Sadaqah and its Virtues

Assalamu-alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu

Every day we see, hear and read in the news what is happening to our Muslim brothers and sisters all around the world. In Syria, Palestine, Burma, Bangladesh, Pakistan and many other countries. It is our duty to help our brothers and sisters in Islam. There are many ways in which we can help our brothers and sisters. One way is by doing dua for them.

There is another way in which we can help them and this is by giving money. Giving Sadaqah. The meaning of Sadaqah is to give your wealth to others as an act of worship and also to become closer to Allah Ta'alah. It removes  trials and hardships and is a way in which we can increase our good deeds.

The money we give can help provide food, clean water, clothes and other necessary items. We are too busy complaining about things like the weather that we forget that there are millions of people in the world who don't even taste fresh food or clean water for days.

We should spend our time, money and effort in giving Sadaqah for the pleasure of Allah Ta'alah as the reward of giving Sadaqah is nothing but success, especially in the Hereafter.

There are many Ayats in the Qura'an in which Allah Ta'alah has mentioned the reward and virtues of Sadaqah.

“Those who spend of their goods (give charity) by night and by day, in secret and in public have their reward with their Rabb (only God and Sustainer). On them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.” (Qur'an, 2:274)

Allah Ta'alah also  says:

"And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: 'My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.'" (63:10)
From this Ayat we learn that it is better to give Sadaqah whilst we are in good health and have the ability. Don't leave it till tomorrow because who knows what could happen to us tomorrow. On the Day of Judgement, we will need every  possible  good deed to help us and to save us.

The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him) said "There is not one single one of you but that Allah Ta'alah will speak to him with no interpreter between them. He will look to his right and see nothing but what he has sent forth. He will look to his left and see nothing but what he has sent forth. He will look in front of him and see nothing but the fire facing him. So beware of the fire - even if with just half a date." (Muslim & Bukhari)

Since Sadaqah is not limited to giving of money or part of our wealth, every Muslim can therefore earn rewards from Allah Ta'alah. Sadaqah is an easy way to increase our Imaan. Every Muslim whether poor or wealthy can give Sadaqah at all times. The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that even Dhikr (remembrance of Allah Ta'alah) is also form of Sadaqah.

There are many Hadeeth narrated by many Sahabah regarding the virtues Sadaqah. I have listed a few below:-

It has been narrated that The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand." The upper hand is the hand that gives and the lower hand is the one that takes. So this Hadeeth means that the one who gives charity is better than him who takes it.

 Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "Seven people will be shaded by Allah Ta'alah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His." And among them one is a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity."

 Mu'aadh bin Jabal (May Allah Ta'alah be pleased with him) narrated from The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him) "Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

 The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his Sadaqah."(Ahmad)

Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`as (May Allah Ta'alah be pleased with him) reported: A man asked Messenger of Allah Ta'alah, (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him)   "Which act in Islam is the best?'' The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him)  replied, "To feed (the poor and the needy) and to greet those whom you know and those you do not know.''

Abu Hurairah (may Allah Ta'alah be pleased with him) has narrated that The Messenger of Allah Ta'alah (peace and blessings of Allah Ta'alah be upon him) said: "Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (Halaal) earnings – for Allah Ta'alah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allah Ta'alah 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)

There are plenty of actions that we can do in which we will gain the reward of  Sadaqah. There are a few listed below:

1.    Giving and donating money.

2.    Helping someone in need.

3.    Speaking kind words.

4.    Dhikr- Remembering Allah Ta'alah.

5.    Every step that you take (towards the mosque) for Salat (prayer).

6.    Removing harmful things from the road or the footpath.

7.    Smiling.

The Messenger of Allah Ta'alah (May Allah Ta'alah's peace and blessings be upon him) said "To smile in the company of your brother is charity. To command to do good deeds and to prevent others from doing evil is charity. To guide a person in a place where he cannot get astray is charity. To remove troublesome things like thorns and bones from the road is charity. To pour water from your jug into the jug of your brother is charity. To guide a person with defective vision is charity for you."(Bukhari)

To be able to gain as much reward as possible we should try to give Sadaqah by trying to observe the following:

1.    Sadaqah must be done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah Ta'alah and not done in order to gain praise from others.

2.    It is better to conceal what we give or do as Sadaqah. Don't announce what you are giving as this may be seen as a way of gaining praise from others.

3. Do not count the Sadaqah you give. Allah Ta'alah doesn't count the blessings that he has given to us so why should we count what we are giving to others. It is mentioned in Hadeeth “Spend in charity and do not keep count for then Allah Ta'alah will also keep count in giving you provision.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

I think its been a while since added a new daily target. So a quick reminder the first one was to say Astaghfirullah at least 100 times a day.
The second one was to read any Durood Shareef at least 100 times a day.
And the next target is :

To give Sadaqah at least once a week.
This can be any amount.

So try your best to make this part of your daily routine. In Sha Allah

I pray that Allah gives me and you the ability to utilise our time in doing good deeds. And I pray Allah accepts all our deeds.
I pray that Allah Ta'alah give us all the opportunity to give as much Sadaqah as we can in as many ways as possible. May we be blessed with the ability to spend as much of our wealth, time and lives in doing as much good deeds as possible in order to gain the pleasure of Allah Ta'alah.  Also please remember the entire Muslim Ummah in your duas.

Ameen