The Act of Giving Charity - Sadaqah

Muslims, around the globe, perform different Islamic obligations such as Prayer, Fasting, Pilgrimage etc. One among many is spending in the way of Allah S.W.T. This activity, if compulsory, is known as Zakat which is applicable to be paid only by the rich. Same activity, carried out voluntarily is called Sadaqah or Voluntary Charity. As far as I think, the money is the most loved thing by humans because it can buy anything, and giving it to somebody is quite a hard task. Shaytaan does not easily let us give it to the needy. It instills in one a fear of poverty or of losing money. But in reality, this is not the case because Holy Prophet P.B.U.H said that charity does not in any way decrease the wealth. So if we keep in mind this saying of Prophet S.A.W.W. whenever there is an opportunity to spend, then it would be much easier for us to give charity. Besides this ALLAH says in the Quran, Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers." [34:39]. There are many other similar Quranic verses and hadiths which deliver the same idea that a believer as a result of spending in the way of Allah will get rewarded both in this world and the world hereafter.

Spending in the way of Allah is a proof of one's faith, because on the orders of Allah S.W.T and Muhammad S.A.W.W. he spends his most loved thing i.e. wealth. It shows that he believes in the unseen more than that what can be seen. 

This also gives us the message that we should do what Allah and his Prophet told us, not what we think. For example, you have 100 dollars, and you lend it with interest, and you'll get back 110 dollars. On the other hand, instead of lending it, you give 10 dollars from it as sadaqah. As a result, you'll be left with 90 dollars. Now, If we take a look at both amounts, one is 110 and the other is 90, now human mind says that 110 is greater than 90 but Allah's message says that 90 is greater and 110 is lesser. ''Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever.'' [2;276]. Human brain's thinking capacity is limited. Therefore, we should do what Allah and his messenger has ordered us instead of blindly following our limited understanding vision.

Posted in: Islamic Knowledge