Charity is more than just giving money to the poor and needy

Charity is more than just giving money to the po= or and needy

BS Foad, M.D 2009

Charity is one of the pillars of Islam. It is obligato= ry on those who can afford to give.

We will discuss the following concepts:

1-We are prom= ised great rewards for our charity

2-Our money w= ill not decrease on account of our charity

3-Charity is = more than just giving money

4-Ethics in g= iving charity

Rewards of gi= ving charity

We are promised a great reward for giving charity; amo= ng these rewards are the following

Forgiveness of sin

Charity forgives our sins and increases our reward and Allah appreciates our service and is tolerant with= us:

If ye loan to Allah a beautiful loan,= He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you Forgiveness: for All= ah is Most Ready to appreciate (service), Most Forbearing, <= /p>

= ; At-Taghabun 64: 17

The parable of tho= se who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear hath a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifo= ld increase to whom He pleaseth: and Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.

&n= bsp; Al-Baqara 2: 261

Our charity purifies our souls of greed

It is in the nature of man to hold on to what he earned and worked hard to achieve. He does not want to share it with others. Those who have faith understand their obligation to share God’s bless= ings with others less fortunate:

Truly man was crea= ted very impatient;

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 19

Fretful when evil touches him;

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 20

And niggardly when= good reaches him;

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 21

Not so those devot= ed to Prayer,

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 22

Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 23

And those in whose wealth is a recognized right

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 24

For the (needy) wh= o asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); <= /p>

&n= bsp; Al-Ma’rij 70: 25

The Qur’an orders Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to take charity from the Muslim= s in order to purify their hearts and sanctify their souls:

Of their goods take alms, that so t= hou mightest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf, verily thy pra= yers are a source of security for them: and Allah is One Who heareth and knoweth= .

&= nbsp; At-Tawba 9: 103

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us that Allah accepts our charity and l= et it grow for us:

(Any person who gives charity, even the measure= of one date, from lawful earning, for Allah only accepts what is good, Allah w= ill take the charity with His right hand and grows it for that person and takes care of it, like you take care of your young horse, until it becomes like a mountain) narrated by Bokhari, Muslim & Baihaqi.

after Abou Horaira

The Qur’an tells us that Allah accepts our charitable deeds:

Know they not that Allah doth accept repentance from His votaries and receives their gift= s of charity, and that Allah is verily He, the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful?

= At-Tawba 9: 104

What we gave in chari= ty is what we earned and saved for ourselves. What we refused to give in chari= ty does not belong to us; rather it is the possessions of our heirs. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked: (Who among you the money that he leaves for his heir= s is more beloved to him than his own money?) His companions said: Every one of = us his own money is more beloved to him O messenger of Allah. He said: (Your m= oney is what you sent forth for your soul; and the money of your heir is what you kept and did not give)

Narrated by Bokhari, Ahmad & Nesa’ee

Protection from Hell Fire=

Prophet Muhammad (PBU= H) said:

(Protect yourselves f= rom Hell Fire, even with half a date; If you cannot find anything to give, then= by a good word) narrated by Bokhari & Muslim after Ady Bin Hatim.

We are protected by Allah on the Day of Judgmen= t

Prophet Muhammad (PBU= H) said: (Seven people are shaded and protected by Allah on the Day when there= is no shade except His shade: A just ruler; and a young man who was raised well worshipping Allah; and a man whose heart is preoccupied with the mosques; a= nd two men who love one another for the sake of Allah, they come together and separate because of Allah; and a man who was seduced by a woman of money and beauty, but he said: “I fear Allah”; and a man who gave charity= in secret, that his left hand did not know what his right hand was doing; and a man who remembered Allah, when he was all alone, and tears over flew from h= is eyes) narrated by Bokhari after Abou Horaira

The Angels pray on behalf those who give in cha= rity

Prophet Muhammad (PBU= H) said: (Every day in the morning two angels come down: one of them say: R= 20;O Allah replace the money of those who give in charity”; and the other Angel says: “O Allah ruin and destroy the money of those who refuse to give in charity) Narrated by Bokhari & Muslim after Abou Horaira.<= /o:p>

Our money never decreases on account of our charity, on the contrary Allah prom= ised to increase our possessions and replace whatever we give in charity

Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Sustenance to such of His servants as He pleases: and nothing do ye spend in the least (in His Cause)= but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance.

&= nbsp; Sa Ba 34: 39

Prophet Muhammad (PBU= H) said:

(Your money will never decrease because you gave charity; and a person who forgives others, Allah = will increase him in dignity; and whoever is humble to Allah, Allah will raise h= im in honor) narrated by Ahmad, Muslim & Termedhi

after Abou Horaira

Give charity earlier, rather than later

A man asked AllahR= 17;s messenger (PBUH): What charity has the best reward? He said: (To give chari= ty when you are healthy, and not willing to give, for you are afraid of becomi= ng poor and wish to be rich, and not delay your charity till you are about to = die, then you say: “This belongs to this person, and this belongs to this person, for it is already theirs) narrated by Bokhari & Muslim after Ab= ou Horaira.

The Qur’an stat= es:

And spend something (in charity) ou= t of the substance which We have bestowed on you, bef= ore Death should come to any of you and he should say, "O my Lord! Why did= st Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (larg= ely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good."

= Al-Munafeqoun 63: 10 But to no soul will Allah grant res= pite when the time appointed (for it) has come; and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.

= Al-Munafeqoun 63: 11

And

O ye who believe! Spend out of (the bounties) we have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith, they= are the wrong-doers.

= Al-Baqara 2: 254

Charity is more than just giving money to help the poor and needy=

Since not everyone is well off and can give mone= y as a form of charity, Allah explained to us on the tongue of prophet Muhammad = that charity is more than just giving money. Charity involves the help that we p= rovide to others and the effort that we exert to support those who need our assistance. Charity also involves the guidance that we provide and the exam= ple of proper behavior that we set for others. Charity is also kind words or pr= ayer on behalf someone else. Charity is not harming others in word or deed.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:<= /p>

(Every Muslim should give charity). His companio= ns asked: O prophet of Allah supposes he does not have money to give? He said: (Then he works with his hands, benefits himself and give in charity). They asked: what if he cannot find work? (or unable to work)? He said: (Then he helps a person who needs his help). They asked: Suppose he does not do that= ? He said: (Then he guides to what is right and forbids what is wrong). They ask= ed: suppose he does not do that? He said: (Then he does not harm anyone, for it will be considered a charity for him) Bokhari

After Abou Musa Al-Asha’ri

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also said:

(A good kind word is a charity, and every step t= hat a person takes for prayer is a charity) narrated by Ahmad & Muslim after Abou Horaira.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was asked: The rich have gotten all the rewards: They pray as we do, and fast as we do, and give cha= rity of their wealth! He said:

(Allah has made many things for you as possible = ways of charity: every time you say: “Subhana Allah (purified is Allah), or Al-Hamdu Lellah (All praise is to Allah), or La Elaha Ell Allah (there is no god but Allah), or Allahu Akbar (Allah is greater) is a charity; commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong is a charity; and when you satis= fy your sexual desires you have a charity). They asked: how come? He said: (If= you satisfied your sexual urge in unlawful ways, you are punished; therefore, if you do it in a lawful way, you are rewarded) narrated by Muslim, Ibn Majja & Baihaqi after Abi Dhurr Al-Ghafari.

From these sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) we understand that the blessings and reward of charity is available to every person who wishes to avail himself of God’s blessing and mercy:<= /o:p>

1-&n= bsp; Working to become self-sufficient and not becomi= ng dependant on others and being able to help others is a duty on every Muslim= who is able to work

2-&n= bsp; Those who are unable to work for one reason or a= nother can still be helpful and useful members of their community by helping those= who need their help. Therefore, the effort that we exert to help others is char= ity and is amply rewarded. Allah will continue to help those who help their brothers.

3-&n= bsp; Providing guidance, or educating others or setti= ng a good example for them is also a charity. Replacing ignorance with useful knowledge is as important as providing money to the poor and needy. Opening= the minds of others, particularly the young, to the beauty and wisdom of the Qur’an and the teachings of Allah’s messenger is not only a necessity, but a cherished duty on those who can perform this role

4-&n= bsp; The least one can do is not harm others or misgu= ide them. Harm can take various forms: it may involve verbal abuse; back-biting; spreading rumors or false information; attacking the honesty or integrity of others; or lying or cheating or not giving them their due rights. In other words, not standing up for justice. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

(The Musli= m is the person, who other Muslims, fear no harm from his tongue or his hand) Bokhari & Muslim.

= ;

Ethics in giving charity

1-&n= bsp; Do not harm the feelings of others

2-&n= bsp; Give charity in secret

3-&n= bsp; Start with those related to you, and those in ne= ed

4-&n= bsp; Give charity of what you have earned lawfully

5-&n= bsp; Give of what you love most

6-&n= bsp; Do not belittle or ridicule the efforts of other= s

Do not harm the feelings of others Kind words and the covering of faul= ts are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Free of all wants, and He = is Most Forbearing.

= Al-Baqara 2: 263 =

O ye who believe! Cancel not your c= harity by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last D= ay.

= Al-Baqara 2: 264

We learn from these two verses in the Qur’= an:

1-If we are unable to give money, we can still h= elp by saying kind words, or pray to Allah and seek His forgiveness on behalf others whom we could not give money to

2-The one thing that we should never do is act in such a way that makes the person receiving our charity feel small, or that = we remind him of our generosity, or are looking down at him. Behaving in such a callous or arrogant way, or hurting the feelings of others, surely will can= cel any good deed we may have done.

Giving charity in secret

The goal of giving charity is to help and support others, not to seek personal recognition or praise. Giving charity in secret accomplishes this goal without offending the feelings of those in need. All= ah is well aware of our effort, and He will reward us in the best possible way. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained the great reward of the person giving cha= rity in secret, that his left hand does not know what his right hand is doing, as being shaded and protected by Allah on the Day of Judgment.

There are, however, situations, in which declari= ng the charity is proper. If we are setting an example or a precedent or encouraging others to follow suit, or to advocate a noble cause or to fulfi= ll a special need, then declaring the charity is appropriate under these circumstances. The Qur’an states:

If ye disclose (acts of) charity, e= ven so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reaches those (really) in need, that is best for you: it will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do.

= Al-Baqara 2: 271

Charity should begin with those related to us

It is important to stay close to our relatives, = to be good to them, and to help them when they are in need. Charity given to a needy relative is rewarded twice: the reward of giving charity, and the rew= ard of being close and good to our relatives. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

(Charity given to a needy person is one charity,= but charity given to a relative is two: charity and being close to your relatio= ns) narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majja, Nesa’ee, Ibn Hibban, Hakim, Termedhi &a= mp; Ibn Khuzaima, after Salman

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained that we should start by fulfilling our obligations toward those whom we support. He said:<= o:p>

(The upper hand (that gives) is better than the lower hand (that receives); and start with those whom you support; the best charity is that given when you are capable of giving; whoever tries to be self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient and not needy or depen= dant on others; and whoever does not beg others, Allah will provide for him and = make him rich and self-sufficient)

Bokhari & Ahmad

The Qur’an explains that those related to = us have a certain right in our wealth. Such a right is ordained by Allah, and = is not left to our generous nature or our good heart:

And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: but squander not (= your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.

= Al-Isra’a 17: 26

And

So give what is due to kindred, the ne= edy, and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance, of Allah, and it is they who will prosper.

= Ar-Rum 30: 38

Those related to us, but do not share our faith, still have rights over us: the right of being related and deserving of our = help and charity. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was asked by Asma’a: O messenger= of Allah, my mother has come to me hoping, should I be good to her? He said: (= Yes, be close and good to your mother) Bokhari, Muslim & Abou Dawood

Asma’a mother was a Mushrika (worshipped idols).

Giving charity of what we have earned lawfully

Allah accepts charity only when it is earned fro= m a lawful source. The Qur’an reminds us:

O ye who believe! Give of the good thi= ngs which ye have (honourably) earned, and of the fruits of the earth which We = have produced for you

= Al-Baqara 2: 267

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:<= /p>

(Allah is pure and does not accept anything that= is not pure)

Bokhari

Give of the things that you love the most, and not choose the bad to get rid of = it

We should not give things that we ourselves will= not accept. The Qur’an states:

and do not even aim at getting anything which is ba= d, in order that out of it ye may give away something, when ye yourselves would not receive it except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is free of all wants, and worthy of all praise.

= Al-Baqara 2: 267

And

By no means shall ye attain righteousn= ess unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a t= ruth Allah knoweth it well.

= Al-Imran 3: 92

We should not belittle or look down at the charity given by other people<= /o:p>

We should respect and appreciate the sincere eff= ort of others, and not belittle their charity or find fault with their effort. = Ibn Masoud related that when the verse of charity was revealed and the prophet (PBUH) asked the Muslims to bring their charity; a man gave a great deal, a= nd some people said that he was doing that to be seen. Another man gave a small amount and some said that Allah has no need of his small charity. The Qur’an then came down:<= /span>

Those who slander such of the Belie= vers as give themselves; freely to (deeds of) charity, as well as such as can fi= nd nothing to give except the fruits of their labor, and throw ridicule on the= m, Allah will throw back their ridicule on them: and they shall have a grievous penalty.

= At-Tawba 9: 79

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us a lesson when = he said: (One Dirham is better than and surpassed one hundred thousand dirhams= ). His companions asked: How can this be? He said: (A man had two dirhams and = he gave one of them in charity; the other man was very rich, and he gave one hundred thousand in charity) narrated by Nesa’ee, Ibn Hibban, Hakim &= amp; Baihaqi.