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*CHARITY IN ISLAM*
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*The Hands That Gives Never Lack*
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Charity is a tenet among the pillars of Islam, everything a person has belongs to Allaah (ﷻ) and therefore a Muslim is obliged to share his wealth with the less privilege.
Charity is an act of giving out to the people in need and society at large. Charity can be in the form of money, goods, food or even a simple act of spending time with those who need your assistance in any form.
Life doesn’t offer equal opportunities for everyone; through charity we can share our blessings with those less privileged and thus try to bring balance to the society.
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Different categories of charity are defined in Islam, the two most important are *Zakat (obligatory charity) and Sadaqat (voluntary charity).*
Allaah (ﷻ) says in the Glorious Qur'an:
*يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌۭ لَّا بَيْعٌۭ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌۭ وَلَا شَفَٰعَةٌۭ ۗ وَٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ*
_“O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession.”_
(Al-Baqarah 2:254)
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Allaah (ﷻ) also says:
*ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ سِرًّۭا وَعَلَانِيَةًۭ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ*
_“Those who spend their wealth [in Allaah's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”_
(Al-Baqarah 2:274)
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He (ﷻ) says:
*لَن تَنَالُوا۟ ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌۭ*
_“Never will you attain the good (reward) until you spend (in the way of Allaah) from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allaah is Knowing of it.”_
(Aal-e-Imran 3:92)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: *_“Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is a charity. Your guidance of a person who is lost is a charity.”_*
(40 Hadith Nawawi 26)
*سبحان الله*
This means someone doesn't have to be a millionaire to give out charity.
Allaah's Messenger (ﷺ) also said: *_“Protect yourself from hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity.”_*
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6195, and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1016)
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin ‘Abd-Allāh bin Bāz (رحمه الله) said: _“[Optional] Charity wards off an evil death, [wards off] calamities and extinguishes sins [the way water extinguishes fire].”_
[Majmū al-Fatāwa 4/183 | Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin ‘Abd-Allāh bin Bāz.]
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And Allaah (ﷻ) says:
*إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِى ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ*
_“Indeed, Allaah rewards the charitable.”_
(Yusuf 12:88)
Charity is our deen, not only does it act as a protection and witness to our deeds it helps to contribute to the society positively.
Charity is seen as multiplication of wealth in contrast to giving out money which keeps reminding Muslims about Akhirah and their accountability before Allaah (ﷻ). Thus, Islam heavily promotes charity and every Muslim is rewarded with something which is way better than what he gives up in the way of Allaah.
May Allaah (ﷻ) accept our offerings and protect us from becoming miserly.
*آمِيْن يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينْ*
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