The concept of charity in Islam is linked to justice. It is not limited to the redressed of grievances. It implies apart from the removal of handicaps, the recognition of the right that every human being has to attain the fullness of life. As the saying goes: Charity begins at home. A true believer is thus always prepared, after meeting the needs of his family, to assist other people in need of his help. 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)
Charity is an act through which a Muslim shows his good feelings and compassion for other Muslims and it is the real identity of a true Muslim who puts his trust in his Supreme Lord. Charity, preached by every religion of the world, is a way of bringing justice to society. It is a sacred duty of the wealthy to give part of their possessions to fulfil the needs of the deprived sections of the community. 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-Baqara 2: 280)
Islamic charity is one of those unique forms of worship that bring out both the individual and the social aspects of worship. It also strengthens a sense of brotherhood and establishes social cohesion. Islamic charity represents the unbreakable bond between members of the community.
The importance of Charity for giving in Allah’s way:
- Charity is prevention from the unfavourable conditions
- Charity does not let people die of thirst and hunger
- Charity saves someone from the embarrassment
- Charity saves someone from asking for money
- Charity spreads humanity to the non-Muslims
- Charity remove harmful things from the path
- Charity is said to be a source of prevention
- Charity spreads the message of kindness
- Charity inspired by the generous act
- Charity helping a blind human being
- Charity protects you from Hell-fire
- Charity is a door of Paradise
- Charity gives bless to one’s wealth
- Charity spreads the message of kindness
- Charity is pouring water for Muslim fellow
- Charity makes the person generous by nature
- Charity makes the giver less greedy for money
- Charity does not let people die of thirst and hunger
- Charity forms a cycle or a chain of donating money
- Charity relieves the person from debt by forgiving the loan
Charity is one of the five pillars of Islam and an important part of worship for Muslims. The existence of countless starving, poor, hungry and destitute Muslims and non-Muslims in the world points to the need for this essential teaching to be put into practice. Allah says:
إِنَّ الْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَالْمُصَّدِّقَاتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
“Indeed, the men who give charity and the women who give charity and who lend (to) Allah a loan goodly, it will be multiplied for them, and them (is) a reward noble.” (Surah Al-Hadid 57:18)
Giving charity correctly is crucial to both the well-being of the needy as well as the ultimate happiness of the wealthy. 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.
He who gives in charity should follow these matters:
- He must hope for a reward from his Allah both in this world and in the Hereafter
- The giver should consider it to be less and insignificant
- He should give in charity from his lawful earnings
- It must be given to the one who needs it the most
- Not that which is given away at the point of death
- The thing given must be defectless
- It must be given without publicity
- Sincerity is giving charity
- The giver would not need it any longer
- The offer must be exclusively and purely
- To please God and not for any hypocritical show
- That which is given, even though it be much in quantity
- That which is given away or spent in the way of the Allah
- That which is given must be needed by the giver for himself
- When given away no obligation or even mention of it should be made
- The Quran also reminds us that we should be humble about our offerings of charity
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.
The rewards of giving charity
- The Angels pray on behalf of those who give in charity
- God accepts our charity and multiplies our good deeds
- Protection from Hell Fire and entering paradise
- Forgiveness of sin
- Our souls are purified of greed
- We are protected by Allah on the Day of Judgment
- Our money never decreases when giving in charity
Giving charity teaches us that even the smallest thing will be sufficient as long as we are grateful to it. 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:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Take from their wealth a charity, purifying them and cause them to increase by it, and bless [upon] them. Indeed, your blessings (are a) reassurance for them. And Allah (is) All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:103)
Charity is the essence of Islam and it has great importance in the lives of Muslims. We can do charity by teaching our kids, relatives, and family how to read Quran. 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.
Allah Almighty says about Charity, mentioned dozens of times in the Holy Quran:
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.” (Maryam 19:55)
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ
“And those who give what they give while their hearts (are) fearful because they to their Lord (will) return.” (Muminun 23:60)
الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
“Those who establish the prayer and give zakah and they in the Hereafter [they] believe with certainty.” (An-Naml 27:3)
وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِن فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“And among them (is he) who made a covenant (with) Allah, “If He gives us of His bounty, surely we will give charity and surely we will be among the righteous.” (Taubah 9:75)
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. There is a way of giving charity and that is the way of being humble and generous. Allah says:
إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
“If you disclose the charities then good it (is). But if you keep it secret and give it (to) the poor, then it (is) better for you. And He will remove from you [of] your evil deeds. And Allah with what you do (is) All-Aware.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:271)
Giving charity correctly is crucial to both the well-being of the needy as well as the ultimate happiness of the wealthy. Muslims who are in a position to support a great relief aid cause or serve their community should do so but not for the sake of gaining publicity or worldly acclaim. 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)
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. Allah blesses acts of almsgiving and charity and makes them the cause of the increase in wealth rather than a decrease in it.
