Ramadan is always a special moment for the believers, due to the numerous amount of virtues in this month. Rewards and forgiveness of Allah spread across every single second and place during this sacred month. One who realizes how small the preparation he has to welcome the Judgement Day, later on, will be very pleased to welcome Ramadan. One who acknowledges how many sins he has committed will have no other feeling but happiness and joy in welcoming Ramadan. Allah says:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes, in each spike is a hundred grains. Allah multiplies the reward for whomever He wills, for Allah is vast and knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261)
One of the doors that Allah has opened to His slaves to gain big rewards in the month of Ramadan is through giving charity. Islam always advises its followers to give plenty of charities, especially during the month of Ramadan. And that supposes to be the manner of believers; generous. Allah says:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And establish the prayer and give [the] zakah. And whatever you send forth for yourselves of good (deeds), you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah of what you do (is) All-Seer.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:210)
Charity is an act of giving out to the people in need and society at large. The charity can be in the form of money, goods, food or even the simple act of spending time with those who need your assistance in any form. Life doesn’t offer equal opportunities for everyone; through charity, we can share our blessings with those less fortunate and thus try to bring balance to society.
Here are some importance of charity during Ramadan:
- Charity is prevention from the unfavourable conditions
- Charity saves the giver from unfortunate situations
- Charity does not let people die of thirst and hunger
- Charity is the investment you will ever make in life
- Charity saves someone from the embarrassment
- Charity does not decrease our wealth In this life
- Charity saves someone from asking for money
- Charity makes the person generous by nature
- Charity spreads humanity to the non-Muslims
- Charity is said to be a source of prevention
- Charity spreads the message of kindness
- Charity inspired by the generous act
- Charity increases your knowledge
- Charity eases hardship in this life
- Charity expiates sins in this life
- Charity is key to sustenance
- Charity giver is the proof of faith
- Charity protects you from Hell-fire
- Charity relieves by forgiving the loan
- Charity relieves the person from debt
- Charity makes the giver less greedy for money
- Charity giver be peaceful and happy in his heart
- Charity will be rewarded a shade in the Last Day
- Charity effect when the migrants left their homes
- Charity forms a cycle or a chain of donating money
- Charity prevents a merchant wickedness in his trade
- Charity creates an environment where is social justice
- Charity in this life will make us wealthy in the hereafter
- Charity saves the giver from the torments inside the grave
- Charity creates an environment where harmony is possible
Allah SWT promises us that the act of giving to charity shall in no way decrease our wealth – be it in the world of today, in our Hereafter, or both. Every amount helps, and no amount of charity goes unseen by our Creator. At the end of the day, it is our intention we are judged upon, and we are judged only by our Lord Himself. Allah promises more return on your investment in a charity than even that. Allah says:
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“And if is the (debtor) in difficulty, then postponement until ease. And if you remit as a charity (it is) better for you. If you know.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:280)
Giving charity is difficult for many of us because it seems, on the surface level, that we are giving to those who cannot benefit us and that that money will be lost. It may be that those we give charity to may not ever be in a position to return the favour, but our reward does not come from the recipient of our charity. It comes from Allah Almighty and can manifest in many different ways in this life and the next if we have the right intentions. Allah says:
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ
A word kind and (seeking) forgiveness (are) better than a charity followed [it] (by) hurt. And Allah (is) All-Sufficient, All-Forbearing.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:263)
Islam calls upon its followers to reach out with open hands, and give in charity as a way of life. In the Quran, charity is often mentioned along with prayer, as one of the factors that identify true believers. Also, the Quran frequently uses the words “regular charity,” so the charity is best as an ongoing and consistent activity, not just a one-off here and there for a special cause. Charity should be part of the very fibre of your personality as a Muslim.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).” (Surah Al-Baqara, 43)
- “And whatever ye spend in charity or devotion, be sure Allah knows it all. But the wrong-doers have no helpers.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 270)
- “And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I will be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (Surah Maryam, 31)
- “Do they feel secure against Allah’s design? None can feel secure against Allah’s design except the utter losers.” (QS. Al A’raf: 99)
- “He used to enjoin on his people Prayer and charity, and he was most acceptable in the sight of his Lord.” (Surah Maryam, 55)
- “Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.)” (Al-Baqarah 2:276)
It is undeniable that basically, men are easily seduced by Satan, who keeps on calling them to abandon their righteous deeds. We should habitually perform good deeds for our fellow human beings and even for the animals. The wealth, time, and effort we put into charitable work will return to us as multiplied rewards on the Day of Resurrection. Allah says:
وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِندَ اللَّهِ وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ
“And what you give for usury to increase in (the) wealth (of) people, not (will) increase with Allah. But what you give of zakah desiring (the) Countenance (of) Allah, then those [they] (will) get manifold.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:39)
Allah the Exalted is indeed merciful and generous to His slaves, by giving them chances to get so many great rewards in this blessed month. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a great kind of worship, and its reward is unlimited. These three noble deeds are gathered in the month of Ramadan and if all three were performed, there is no reward for it but the guarantee to enter Paradise.
كُلُّ مَعْرُوفٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِنَّ مِنْ الْمَعْرُوفِ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ وَأَنْ تُفْرِغَ مِنْ دَلْوِكَ فِي إِنَاءِ أَخِيكَ
“Every good deed is charity. Verily, it is a good deed to meet your brother with a smiling face and to pour what is left from your bucket into the vessel of your brother.” (Tirmidhi 1970)
Therefore, we should instil charity as an attitude and way of life within ourselves, our families, and our communities. One of the virtues of giving charity in the month of Ramadan is that during this month, people will be easier to perform righteous deeds, including giving charity. Allah says:
وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيًّا
“And he used (to) enjoin (on) his people the prayer and zakah and was near his Lord pleasing.” (Surah Maryam 19:55)
Thus men become reluctant and lazy to perform righteous deeds. But during the month of Ramadan, Allah makes His slaves easier to perform righteous deeds. We can see that the condition of Ramadan is much different compared to other months. People are haste in doing good that they do not get used to doing in the other months. Kindness is a label is specifically meant for Islam and there can be no example of it other than charity in Islam.
