Class 2
VIRTUES & REWARDS OF SADAQAH
Significance of Charity in Islam
Allah says, “The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies the reward even more to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Surah Baqarah:261)
Great importance has been put on Charity in Islam. It symbolizes key principles of compassion, social justice, and community welfare. “Zakat” which is obligatory charity requires Muslims to give a portion of their wealth to those in need, promoting wealth distribution and reducing disparities. “Sadaqah” which is voluntary extends kindness beyond obligation, fostering empathy and humility.
Through charity, Muslims purify their souls, detaching from materialism and nurturing gratitude. It unites the community, strengthening bonds by aiding the less fortunate. Inspired by Prophet Muhammad’s exemplary generosity, charity fosters goodwill and acts as a practical expression of faith. This practice holds temporal and spiritual rewards. Allah promises blessings in this life and the Hereafter for it. Importance of Charity in Islam By addressing societal inequalities and supporting diverse causes, charity amplifies Islam’s impact on humanity. In essence, charity symbolizes the core values of Islam, serving as a bridge between believers and their Creator.
THE REWARDS OF CHARITY
According to Islam, acts of charity hold numerous rewards in this life and the hereafter.
Rewards in this World
1. Allah loves you and so others do too.
Allah says, “They are˺ those who donate in prosperity and adversity, control their anger, and pardon others. And Allah loves the good-doers”. (Surah Imran 134)
And when Allah loves us it translates into good people loving us. The Prophet ﷺ said, "When Allah loves a slave, calls out Jibril and says: 'I love so-and-so; so love him'. Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so- and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him". (Bukari & Muslim)
2. Happiness of the Soul
Helping others and doing good things is food for the soul, it makes you happy and satisfied. Helping others and making a big difference in their lives can give you a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness.
3. Network of Good People
When we do good for others and are consistent in doing so, you meet others who are on the same path, you join hands with them and have a better and stronger social connections and network. You feel the love for the Sake of Allah amongst each other. From there can come many business and other worldly opportunities that we can help each other with.
4. Duas from others
When one does good for others, it comes back in unexpected and unimaginable ways. The one who wants good for others, ends up being blessed themselves, this is mainly because of the Duas he/she gets in return of them doing good for the sake of Allah.
5. Energized Body and Reduced Stress & Anxiety
The feeling you get when you do good things to nameless people without expecting them to remember your acts cannot be described, it rejuvenates the soul and energizes the body. Giving to others has been linked to less stress and less worry. Helping others and doing kind things can give people a sense of purpose and take their minds off their problems.
6. Treat your sick by giving Sadaqah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
‘Treat your sick by giving Sadaqah (charity).’ (Collected in Saheeh al-Jamia’ No. 3358 & declared Hasan by Albaani)
“There is no person who is afflicted with a wound on his body, and he gives charity due to that, then Allaah expiates from him the like of what he gave in charity”. (Ahmad; classed as Sahih by Albaani)
Ibn al Qayyim said, ‘There are types of medicines which can treat illnesses which the minds of the senior doctors cannot comprehend, and that which their sciences, experiences and measurements cannot reach. These are the medicines of the heart and soul, and the strength of the heart, its dependence upon Allaah and trust upon Him and seeking refuge in Him. Prostrating and feeling in dire need of Allaah and humbling oneself for Allaah. Likewise giving Sadaqah (charity), making Dua’, repentance and seeking forgiveness, being good to the creation, aiding the distressed and liberating from grief and unhappiness.
Indeed these types of medication have been used by various nations, who are upon different religions and communities, and they found that they had an effect in the treatment of illnesses, which even the sciences of the most knowledgeable doctors could not reach, and they have no experience nor measurement of it. We have indeed experienced these matters a great deal and as others have, and we have seen what ordinary medicine can and cannot do.’ (Taken from: ‘Zad al-Ma’ad’ 4/11-12)
7. Repels trials
The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘A fitnah (trail) which a man faces with regard to his family, his wealth, his own self, his son and his neighbor is expiated by fasting, prayer, charity, enjoining good and forbidding evil.’ (Collected by Bukhari & Muslim]
Ibraheem an-Nakhai said: ‘that the Companions used to regard giving Sadaqah as a means of repelling oppression.’ (Bayhaqi)
Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah (d.751 A.H.) -Rahimullaah- said: ‘Indeed Sadaqah has an amazing effect in repelling different types of trials and tribulations, even if the charity was given by an evil person, or an oppressive person, in fact even if it was given by a non-Muslim! Indeed Allaah Ta’ala repels different types of trials and tribulations due to giving Sadaqah. This is a matter which is well-known to the scholars and the general folk, and all of the people on the earth can associate with this fact because they have experienced it.’ [Taken from: ‘al-Wabil as-Sayyib’ p.63]
8. Door of sustenance : As-Sadaqaat (non-obligatory charity) :
Allaah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: ‘that whoever does an atoms worth of good he will see it”.
And Allaah (subhana wa ta’ala) also says, ‘Whatever you spend in the way of Allaah, He will replace it and He is the best of the Providers.’
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allaah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allaah, destroy the one who withholds.’” (Bukhari & Muslim)
“Allah, the Exalted, says, `Spend, O son of Adam, you will also be spent upon.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
And in the hadith of Abu Huraira (radiallaahu anhu) that Msulim related that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said : “While a man was in a barren tract of land (or a desert), he heard a voice proceeding from a cloud (saying) ‘Water the garden of so-and-so.’ Thereupon, the cloud drifted (in a certain direction), and water poured down therefrom over a rocky area. All the streamlets flowed into one large channel. The man followed the water and came upon a man standing in his garden, changing the course of the water with his spade. He said to him: ‘O Slave of Allah, what is your name?’ The man said: ‘So-and-so.’ It was that very name which he had heard from the cloud! The man said: ‘O slave of Allah, why do you ask me my name?’ He said: ‘I heard a voice from the clouds which poured down this water, saying: “Water the garden of so-and-so,” mentioning your name. What do you do with it (to receive such divine providence from Allah)?’ The man said: ‘Now that you ask me, I will tell you. I look at the produce of the garden, give one-third of it in charity, use one third for myself and my dependents to eat therefrom, and invest (the remaining) third back into the garden.’” (Sahih Muslim).
It may seem to those who perceive things based on their outward appearances that giving in charity to the poor and showing kindness to the needy are nothing but squandering wealth, wasting savings, and reasons for capital shortage.
This is the purely materialistic view on charity, but the Islamic preceptive on it is dramatically different. In Islam, spending in charity is a means to increase wealth and having it blessed, just as a person would sow a seed in the soil and it soon germinates and grows quickly into a tall, lush, and fruitful tree.
“Allah said: ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’”
Allah, the Exalted, continues to shower His devotees and slaves who hasten to give in charity with His Kindness. He Safeguards them from afflictions, increases their livelihood, Blesses them with abundant good and success, and Bestows upon them His Grace. Could a person endowed with the help and care of his Creator ever be lost?
So try and not make a day pass from you from the days of Allaah except that you stretch your hand as much as it is in your ability to do, even if it is a little.
Rewards in the Hereafter
Sadaqah is considered an investment in the hereafter, as it benefits the giver even after death. It is a means of earning Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, as well as a way to attain a higher rank in Paradise.
Allah’s promise of a Great Reward
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allah’s way), theirs will be a great reward” (al-Hadeed 57:7)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allah will take it in His right hand and tend it for the one who gave it as any one of you tends his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Shade on the Day of Judgement
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity” (Ahmad; classed as Sahih)
“Seven are (the persons) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade* on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection), and they are: A just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosque; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying): 'I fear Allah'; a person who gives a charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand might not know what the right has given; and a person who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes well up." (Bukhari & Muslim)
Sadaqah is One of the Gates of Jannah
Allah says, “But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, “Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein,” (Quran 39:73)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever gives a pair of anything for the sake of Allah will be called from the gate of Paradise: ‘O slave of Allah, this is good.’ Whoever was one of the people of prayer will be called from the gate of prayer. Whoever was one of the people of ji had will be called from its gate. Whoever was one of the people of fasting will be called from the gate of al-Rayyaan. Whoever was one of the people of charity will be called from the gate of charity.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Charity Saves from Hell Fire
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)” [al-Baqarah 2:254]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Protect yourself from Hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
“O people, give in charity!” (Then he ﷺ went over to the women and said), “O women, give in charity for I have seen that you are the majority of the people of Hell.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Expiates Sins
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Charity extinguishes the sins like water extinguishes a fire.” (Ibn Majah; classed as Hasan)
Continuous Charity
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).” (Muslim). (We will study more about this in the upcoming classes InShaAllah).
In conclusion, sadaqah is an important aspect of Islam that has both spiritual and practical benefits. It is rewarding in this world and the next. It purifies the soul, brings blessings to the giver and helps to alleviate poverty, promotes social cohesion and community spirit, and invests in the future.
It is an act of worship, submission and obedience to Allah’s command to give to those in need. By understanding the power of sadaqah, we can make a positive difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us.
May Allah bless us with Halal wealth and the hidayah to spend in charity.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the rewards of Charity in this world and the next.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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