Class 6
CONDITIONS & ETIQUETTE OF CHARITY
AND FAQS ABOUT CHARITY
CONDITIONS OF SADAQAH
It is easy to earn the reward of the ṣadaqa with small everyday deeds, but it is equally easy to lose the reward of seemingly great generosity if we do not follow the Islamic etiquettes of giving.
To ensure that Sadaqah is accepted and beneficial, the following conditions must be met:
1. Sincere Intention
Ṣadaqa must be done with the right intention: seeking the pleasure of Allah and expecting the reward from Him only. It should come from a heart that believes in its necessity and virtue. It cannot be done to gain praise or recognition from others, as a means to show off (riyâ’) or to boost our ego. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Actions are judged by intentions.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
2. Lawful Earnings
Sadaqah must come from lawful and pure earnings, as Allah is pure and only accepts what is pure. The Prophet ﷺ taught us:”If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from honestly earned money –and Allah accepts only the honestly earned money– then Allah takes it in His Right (hand). And then, He enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much so that it becomes as big as a mountain”. (Bukhâri)
3. Do no recount the favors.
Charity should not be followed by reminders of our deed – and we shouldn’t even bother ourselves by remembering or counting our donations.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury.” (2:264)
“Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury.” (2:262)
The Prophet ﷺ said, “There are three (types of) people to whom Allah will neither speak on the Day of Resurrection nor look at them nor purify them, and they will have a painful chastisement.” He ﷺ repeated it three times. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) remarked: “They are ruined. Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” Upon this, he ﷺ said, “One who lets down his lower garments (below his ankels) out of arrogance, one who boasts of his favours done to another; and who sells his goods by taking a false oath.” (Sahih Muslim)
ETIQUETTE OF GIVING CHARITY
1. Start from home and then then relatives.
Charity begins at home – and you should begin with your dependants as we have been taught by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “The upper hand is better than the lower hand, (i.e., he who gives charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses.) And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient”. (Bukhâri).
Nowadays when various charities are doing a remarkable job competing to grab our attention and attract our donations, it is easy to forget the ones that do not ask and the ones that are close to us. Also, if we donate to a charity organization after seeing their dramatic ad that made us all emotional and tearful, can we still say that we have done ṣadaqa entirely to please Allah and not to relieve ourselves from the burden of guilt and to lift our moods? Charity should be our regular activity, just like prayer, and not an act of a distressed heart.
2. Be consistent even if it is little
The beauty of giving charity in Islam is that a Muslim is advised to give consistently.
The Prophet ﷺ said
“Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few. ' (Ibn Majah).
“The most beloved deeds of Allah are the most consistent of them, even if they are few” (Bukhari & Muslim).
The beauty of the ahadeeth emphasizes a special meaning in Islam. The rewards of our charity are not just about how much we are giving. We have already talked about the importance of intention, but this hadith highlights even if we are giving a small amount of charity, this is something pleasing to the eyes of Allah SWT and something we should take great comfort in.
3. Respecting Dignity
Uphold the dignity and self-esteem of the poor. One of the most important objectives of charity is upholding the dignity and self-esteem of the poor and needy in the community.
4. Secrecy
It is better to keep our charity a secret, and that would certainly help us to avoid making it a show off, but on the other hand we are allowed to disclose it to inspire others to be charitable. The Quran teaches us: “If you disclose charity, even so it is well, but if you conceal it, and make them reach those 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 you do”. (Surah al-Baqarah 2:271)
5. Give that you would like to be given
Avoid giving to others what you would not like being given yourself: your unwanted stuff dumped into the hands of a poorer friend or on the doorstep of a charity shop is not really a ṣadaqa. It’s you who is happy to get rid of it, and they relieve you of your burden so who is the benefactor and who is the beneficiary here?
FAQs ABOUT CHARITY
Q. Can charity be given to one who is able to earn a living?
A. Voluntary charity (Sadaqah), which is what a person gives other than zakaah. It is permissible to give this to both poor and rich, but it is better to give it to the one who is in need of it.
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is permissible to give voluntary charity to the rich, and there is no difference of scholarly opinion on this point. It is permissible to give it to them and the giver will be rewarded for it, but it is better to give it to the needy. Our companions said: It is better for the rich person to refrain from taking it and he should not ask for it, and it is not permissible for the rich person to accept voluntary charity, making a show of being poor. End quote.
Q. Daughter giving to Parents?
A. If a Muslim wants to give voluntary charity, he should look at the situation of the needy people around him and give precedence to those who are in greatest need. It is better to give to relatives, as the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “Start with those for whom you are responsible: your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, then the next closest and the next closest.” (al-Nasaa’i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
In Saheeh al-Bukhaari (1368) it is narrated that Abu Talhah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ: The most beloved of my wealth to me is the garden of Bayruha’, and I am giving it in charity to Allaah, hoping to find reward for that with Allaah. So dispose of it, O Messenger of Allaah, as Allaah shows you.’ He ﷺ said: “Bravo! That is a good deal, that is a good deal. I have heard what you said and I think that you should give it to your relatives.” Abu Talhah said, I will do that, O Messenger of Allaah. So Abu Talhah shared it out among his relatives and cousins (sons of his paternal uncles).
Q. Who is it better to give charity to, a charitable organization or a relative?
A. Relative, hadeeth already stated.
Q. Will the wife be rewarded if she gives charity from the Husband’s income?
A. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If a woman gives from the food that is in her husband’s house, without causing any damage, she will have the reward for that, and he will have a similar reward because he earned it, and her reward is because she gave it, and the storekeeper will have a similar reward, without anything being detracted from the reward of any of them.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
However, this applies only so long as that spending does not cause any damage to the wealth of the real owner, such as if the child or the wife spends too much that causes undermines that wealth, or gives more than he usually gives. In that case, it is essential to obtain the permission of the owner of the wealth.
Q. Can we intend to have the rewards of Charity divided between us and our parents?
A. It is permissible for the one who gives charity to intend that the reward for his charity be divided between him and his parents into three parts, whether they are alive or dead, because the reward is the property of the giver, and he may give all or part of it. For example, if he gives it to four people, each of them will get one-quarter; if he gives one-quarter and keeps the rest for himself, that is permissible, as is the case if he gives it to someone else. Quoted from al-Rooh by Ibn al-Qayyim (p. 190).
Q. Giving in Charity on behalf of the deceased parent(s).
A. A man said to the Prophet ﷺ: “My mother died suddenly and she did not leave a will, but I think that if she could have spoken she would have given in charity. Will she have a reward if I give in charity on her behalf?” He ﷺ replied: “Yes.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
And it was narrated by al-Bukhari from Sa’d ibn 'Ubadah that his mother died when he was absent, and he said: “O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died when I was absent. Will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?” He ﷺ said: “Yes.” He said: “I ask you to bear witness that my garden that bears fruit is given in charity on her behalf.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Q. Can we give charity on behalf of a deceased friend (not a relative)?
A. In order for charity on behalf of the deceased to be valid, it is not stipulated that it be done by the relatives or children of the deceased; rather it is permissible for such charity to be given by one who is not related to him, just as it is valid for it to be given by a relative.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Whatever act of worship he does, and dedicates its reward to the deceased Muslim, it will benefit him, if Allah wills". (Al-Mughni 2/226).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is permissible for a person to do an act of worship and obedience to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, with the intention that it be on behalf of a deceased Muslim, whether that deceased person is one of his relatives or is one to whom he is not related". (Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb, by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen).
Based on that, it is valid for a person to give charity on behalf of his deceased friend, or to build a mosque with the intention that the reward go to him. All of these are things for which the reward will reach the deceased, if Allah wills.
Q. Can we give all our wealth in Charity?
A. If a person gives all his wealth in charity and has nothing left, if there is someone on whom he is obliged to spend, such as his children, wife and parents, and he does not have a job from which he can earn money to spend on them, it is not permissible for him to give all his wealth, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “It is sufficient sin for a man to neglect his dependents.” (Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
And he ﷺ said: “If you leave your heirs independent of means, that is better than leaving them to beg from people.” (Sahih Bukhaari).
Because giving charity is naafil and spending on one’s children is obligatory, it is not permissible to give precedence to a naafil act over one that is obligatory.
It says in Asna al-Mataalib (1/407): If he gives in charity that which he needs for his dependents, that is not permissible, because of the report, “It is sufficient sin for a man to neglect his dependents” (narrated by Abu Dawood with a saheeh isnaad; a similar report was narrated by Muslim), and because supporting them is obligatory and takes precedence over that which is naafil. End quote.
Q. Which is better, giving a gift or giving charity?
A. If you give a gift to one of your relatives, that may be better than giving charity, because it is more befitting to uphold the ties of kinship. The same may apply if you give a gift to a friend of yours, because that will strengthen the bonds of love between you. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Exchange gifts, you will love one another.” (Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, classed as Hasan by al-Albani).
What the hadeeth means is that giving gifts may generate and increase love.
Q. He pledged to give some money in charity and he does not have that money now
A. If a person makes a pledge or a vow to do an act of obedience, then it is obligatory for him to fulfil it, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever vows to do an act of obedience to Allaah, let him go ahead with it, and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6202).
A pledge to give charity is a kind of vow to do an act of obedience that must be fulfilled. If you are unable to fulfil it, then it remains a debt that you owe until you are able to do it, and the fact that you are travelling does not change that.
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked: I made a vow that if I got a job I would give 600 riyals to sponsor an orphan on behalf of my father and mother every month. After that, I sponsored one orphan for a year and a half, at a cost of 2400 per year, then I stopped because of my financial situation. Now, after I stopped, I was determined to sponsor an orphan again on the basis of the accumulated amount and I found it is 25,000 riyals.
My question is: What do I have to do?
They replied: You have to fulfil your vow, because it was a vow to do an act of obedience and the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever makes a vow to obey Allaah, let him go ahead with it.” And you have to make up that amount for the months during which you did not pay anything, because it became a duty on you as a result of the vow. May Allaah accept it from you and compensate you with that which is greater and more beneficial. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allaah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers” (Saba’ 34:39).
We advise you not to make vows in the future, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not make vows, for vows do not change qadar (the divine decree) in the slightest, but they make the stingy person give something up.” (Bukhari & Muslim) Saheeh – agreed upon. End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 23/342.
Q. Is it good to make a vow to give in Charity?
A. We advise you not to make vows in the future, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not make vows, for vows do not change qadar (the divine decree) in the slightest, but they make the stingy person give something up.” Saheeh – agreed upon. End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 23/342.
Q. Is it permissible to give charity to non-Muslims?
A. It is permissible to give charity to non-Muslims and this action will be rewarded, if they are in need of it, but they should not be given the obligatory charity, i.e. zakat, unless they are those whose hearts are to be softened (i.e., they are close to embracing Islam). It is a condition for giving charity to non-Muslims that they should not be involvied in fighting the Muslims or driving them from their homes, because charity in such cases would be seen as helping them to wage war against the Muslims.
Q. Can she give charity from her housekeeping money without her husband’s knowledge?
A. There is nothing wrong with a woman giving charity from her husband’s wealth if he has given her permission to do so. This permission may be explicit (verbal), such as if he says to her: “You can give such and such of my wealth in charity, or whatever you wish.”
Or this permission may be implicit, such as if people ordinarily agree to such things or it is known from her husband’s attitude that he will agree to that and will not object.
In that case there is nothing wrong with her giving charity from her husband’s wealth, and she will have the reward for that charity as will her husband too.
Unless he forbids her to do that and says “Do not give anything in charity, do not donate a small or large amount of my wealth,” then it is not permissible for her to do that.
Q. Is it optional charity to spend on parents?
A. The child – male or female – is obliged to spend on his (or her) parents if they are poor and he is rich. The obligation of spending on them is indicated by the Qur’aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus (ijmaa’).
Although the child will be rewarded but spending on them and taking care of them if they are in need, is an obligation and not a voluntary charity.
Similarly a man is obliged to spend on his wife and children, he is rewarded for spending on them but it is an obligation and not a voluntary charity.
Q. Can charity be given to siblings?
A. Yes, there is nothing wrong with a man or woman giving their charity (even Zakah) to a poor brother, sister, paternal uncle, paternal aunt or to any poor relative, because of the general meaning of the evidence. Indeed, giving charity to them is both an act of charity and upholding family ties, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “Charity given to the poor is charity and charity given to a relative is charity and upholding of family ties.” (Ahmad & Nasaa’i). Excluded from this are parents and those in the direct line of ascent, and children – male or female – and those in the direct line of descent; zakah should not be given to them even if they are poor; rather you are obliged to spend on them from your own wealth, if you are able and if there is no one else who can spend on them.
Q. Can a wife give to her husband?
A. Yes, The Prophet ﷺ commanded the women to give in charity, Zaynab the wife of ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood came to him and said: “O Prophet of Allah, today you told us to give in charity. I have some jewellery and I want to give it in charity, but Ibn Mas’ood claims that he and his child are more deserving of my charity.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Ibn Mas’ood has spoken the truth. Your husband and child are more deserving of your charity.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Q. Women working in Charities
A. There is nothing wrong with a woman doing these actions, treating orphans kindly, feeding the poor, and visiting sick women, so long as she adheres to that which Allaah has commanded of hijab, covering and not mixing with men. Indeed this is mustahabb and recommended for her.
Undoubtedly women have a great role to play in this field, because they are able to get to know about poor families and convey help to them, and cooperate with their Muslim sisters and encourage them to spend and give in this field. But that is no justification for them to meet with non-mahram men on the grounds of organising or doing charitable work. Rather it is sufficient for them to work with other women like them, and for men to work with men, so as to block the means that may lead to haraam and to prevent any fitnah occurring because of them or to them.
If the matter requires cooperation of men with women in this field, then it should be done with the wives of these men or some of them, who can get in touch with the women and organise the work with them.
To conclude
Remember charity isn’t a basic, meaningless act to just physically give to charity and the needy.
Charity is an essential cog in our spirituality as Muslims, and it is also an essential mechanism in the Muslim economy, redistributing wealth and creating a more equitable society.
This works well in promoting economic justice between the givers of charity and the recipients. Looking after the basic needs of people, as well as tailoring one’s attitude into providing financial and moral support to their families, makes one mindful of the needs of those close to them too.
The Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ express the seriousness to give with a pure heart and to be wary of how loved this act is to Allah SWT and His Messenger ﷺ.
We as Muslims are privileged to have several different ways to give charity, and even within this, we encounter a separate category of the ‘best types of charity’ that display greater, noble rewards benefiting Muslims in both worlds.
We should also be mindful of the manner in which we give charity. There is great reward not only in the causes we donate to but the conduct we hold ourselves to when giving to charity
So to reiterate, be in the habit of just giving, keep some money aside that you can give to different causes that you come across, or simply because you are asked. Often we think of charity as what it can do for the recipients and forget the impact it can have on us.
May Allah bless us all enough wealth and the hidayah to spend in His cause.
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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