(بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، والصلاة والسلام على حبيبنا محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى من اتبع صراطه المستقيم.) In the name of Allah (سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّٰهِ), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and upon all those who follow his righteous path.
Dear Readers,
(السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.) May Peace, Mercy, and Blessings of Allah be upon you.
In the ceaseless flow of our busy urban centers, a common scenario presents itself: the unsolicited approach of persistent beggars amidst the traffic. They seek attention, often aggressively, to compel a monetary response. One may respond with a dismissive gesture or the common phrase "Forgive me," but used contextually to mean "I cannot give now." If a small coin is eventually extended, it is often done not out of heartfelt compassion or a desire for Divine reward, but purely as a pragmatic maneuver—a means to terminate the persistent solicitation and regain one's peace. The fundamental tenet of accepted deeds in Islam is sincerity (الإخلاص). The critical question for the believing heart is this: Is such an act, motivated by annoyance and the desire to simply "get rid of them", counted as true voluntary charity (الصدقة) in the sight of Allah (سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّٰهِ)? It's a transaction, not a donation (الصدقة)!
When the primary drive for giving is not the anticipation of reward from our Creator but the immediate cessation of discomfort or a nuisance, the act may be devoid of the spiritual merit necessary to be classified as worship (عبادة). The imam of the mosque takes his time before Friday prayer to read the names of the most generous beneficiaries to the mosque and makes sure to mention the huge sums they donated. These are people well known in the community, often seen in the front rows during Friday Jumu’ah, and upon hearing their names, they straighten their backs in pride, while others nod to them in acknowledgement, muttering “Mâshâ’Allah, (ماشاءالله)…” Ask yourself. Is it donation (الصدقة)? [الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ] "Those who (want but) to be seen (of men)" [Sura Al Maun, verse 06]
During the blessed occasion of Eid al-Adha, the lady of the household meticulously distributes the meat from the sacrifice portion (قرباني). She prepares a list of recipients, including her children’s teacher and an influential neighbor, selecting the finest cuts for their parcels in hopes of earning their favor. Does this act constitute sadaqah (الصدقة)? Does Islamic order prescribe the same etiquette? Hadith show us the way of extreme reality. "O son of Adam, it is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold means necessary) for [your own] living. Begin (charity) with your dependents; the upper hand is better than the lower hand." (Muslim)
In Islam, the value of charity is not measured by the amount given but by the purity of the heart that gives it. When charity becomes a burden, an annoyance, or a social reflex, it loses its spiritual soul. A widow, raising three children, owes immense gratitude to her employers, a wealthy family who provided her employment as a domestic worker when no other opportunities were available. Beyond her job, they regularly donate their unwanted clothes, toys, and household items to her family. While she is thankful for their generosity, she feels uneasy when the lady of the house enquires whether the sofa they gifted last year remains in use and unstained by her children’s hands. Does this act of giving qualify as sadaqah (الصدقة)?
Once the followers of the prophet (ﷺ) asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot do even that?” He replied, “Then he should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform all that is good and keep away from all that is evil, and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Bukhâri)
Another hadith also exhibits the same meaning: "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. It is charity to give guidance to a person who is in a place where he could go astray. 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." (Bukhâri)
It is easy to earn the reward of charity through small daily actions, but it is equally easy to lose the reward of seemingly great acts of charity if Islamic etiquette is not followed. These are:
🔶Charity must be given with the right intention:
To seek the pleasure of Allah alone and to expect reward from Him. It should not be done to gain praise or recognition from others, to show off, or to increase our pride. We read in the Quran: "Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not remind them of their generosity after their giving, nor do they hurt them, their reward is with their Lord. There is no fear on them, nor will they grieve. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261-262]. We should not expect thanks from the one to whom we give. It is narrated about Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when she used to send alms, she would ask the giver to listen to and memorize their supplications so that she could also make the same supplication for them, so that all the rewards of giving are due to Allah alone.
🔶 Keep your charity secret:
This will certainly help us to avoid showing it off, but on the other hand, we are allowed to reveal it to encourage others to give. The Quran teaches us: If you reveal your charity, it is good, but if you conceal it and reach the needy, it is better for you: it will remove some of your (guilt). And Allah is well-acquainted with what you do. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:271]
🔶 Charity must be given from a legitimate source:
As the Prophet (ﷺ) taught us: If someone gives alms equal to a date from his honestly earned wealth - and Allah accepts only the honestly earned wealth - then Allah takes it in His right hand (hand). And then, He increases the reward for the person (who gave it), just as one of you raises his foal, until it grows as big as a mountain. (Bukhari) Also, avoid giving to others that which you do not want to receive yourself: Your unwanted belongings thrown into the hands of a poor friend or thrown at the door of a charity shop are not really charity. You are the one who is happy to get rid of it and they relieve you of your burden, so who is the giver and who is the benefactor?
🔶 Charity starts from the home:
We should start with your dependents, as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us: The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e., the one who gives is better than the one who receives). One should start giving to their dependents first. And the best intention of charity is what the rich person gives (from the money left over after his expenses). And whoever refrains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give to him and protect him from asking others; May Allah make him self-sufficient. (Bukhari).
Nowadays, when various charities are competing for our attention and our donations, it is easy to forget those who do not pray and those who are close to us. Also, if we watch a dramatic advertisement for a charity that makes us all emotional and tearful, can we still say that we gave charity only to please Allah, to relieve the burden of guilt, and to improve our mood? Charity should be our regular act, just like prayer, and not the act of a sad heart.
🔶 We should not be reminded of our deeds after giving:
We should not bother ourselves by reminding ourselves or counting our donations or good deeds. We are reminded in the Hadith: Give charity and do not count, then Allah will also keep an account of your provision. (Bukhari and Muslim) After the reminder, regarding the act of giving charity, Allah tells us in the Quran: O you who believe! Do not nullify your charity by reminding or hurting it - like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people, but do not believe in Allah or the Last Day. Their example is like a hard, barren rock on which there is little soil; heavy rain falls on it, leaving it (only) bare rock. They will not be able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelievers. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:264]
Sometimes it is easy to forget that we should give charity just as some people need to receive it. And when we forget this, we can become proud or expect gratitude from those to whom we give, forgetting that the best reward is Allah's reward, that we are only His humble servants who have been entrusted with His wealth to distribute it equitably among the Ummah.
Remember, every wealth we are given is actually Allah's wealth - we are only His humble servants chosen by Him to distribute it among the Ummah. Follow these etiquettes from today. Make every donation a reason for salvation from the fire of hell and earn the pleasure of Allah. May Allah guide us to the easy path. Amen!
#Charity, #Donation, #Islam, #Religion, #Spiritual
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This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. It is important to seek help from a qualified professional.
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 in Islam: Meaning the Spiritual Etiquette of Donation (المَعُونَة)){kind=link}
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