Friday, June 8, 2012

The beauty of Sadaqah (Charity)

Most of us at some point in our lives experience both the rise and the fall of our Imaan.


When we feel we are low in Imaan, or that it is waning, the fard can become hard, and the sunnah is often either neglected, or relied upon to ease our guilty conscience.  Personally I feel that no matter whether you have a strong fervant Imaan or are struggling to maintain it, there is one action that should come easy to all, rich or poor, and that is to give Sadaqah.


Why rich or poor? Because the Prophet salAllahu alaihi wa selam said :


“Save yourself from the (Hell) Fire even with half a date (to be given in charity). And if you do not find one, then with a good pleasant word. (Al Bukhari).  


“Your smile to your brother is a sadaqah (charitable act) for you. Your commanding the right and forbidding the wrong is a sadaqah.  Your guiding a man in the land of misguidance is a sadaqah for you. Your seeing (showing the way) for a man with bad eyesight is a sadaqah for you. Your removing a stone or thorn or bone from the road is a sadaqah for you. Your emptying your bucket of water into your brother’s (empty) bucket is a sadaqah for you.  (Tirmidhi)


So Sadaqah does not have to be money. Let's face it, half of the world is on the poverty line, and half is in recession - it's a reality that a lot of people can't afford to spend in charity. Those that can often see it as a 'waste', as money with no return. How can this silly view by taken when Allah subhana wa ta'Ala said :


"For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward."
—.Qur'an, Sura 57: 18


People are afraid to give, that they are 'losing' their money. In reality it's a surefire good investment and if you have any kind of belief at all you cannot doubt that the Quran itself is Truth.


But be careful! The trouble with trying to be good is that if you are successful at it, the little niggly voice in the back of your head starts to congratulate yourself for being superior to others and this is a slippery slope to being ostentatious when giving sadaqah, constantly throwing it in someone's face that you gave them charity or feeling insulted if the person doesn't show any or sufficient gratitude.


"O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people."  Quran Surah 2:264


There is a lovely hadith from the life of the Prophet s.a.w.s where he illustrates to Aisha r.a. how anything you give away paradoxically remains for your good.


The Messenger of God, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked Sayyida ‘Aisha, radiallahu ‘anha, about a sheep that was slaughtered [and donated to the needy], “What remains of it?” She replied, “Nothing but the shoulder.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied, “All of it remains except the shoulder.”


Again though, there are exceptions to what counts such as giving something away which you do not want for yourself is not seen equivalent as true charity -


...and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when ye would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise. Quran 2:267

And while there is reward for both charity that is given in public and in private, it is better for you if you give in secret:

If ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach 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. Quran 2:271

And be happy that that you give in charity. Going to the next life, all you can send before yourself in preparation are good or bad deeds, and anyone who spends in charity will be glad to see those good deeds, no matter how small...


That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds.
So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it,
And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. Quran 99:6-8

1 comment:

  1. It is besides an ideal piece of writing i just absolutely cherished contemplating. Its nope day-to-day i just support the successful opportunity to observe an item.Charity Online

    ReplyDelete