\Islam is the religion of peace that supports humanity and mankind in the best possible ways. 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. Allah says:
يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
“They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, “Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveller. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:215)
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 into society. We all want to live happily in the world, try to do many charities so that grieving will be removed from us. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنفَقُوا مَنًّا وَلَا أَذًى لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allaah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah Al Baqara 2:262)
Charity is the essence of Islam and it has great importance in the lives of Muslims. Muslim community thrives on charity. The effort Islam puts in financial checks and balances for every member of the Muslim society shows the deep values for human rights. It helps to build a strong society where the flow of wealth is even and basic human needs are met. Along with the help of those receiving charity. Allah says:
لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:92)
Charity is purely for the sake of Allah and no worldly gain should be intended while making charity. It should only be made to seek Allah’s forgiveness and His blessings. Living in the world is only temporary and forever belongs to the afterlife. After we died, nothing can help us but the deeds we had committed when we lived. We can start our afterlife investment by doing charity starting from now.
Islamic Emphasis on Charity and its Importance:
- Charity does not let people die of thirst and hunger
- Charity is said to be a source of prevention
- Charity spreads the message of kindness
- Charity spreads the message of kindness
- Charity relieves the person from debt
- Charity relieves by forgiving the loan
- Charity increases your knowledge
- Charity eases hardship in this life
- Charity proving the Faith to Allah
- Charity is key to sustenance
- Charity saves from Hellfire
- Charity erases our sins
- Charity is aware of what you do
- Charity giver is the proof of faith
- Charity gain blessings from Allah
- Charity protects you from Hell-fire
- Charity inspired by the generous act
- Charity is a Form of Worship to Allah
- Charity teaching gratefulness to ourselves
- Charity makes the person generous by nature
- Charity makes the giver less greedy for money
- Charity forms a cycle or a chain of donating money
Charity is one of the things that hit two targets with one arrow. It not only helps the people in need but also benefits the giver by increasing the excellence and blessings either in this world or hereafter. This is why most Muslims try to donate to charity in every way possible to fulfil their responsibilities as religious people. Allah says:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
“And establish the prayer and give zakah and bow down with those who bow down.” (Surah Al Baqara 2:43)
While we live, we are told to worship Allah SWT and be kind to another human. There is a way for us to do both at once, by doing charity. Charity placed third among five principles in Islam, which means that every Muslim should do charity at all costs. It has become our obligation to do good and seek Allah’s pleasure. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“The aims are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarer; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:60)
Worshipping Allah is the purpose of humanity’s creation. While Salat and reciting Quran are the main kind of worship, giving charity is also one of them. Every Muslim has their faith in Allah SWT and His Messenger (peace be upon him). But faith should not only be spoken but proved as well.
What Does Allah Almighty say in the Holy Quran About Charity?
- Charity is mentioned dozens of times in the Quran. “Be steadfast in prayer, practise regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship)” (2:43)
- “Worship none but Allah. treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity” (2:83)
- “Be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity. Whatever good you send forth for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah. For Allah sees well all that you do” (2:110)
- “Charity is for those in need, who, in Allah’s cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, seeking (For trade or work)” (2:273)
- “Those who in charity spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (2:274)
- “Allah will deprive usury of all blessing but will give increase for deeds of charity. He loves not creatures ungrateful and wicked” (2:276)
- “If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time until it is easy for him to repay. But if you remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if you only knew” (2:280)
- “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” (2:263)
The Quran also reminds us that we should be humble about our offerings of charity, not embarrassing or injuring the recipients.
How to Give Charity in Islam
After understanding all the benefits of charity in Islam, the next is to put into action it by doing charity. Here are some of the many ways of giving charity in Islam.
- Pick Something Up from the Road
- Donating Money:
- Feed Fasting People
- Teaching Others to Read Quran
We can do charity by teaching our kids, relatives, and family how to read Quran. The reward will still be given to us even after our death. Every time the person we taught recite Quran, we will also be rewarded. So those are all the benefits of charity in Islam. We are taught to be kind to others by Islam, so let’s continue the legacy of Islam by performing many good deeds charities as long as we live. Allah says:
مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ وَلَهُ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?” (Surah Al-Hadid 57:11)
The concept of charity derives from the fact to acknowledge that we own nothing but whatever has been given to us is a blessing by Allah (SWT) and it’s His property. So when we give out something from our pocket, we are actually sharing Allah’s blessings with His mankind and since we don’t own anything, we don’t lose anything by giving out but only gain Allah’s rewards. Allah says:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And establish prayer and give zakah, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah of what you do is Seeing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:110)
The Muslim who is Giving charity also benefits from it in terms of an increase in faith. In Islam, charity is seen as the multiplication of wealth in contrast to giving out money which keeps reminding Muslims about Akhirah and their accountability before Allah. Thus Islam and Quran heavily promote charity and every Muslim is rewarded with something way better than what he gives up in way of Allah.
