Goodness is an essential part of human nature. A man feels inner satisfaction through committing virtuous deeds, like lending a little money to the poor and helping out a crippled person on the way, etc. Such acts of kindness and compassion are the reasons why mankind still exists on the surface of the earth; otherwise, it would never survive if all of them were cruel and spiteful. The Religion of Islam greatly emphasizes the importance of doing good to others. We as Muslims should give Sadaqah to help poor people. Allah says:

إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْوَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

“If you give alms openly, it is well, and if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you; and this will do away with some of your evil deeds, and Allah is aware of what you do.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 251)

The Islamic aid Sadaqah is something that has been given a great deal of importance in Islam because it leads to an ultimate goal that is to help needy and poor people. Islamic aid Sadaqah a charitable giving is to undertake a highly preached, highly emphasized and highly encouraged act in Islam. Allah says:

أَأَشْفَقْتُمْ أَن تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَاتٍ فَإِذْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَتَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

“Do you fear that you will not give in Sadaqat before your consultation? So when you do not do it and God has turned to you (mercifully), then keep up prayer and pay Zakat and obey God and His Messenger; and God is Aware of what you do.” (Surah Al-Mujadilah 58:13)

What Is Sadaqah?

In Islamic terminology, the word Sadaqah means to voluntarily give charity out of the goodness of one’s heart. This is not an Islamic obligation, but rather a practice conducted to help those in need or the deprived. This act goes to show the strength of the believer’s faith and increases it further. Sadaqah does not refer solely to money in Islam because a Sadaqah can be anything as small as flashing a smile towards a stranger or removing an obstacle or thorn from a path. Allah says:

وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

“And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me Prayer and Zakah as long as I remain alive.” (Surah Maryam 19:31)

Sadaqah is that under no circumstances can both terms be used interchangeably. Such acts of kindness and compassion are the reasons why mankind still exists on the surface of the earth; otherwise, it would never survive if all of them were cruel and spiteful. Allah says:

إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

“If you do deeds of charity openly, it is well; but if you bestow it upon the needy in secret, it will be better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds. And God is aware of all that you do.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:271)

In fact, sadaqah has been mentioned by Muslims as a way to thank Allah and guard themselves against any kind of difficulties. In addition, it helps society by providing support to the needy and the poor. Sadaqah is a way for those whom Allah has blessed with wealth to share with their relatives and neighbours in need.

Types of Sadaqah

1. Dhikr (Remembrance) Of Allah SWT
2. Smiling In Front Of A Muslim Brother
3. Every Action Of Goodness
4. Guiding Other Person
5. Helping  A Blind Human Being
6. Pouring Water For Muslim Fellow
7. Eliminating Harmful Objects From Passageway

We need to give sadaqah good and lawful doings to get rewards and merits. If we give sadaqah from prohibited or wrongdoings, we will not get rewards but we get sins from Allah. Sadaqah is the thing that Allah loves most. It makes us closer to the nature of sincerity and away from the nature of Riya ‘(showing off). We should not delay or wait when giving sadaqah. Allah says:

مْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

“Destroys Allah the usury and (gives) increase (for) the charities. And Allah (does) not love every ungrateful sinner.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:276)

Every action of righteousness in Islam is considered as Sadaqah, which is derived from the Arabic root word, Sadiq (truth). Its literal meaning is to expend from one`s possessions and abilities in the way of the Almighty Lord. Sadaqah is the necessary constituent of a believer`s faith through which it seeks the Pleasure of the Creator of the world by helping out the poor and others.

Some of the kinds of Sadaqah are as follows:

1. Sadaqah is Never-Ending Rewards From Allah SWT
2. Every action of goodness is sadaqah
3. The Best Investment with Allah SWT
4. Sadaqah in good health and not rich
5. Do not count the sadaqah you give
6. Give the best treasure in sadaqah
7. Seek only the desire to see Allah
8. Sadaqah according to the ability
9. Your wealth won’t be reduced
10. Sadaqah with what we love
11. It protects from tragedies
12. Sadaqah for jihad fii sabilillah
13. Dhikr (Remembrance) Of Allah SWT
14. Studying the obligations in sadaqah
15. Not delaying the obligatory sadaqah
16. Smiling In front of a Muslim brother
17. To remove harmful things from the path
18. Perform sadaqah in the month of Ramadan
19. Do not bring up and hurt the receiver of sadaqah
20. Sadaqah after the mandatory need has been fulfilled
21. Choose to donate towards the construction of a Mosque

In Islam, giving Zakat and Sadaqah (charity) has enormous rewards.  Almost every day we spend thousands of money on food, dresses, ornamentation and on other “essentials” of life, but when it comes to giving sadaqah, we can have a lot of excuses like being short of money, under debt, not capable, or delayed salary, and so on. Allah says:

قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ

“Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:263)

In Islam, there are countless teachings and acts of obedience that enable us to exercise the basic necessities of being human; selflessness, humanity, good manners, being pious, being humble and so on. Goodness is an essential part of human nature. Sadaqah has many similarities. It is a source of forgiveness of sins as the Prophet (SAW)  It is an ultimate source of attaining the pleasure of Almighty

Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:

• “Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him, you will be returned.” (Quran, 2: 245)
• “O, my Lord! why didst Thou does not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doors of good.” (Surah Al-Munafiqun,10)
• “Verily those who give sadaqah, men, and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan, it shall be increased manifold, and theirs shall be an honourable good reward (Paradise).” (Surah Al Hadid: 18)
• “Those who spend their wealth in the cause of God and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or injure the feeling of the recipient shall get their reward from their Lord; they shall have nothing to fear or to regret.” (Quran 2.262)
• “…. And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.” (Quran, 2: 158)

Therefore our choice of wealth will define the passion of our love towards Allah. We must always give Sadaqah wholeheartedly without thinking it as a burden upon us. The act symbolizes our will to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. It is to train us how to surrender ourselves to the will of Allah for the sake of serving humanity. Allah says:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“The believers, both men, and women are supporters of one another. They enjoin good, prohibiting evil, establish Prayer, pay Zakah and obey Allah SWT and His Messenger. Surely Allah SWT will bestow mercy upon them. Allah SWT is the All-Mighty, All-Wise…” (Surah At-Taubah 9:71)

Our duty is just to give sadaqah generously and leave the rest on Allah. He better knows what is good for us. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share them with others. A person keeps on reaping benefits from it even after its death. Let’s invest in our akhirah today; join one of the many Islamic charities, such as Islamic Help, and give to someone in need today.