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.