Sadaqa & Charity- The Importance

[Al-Munafiqun 63:10] And spend from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, ‘My Rabb , if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.’

In this Ayah, God Almighty is telling us very clearly to spend money and efforts on the poor and needy before it is too late. When death comes upon us, we will ask God Almighty to give us a little more time so that we can do charity and Sadaqat. As per God Almighty in this Ayah, a dying person will not wish for a little more time for any other act of righteousness but for the most important deed, the one which has the most weight on the scales of justice on the Day of Judgment – SADAQAT, CHARITY, SPENDING MONEY AND EFFORTS to help the poor and needy. This act of charity and Sadaqat is the most favourite act in the eyes of The Creator The following are also very thought-provoking Ayahs that clearly highlight Allah’s commandments to help others through charity and sadaqa:

[Al-Ma’un 107:1-7] (1) Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? (2) For that is the one who drives away the orphan (3) And does not encourage the feeding of the poor. (4) So woe to those who do salat (5) who are heedless of their salaat – (6) Those who make show (7) And withhold assistance.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1605957693648{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”charity-new-text”]

How to Spend And Who to Spend On

The way to become closer to Allah is to be of service to fellow human beings – do your share and do Ahsan to others as Allah has done to you. Service to Allah is best done by serving mankind.

[Al-Qasas 28:77-77] (77) But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and do not forget your share of the world. And do Ahsaan – best as Allah has done Ahsaan – best to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.”

There are many verses that stress on helping the Yateem and Miskeen. But it is important we understand these words.

The word Yateem as per the Quran does not refer to just an orphan i.e. someone who doesn’t have a father/parents; rather it is used for someone who is not able to take care of him/herself for a temporary period, may it be because of illness, a temporary disability a jobless situation, or for children until they reach the age of maturity in case of orphans.

The word Miskeen as per the Quran refers to someone who is unable to take care of him/herself, is in a permenant poverty situation, an old age person, someone with permanent disability, or someone whose responsibilities such as those towards his/her family is beyond the means that he/she can afford.

It is also noteworthy that the use of the word Sabr in these Ayahs which does not mean being patience as is normally understood. It actually means to strive, to make physical effort, to spend out of one’s wealth in spite of love for it, to help others – all this exertion and efforts are termed as Sabr by Quran.

Lastly,the use of the word “Twouaam” normally translated as food actually refers to all the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, clothing etc. Notice the word Rizq is not used here but the use of the word Twouaam as it includes all the physical needs of and the necessities for life here on earth.

In Quran it has been stressed time and again that those who have been given Allah’s bounties are to spend out of their wealth and physical efforts to benefit others especially Miskeen, Yateem and captives. Keeping these definitions in mind, these Ayahs are very insightful and are the true hidayah from the Most Wise.

And they give food in spite of love for it to the yateem and miskeen and the captives, (9) “We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude. (10) Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful.” (11) So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness (12) And will reward them for what they do Sabr/strive/struggle endured a garden and silk.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1605957891459{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;background-color: #f1f1f5 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”charity-new-text”]

Sadaqa- e- Jaaria

Sadqa-e-Jaria is an idea of a continuous support for our good deeds with respect to the scale of justice on the Day of Judgement. It refers to both continuous good deeds or continuous bad deeds. *Therefore, as per the Quran we must call it AMAL-E-JARIA*.

The concept revolves around the notion that when we do some work in this dunya that continues to BENEFIT or HARM Allah’s creations in this world, even after our death, it continues to add to our scale of justice. The continuous after-effects of those deeds, whether good or bad, will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.

Please note that these deeds will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment for that person who did it, and it will give gain or loss according to the deeds of the deceased which he or she did when alive. Please refer the ayah below;

[Ya Sin 36:12] Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.

As per the above Ayah we can understand these are the deeds that benefit mankind and other lifeforms; these are not the rituals like namaz, nafil namaz, dua or hajj, which are only for our individual benefits. For instance, compare the effects on humanity of making a masjid (in an area where there are already many) with the effects by installing a water well in a deserted area,building a hospital or a free clinic, inventing a vaccine, conducting scientific research or an invention which gives a new path to humanity to improve their lives, or participating in welfare foundations for humans or other lifeforms etc. These are the all the good deeds which have continuous effects and will give some benefit in the Hereafter and will continue to be recorded even after we die.

*Sadqa-e–Jaria for the Deceased* Please keep in mind, if someone else does it for the deceased person, it is too late, for instance, giving a sadqa in the name of a deceased. It will definitely give benefit to the one who actually does it on behalf of the deceased person. But whatever we do with our own hands by ourselves will benefit us in the Hereafter, not if it is done by someone else, after we die. Once we are dead, all the doors are closed except our own performed good deeds and bad deeds which continue to have effects on humanity and other lifeforms.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1605958013106{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”charity-new-text”]

The Concept of Touba & Charity

These Ayahs so beautifully highlight the concept of Touba and the importance of Sadqaat:

*Touba* as per the Quran is not merely uttering a few words from your mouth but an entire process. The word actually means to take a U-turn involving 3 important steps 1) to identify that one is on the wrong path, identify the wrongdoings and make a firm commitment with one’s own self and Allah to never do those again 2) reform, compensate, pay back all the damages that the wrongdoings have caused and 3) take the right path, do the righteous deeds, strenghten Emaan and stay firm on the right path.

*Importance of Sadqaat* is so beautifully linked to step 2 of the Touba process i.e. in order to reform one has to do Tazkia of soul, spending out of one’s wealth and efforts for the benefits of others is strongly linked to the reform process and therefore is an important step in doing Touba. Also notice w.r.t ayah no. 103, even if a Nabi does duaa for others, it will be just a peace of mind for them. It is Allah who knows what is inside our hearts and Allah is the only one who accepts our Touba and forgives our wrong deeds. Only then do we get the privilege of Allah being RAHEEM with us back into our lives, so that we stay on the righteous path and keep doing good deeds in the future.

Al-Taubah 9:102-104 (102) And others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (103) Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke upon them. Indeed, your Duaas are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. (104) Do they not know that it is Allah who accepts Touba from His servants and receives charities and that it is Allah who is the Accepting of Touba and Raheem?

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