Charity الصدقة

Giving charity has been greatly emphasized in the Holy Quran and in the traditions of Ahle Bait (a.s.). We present below few verses from Holy Quran and traditions from Ahle Bait (a.s.) emphasizing on the same.

Allah, the Almighty says in the Holy Quran,

لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ

By no means shall you attain to righteousness until you spend (benevolently) out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it. Surah Aale Imran (3):92

The Virtue of Charity

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ أَرْضُ الْقِيَامَةِ نَارٌ مَا خَلَا ظِلَ‏ الْمُؤْمِنِ‏ فَإِنَ‏ صَدَقَتَهُ‏ تُظِلُّهُ‏.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘The earth on the Day of Resurrection will be scorching, except for the shadow of a believer, for verily his charity will serve him as shade.’ (al-Kafi, v. 4, p. 3)

 

الإمام علي (ع): الصَّدَقَةُ جُنَّةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ مِنَ النَّار

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Charity acts as a great shield against the fire.’ (Bihar vol 10 pg 113)

Reward of charity at different times

 الإمام الصادق (ع)     ....إِنَّ صَدَقَةَ اللَّيْلِ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ وَ تَمْحُو الذَّنْبَ الْعَظِيمَ وَ تُهَوِّن‏ الْحِسَابَ وَ صَدَقَةَ النَّهَارِ تُثْمِرُ الْمَالَ وَ تَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمُر

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘Verily charity given at night extinguishes the wrath of the Lord, wipes away grave sins and facilitates one’s account [on the Day of Resurrection]. Charity given during the day makes one’s wealth thrive and increases one’s lifespan.’ ( Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 125, no. 39]

Every Kindly Act is Considered Charity

رُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِنَ‏ عَلَى‏ كُلِ‏ مُسْلِمٍ‏ فِي‏ كُلِ‏ يَوْمٍ‏ صَدَقَةً قِيلَ مَنْ يُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ ص إِمَاطَتُكَ الْأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ وَ إِرْشَادُكَ الرَّجُلَ إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ وَ عِيَادَتُكَ الْمَرِيضَ صَدَقَةٌ وَ أَمْرُكَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَ نَهْيُكَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ وَ رَدُّكَ السَّلَامَ صَدَقَةٌ.

 Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘Verily every single Muslim is to give in charity every single day.’ When asked who would be capable of such a thing, he replied, ‘Your removal of an obstacle from the road is a charitable act; your guiding someone the way is a charitable act; your visiting the sick is a charitable act; your enjoinment of good to others is a charitable act; your forbidding others from wrongdoing is a charitable act, and your returning the greeting of peace is a charitable act.’[Ibid. v. 72, p. 50, no. 4

 Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘Every kindly act is considered charity.’[al-Khisal, p. 134, no. 145]

Helping brothers in faith professionally, carrying the luggage of fellow travelers while in hajj or ziarat, helping elderly people in masjid, helping young members of the society choose a good career, giving a smile to a momin,  solving the problem of a momin etc are all avenues of charity.

When we go to Masjid we should take our children (younger one's) along with us and give charity through them as this also cultivate in their heart love for charity from childhood.

Charity and Repelling Adversities

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ الصَّدَقَةُ تَسُدُّ سَبْعِينَ‏ بَاباً مِنَ‏ الشَّرِّ.

Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘Charity blocks seventy doorways to evil.’ (Bihar vol 93 pg 132)

 قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ الصَّدَقَةُ تَمْنَعُ‏ مِيتَةَ السَّوْء

Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘Charity prevents an undignified death.’ (Bihar vol 93 pg 124)

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ الصَّدَقَةُ دَوَاءٌ مُنْجِحٌ‏.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Charity is an effective cure.’ (Bihar vol 59 pg 269)

 Best treatment  for our sick beloved is sadaqa. Infact, the best thing for the dead person (persons first night in the grave) is to do charity on behalf of that person.

One is supposed to give Sadqa of Imam e Zamana (a.t.f.s.) every day.

Multiple Niyat is possible in one Sadqa. A person can include (Niyat) of many people in one charity like father, mother, grandparents, in laws, etc

Charity is the key to (Increased) Sustenance

 قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ ….اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ‏ بِالصَّدَقَة

(Kafi vol 4 pg 3 tradition no 5)  Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘…Attract sustenance by giving charity.’

وَ قَالَ ع‏ إِذَا أَمْلَقْتُمْ‏ فَتَاجِرُوا اللَّهَ‏ بِالصَّدَقَة

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘If you are reduced to poverty, then trade with Allah through giving in charity.’ (Nahjul Balagha saying 258)

May Allah give us taufeeq to spend in the way of His religion and His chosen representatives on the earth.

SACRIFICE

The word sacrifice means the act of offering or giving something to another person.

Human soul is selfish. He cares for his own desires and benefits first. Making sacrifices in order to achieve Allah’s pleasure by quitting the egoism of the soul is one of the greatest characters among the values of the humanity.

Allah, the Almighty says in Holy Quran,

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ ثُمَّ لاَ يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنفَقُواُ مَنًّا وَلاَ أَذًى لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, for them their reward is with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah Baqarah (2) : 262)

One of the signs of a person who possesses true faith is that he is not selfish and is self-sacrificing. Such a person is constantly struggling with his life and property toward his goals and the action and behavior of one are brought forth through his manner of thinking and his beliefs.

If the beliefs of a person in relation to something reaches to such a level that they overtake the importance of his own life, property and his entire existence, then without doubt he will exert as much energy that is needed to reach and protect his goals and will be ready to give up everything (to reach to such an aim).

When the word sacrifice comes in our mind the only thing comes is the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (a.s) in Karbala. The sacrifices which Imam had to go cannot be described in words.

Aga Darbandi writes, ‘When the Day of Judgement shall dawn, the people shall be gathered in a state of intense anxiety and apprehension. Under these circumstances, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) will request Hazrat Ali (a.s.) to ask Janabe Zahra (s.a.) what she had in store to rescue the nation from chastisement. Janabe Zahra (s.a.) will say, ‘The severed hands of Abbas (a.s) are sufficient for salvaging the nation.’ (Asraarush Shahadat pg. 325, Jawaherul Ayqaan pg. 194, Qamare Bani Hashim pg. 51)

 In this brief statement Janabe Zahra (s.a) highlights the eminent rank of Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) near Allah, which shall result in the intercession of the Islamic nation as a result of his supreme sacrifice, the proof of which are his severed hands.  

Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) served the successor of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) till the last breath of his life under the most trying circumstances. Near his Lord he was a virtuous slave and near Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) he was a submissive and obedient Muslim. He submitted completely to the wishes of the Imam of his era and eventually sacrificed his life to safeguard the Imam and thus, earned the latter’s satisfaction and approval. Therefore we find the infallibles (a.s.) speaking of Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) with such high regard and respect. As devotees of this personality and his ardent lovers, we must strive to emulate the actions of our Master – Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) by supporting the Imam of our era till the dying moments of our lives.

Concluding this topic, the only thing that’s come to our mind is to always sacrifice what you like the most and strive for the pleasure of Hazrat Wali Asr (a.t.f.s.) which will benefit us in duniya and aakherat.