did not do that and replied that he should enjoin what is good. He was asked what he should do if he did not do that, and replied that he should refrain from evil, for that would be sadaqa for him. (Bukhari)
Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) saying, "Every bone of men's fingers and toes must give sadaqa every day the sun rises. If one gives justice between two men it is sadaqa; if one helps a man with his beast, loading or lifting his goods on it, it is sadaqa; a good word is sadaqa; every step one takes towards prayer is sadaqa; and if anyone removes anything injurious from the road it is sadaqa." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "If any Muslim plants something or sows seed from which man, bird, or beast eats, it counts as sadaqa for him." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Taking care of animals is Sadaqah Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "Forgiveness was granted to an unchaste woman who coming upon a dog panting and almost dead with thirst at the mouth of a well, took off her shoe, tied it with her head-covering, and drew some water for it. On that account she was forgiven." He was asked whether people received a reward for what they did to animals and replied, "A reward is given in connection with every living creature." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadrat Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "A woman was punished on account of a cat which she kept shut up till it died of hunger. She did not feed it or let it out so that it might eat things creeping on the earth." (Bukhari and Muslim)
So it is possible for everyone to give in charity, and actually necessary. It doesn't just mean giving money, there are many other things we can do, for example;
being friendly, polite and just with people is a form of charity, helping people across the street, being nice to the neighbours, standing up for other peoples' rights, and telling them if they don't know about their rights making room for old people to pass in front of you or those who have some injury or disability, giving up your seat on the bus or train for someone older than you or more in need of it, giving directions, being the first person to speak amongst strangers, translating for someone in need of it, forgiving others walking to the mosque! setting a good example and giving good advice to help the younger generation spending time with your family and people who care about you teaching good things to others, such as good habits, useful information for work, society, etc I'm sure you can think of many other ideas as well.
Brother Arabi, I really like the explanation of Sadakah in Islam, I like the fact that it says that it's not actually "Sadakah" as we know it, but more like an AMANAH left with us to give to the poor, it make the giver feel no power over the poor, and it makes the poor feel no humiliation taking something that was left for them by law. It’s Islam at it’s best, It’s a great meaning that existed in Islam way before the tax systems in other parts of the world. I wish I can talk about these kinds of qualities in Islam without thinking about the harm done to Islam by terrorists and fanatics, but I really really like the meaning of Sadakah in Islam. Thank you Arabi.
Thank you very much brother almotanabi, Yes I agree with you 100% the sadaqa is in fact a RIGHT for the poor "AMANAH".
As far as terrorists and fanatics are concerned every nation has her own misled people, and we are no exception!
Rather I would say that these misled people have caused a lot less damage than what other terrorists (American and Israeli Armies) did for years and years, it's just that they have the media and the power on their side, and they use it as a way of propaganda, and support for their policies.
In our countries we have a high rate if illiteracy and poverty which is an explosive combination, poor people are left to starve, they are not helped by our governments and very few rich people give sadaqa.
The other thing is we should make a clear difference between terrorism and self-defense, not so long ago the Nazis used to call the French resistance terrorism.
However, these points taken into account there is a big difference between jihad (legitimate defence of self, family or religion) and terrorism against civilians that kills indiscriminately innocent people.
Salam
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2005 09:19 by Arabi77.
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