Charity in islam ....

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Every good deed is charity.

The concept of charity derives from the fact to acknowledge that we own nothing but whatever has been given to us is a blessing by Allah (SWT) and it’s His property. So when we give out something from our pocket, we are actually sharing Allah’s blessings with His mankind and since we don’t own anything, we don’t lose anything by giving out but only gain Allah’s rewards.

“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” (Quran 3:92)

Charity is purely for the sake of Allah and no worldly gain should be intended while making charity. It should only be made to seek Allah’s forgiveness and His blessings.

“They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, “Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”” (Quran 2:215)

It is said that no one should be aware of the charity you give out so much so that your left hand shouldn’t be aware of the charity you give out with your right hand. Secrecy should be kept when giving charity for two reasons. Firstly, charity is for Allah and not to show off your good deeds and wealth to the world, and secondly in order to not hurt the respect and honor of the person being given charity. In Quran, Allah reminds us not to be boastful of our charity in the following verse:

“You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words.” (Quran 2:264)

"Spend (in charity) out of the sustenance that We have bestowed on you before that time when death will come to someone, and he shall say: "O my Lord! If only you would grant me reprieve for a little while, then I would give in charity, and be among the righteous." - The Holy Quran, 63:10

The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” (Quran 2:261)

Spend (in charity) out of We have bestowed for their sustenance secretly and openly ; and turn off evil with good: for such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home. [ Chapter 13 Surah Raad verse 22]

And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). [Qur'an 2:43]

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.[Qur'an 2:177]

O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)” [al-Baqarah 2:254]

Islam, being the religion of Peace, strongly advocates Charity. Allah has made charity (Zakaat) an obligation on every believing Muslim. Quran and Sunnah put great emphasis on charity through multiple mentions of charity in Quran and Hadith. The Last Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) presented many examples of charity in His lifetime and thus it becomes compulsory on Muslims to follow the suit. The Prophet (PBUH) said that

“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604)

The Prophet also said: "Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity." - Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 589

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people then asked: "(But what) if someone has nothing to give, what should he do?" The Prophet replied: "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 find even that?" He replied: "He should help the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked: "If he cannot do (even) that?" The Prophet said finally: "Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds, and that will be regarded as charitable deeds." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 524

Every good deed is charity. Verily, it is a good deed to meet your brother with a smiling face, and to pour what is left from your bucket into the vessel of your brother.
Sunan At-Tirmidhi

Charity is due upon every joint of the people for every day upon which the sun rises. Being just between two people is charity. Helping a man with his animal and lifting his luggage upon it is charity. A kind word is charity. Every step that you take towards the mosque is charity, and removing harmful things from the road is charity.
Sahih Bukhari 2827

The companions once complained to the Prophet that the wealthy had taken all the rewards due to their ability to spend in charity. However, the Prophet told them that even the poorest of Muslims is capable of earning great rewards through good deeds such as praising Allah and even pursuing healthy desires in a lawful manner.

Abu Dharr reported: Some people among the companions came to the Messenger of Allah and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken all the rewards. They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give charity from their extra wealth.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَوَ لَيْسَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مَا تَصَّدَّقُونَ إِنَّ بِكُلِّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَنَهْيٌ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَفِي بُضْعِ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ

Has not Allah made for you ways to give charity? In every glorification of Allah is charity, in every declaration of His greatness is charity, in every praise of Him is charity, in every declaration of His oneness is charity, enjoining good is charity and forbidding evil is charity, and in a man’s intimate relations with his wife is charity.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for one who satisfies his passions?” The Prophet said:

أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ وَضَعَهَا فِي حَرَامٍ أَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا وِزْرٌ فَكَذَلِكَ إِذَا وَضَعَهَا فِي الْحَلَالِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرًا

You see that if he were to devote himself to the forbidden it would be sin. Likewise, if he were to devote himself to the lawful he will have a reward.
Sahih Muslim 1006

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ

The best charity is what you give when you are independent, and you should start with spending on your dependents.
Sahih Bukhari 5041

Even small good deeds can have a tremendous positive effect on others in this life. For this reason, the Prophet told us never to belittle any good deed, even smiling at others, saying a kind word, or giving away half of a date fruit. Small good deeds such as these may be the reason Allah admits us into Paradise.

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ

Do not regard any good deed as insignificant, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.

Sahih Muslim 2626

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

قَالَ اللَّهُ أَنْفِقْ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْك

Allah said: Spend in charity, O son of Adam, and I will spend on you.

Sahih Bukhari 5037

In this way, charity does not decrease wealth, that is, the true wealth of having good deeds for the Hereafter. Forgiving others and behaving with humility are likewise good deeds that raise the honor and status of those who do them.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ

Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status.
Sahih Muslim 2588

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient. (Bukhari)

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: He who makes a habit of asking from others reaches out for a brand of Fire, so let him refrain or continue, as he desires. (Muslim)

Ibn Abbas related that the Prophet said: Any Muslim who gives a Muslim a garment to wear will be in Allah's safekeeping as long as a shred of it remains on him. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

Prophet (sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam) informed us "There is not a day in which the obedient slaves rise in the morning except that two angels descend, and one of them says: 'O Allaah! Compensate the one who spends.' The other angel says: 'O Allaah! Destroy the wealth of the one who is niggardly." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1442) and Saheeh Muslim (2205)]

Therefore, we should instill charity as an attitude and way of life within ourselves, our families, and our communities. We should habitually perform good deeds for our fellow human beings and even for the animals. The wealth, time, and effort we put into charitable work will return to us as multiplied rewards on the Day of Resurrection.