Charity
Charity As Taught By Quran And Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
ٱلَّذِینَ یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَیۡبِ وَیُقِیمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ یُنفِقُونَ ٣
For those who believe in the existence of the unseen, perform the prayers, and spend out of what We have provided for them (Baqra(2:3))
Allah (SWT) formed us inside a "gradient of wealth" that includes money, material possessions, physical well-being, aesthetic appeal, learning capacity, and the capacity to master various abilities. Allah (SWT) commands believers to give some of the riches He gave them to the less fortunate (mumalt) in this verse of the Quran. According to this interpretation, the Arabic word zakat means to purify one's own spirit. According to this concept, any wealthy person who gives the required amount of money to the needy (Zakat Al Mal) does so with the purpose of purifying his or her own soul. The annual donation for charity is regulated at 2.5% of a Muslim's total savings and wealth beyond the nisab minimum amount.
Benefits Of Sadqa
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ﴾
[ البقرة: 215]
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."
means that the desire to please Allah (SWT) and self-purify our souls extends beyond simply giving those in need money or food to survive; it also includes acts of charity like giving assistance and time to family, neighbors, and friends, as well as those who are ill in order to comfort them and perhaps add some joy to their life or enhance it in some other way.
Additionally, as stated in the following Quranic verse, showing kindness and consideration to family members, neighbors, and coworkers are also excellent deeds.
﴿۞ وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا﴾
Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.
Muslims are expected to worship Allah (SWT) at their places of employment by providing assistance to those there (mumalt), just as we do in mosques with our prayers (ibdt). An engineer's charitable work could include providing their knowledge to effectively resolve technological issues. While a teacher's charity is to transfer knowledge and make learning possible for students, a doctor's charity is to treat patients well and give them the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) talked about the Sadqa
In this topic, Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) teaches us that we can help people in many ways as he said: “Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises”. He was then asked: “From what do we give charity every day?” The Prophet replied “The doors of goodness are many: enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one’s legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one’s arms. All of these are charity prescribed for you”. He then said: “Even your smile for your brother is a charity”. [Bukhari]
In addition, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ask Muslims to also protect nature and animals. For example, regarding the reward of planting trees, he said “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him”. To care and protect animals, he told this story: “A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, ‘This dog is suffering from thirst as I did.’ So, he went down the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it with his mouth and watered the dog. Allah appreciated him for that deed and forgave him”. The Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He replied: “There is a reward for serving any living being”. [Bukhari]