Faith On Allah... Imaan (Ibadah Book 2)

Passion

Nawal

In Islam there are five important pillars... one of those pillars is Zakah, which can be called as a compulsory charity, ordained by Allah. In Islam there are different types of charities, compulsory charity and voluntary charity. Zakah is a type of compulsory charity. It can't be called as a tax though. It is a way to purify your money and property (don't think that if u earn haram money and pay zakah then that money is purified).

Zakah has advantages. The poor are benefitted from it. They can have a better lifestyle. Those who have money gives to those who doesn't and circulate the money saving it from remaining in the hands of a  select few. It can teach us to sacrifice.

Zakah is an yearly charity too. Once a year, Zakah must be given. Zakah need to be paid for whatever you have if it exceeds a certain level. After it exceeds that level whole of your property, money and gold etc are liable for Zakah. Zakah can't be given to your family (immediate ones).

The voluntary charity is called as Sadaqah. Sadaqah is above Zakah, because it's done by a person wantingly for the sake of Allah. From where should Sadaqah be given? From the excess, as is mentioned in the Quran. After your basic expenses is covered, what is left with you, that can be used for Sadaqah. But if you give Sadaqah from your basic expenses, that is like much above Sadaqah. Giving sadaqah from your basic necessities was a characteristic of the sahaba radhiallahu anhuma. They gave preference to others more than themselves. And if you do it, you are just following them Alhamdulilllahi rabbilaalameen. Whom should you give sadaqah to? The needy Of course. But who exactly? The answer is from the immediate kith and kin. Give them to your family first, your neighbours... Then the circle widens. When? At the time of ease and difficulty.

Allah loves three qualities of goodness-
1) Those who give charity in the times of ease and difficulty without the fear of poverty.
2) Those who swallow their anger.
3)Those who forgive others.

My readers, Use your money to buy your Aakhirah. Use the money to give charity, to help those who are in need. Remember it's an honor to be one of the ways through which Allah Al Razzaq help his people. Allah doesn't need you, you need him and when you help others, you are just helping yourself. You are the one who are buying the Aakhirah. Remember what you have Allah gave it to you, don't hoarde it like Qaroo did. What he have given you, he may even take it back.

Charity can be anything. If you don't have money, smile. Smiling is charity. Speak a good word. The main and important point is, don't brag about your charity. Remember what your right hand gives, your left hand shouldn't know. Spend in the way of Allah and then forget about it. If you brag about it, it's waste.

Quran speaks about Charity-

Al Baqarah : Ayat 110

And be steadfast in prayer and given Zakat: and whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah; for Allah sees well all that ye do.

Al Baqarah: Ayat 263

Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most Forbearing.

Al Baqarah: Ayat 265

And the likeness of those who spend their substance seeking to please Allah and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not heavy rain, light moisture sufficeth it. Allah seeth well whatever ye do.

There are many more verses about charity in the Quran. I have just written some of them.

Hadith on Charity-