What does Islam say about Charity

Picture this: you go to your mosque for prayer, when all of a sudden there’s an event happening. What is the event you may ask? It’s a fundraiser for helping the local community of muslims who have recently arrived as refugees. Around you you see many who are willing to give large amounts of money to this cause. You see the selfless shine in their eyes, indicating that they want what’s best for others. Despite this, you can’t see yourself giving too much in charity because you’re not in that well of a financial situation yourself; and you feel embarrassed if you just give that small amount, so you withhold for a moment. The imam then tells the crowd of people that even giving a small amount can mean so much to these people. At that, you realize that maybe this small amount of cash will be of a lot of benefit to these refugees, so you free your heart from any stinginess and give that money away. For the rest of that week you feel good about yourself, as though a weight was lifted off your shoulders that you didn’t even know was there.

This scenario is just an example to show how many of us may first react when asked to spend in charity. Yes we may be a little reluctant but once we do spend for a right cause, Allah will reward us and bless us in numerous ways that we never even think about. 

Allah says in the Qur’an: “The example of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and to make firm (their faith) from (the depths of) their souls is like a garden on a foothill on which came a heavy rain, and it yielded its produce twofold. Even if a heavy rain does not come to it, a light drizzle is enough, and Allah is watchful of what you do.” [2:265]

From the time this is being written to the time that the Gazan Genocide “started,” it’s been a total of almost 3 years. In that time, we have seen in front of our eyes children being slaughtered, buildings being destroyed, innocent people fleeing from bombs, and it has taken a huge toll on how we view the world. These injustices continue to plague the world today in many more places as well, such as Lebanon and Sudan. 

You may be thinking that these things are not as severe anymore because you’ve probably already seen many horrors that are happening to these people; so how can they be afflicted with even more; or, you have become desensitized to all that the media is showing you. That is the case for many people. Since we live in an era where information is everywhere, we’re getting the news about the genocide every day to the point that we’ve become numb to seeing these injustices happening. 

To put it simple, we can bring our concern back by first reflecting on these words by the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him): “The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.” [Muslim]

The analogy of this hadith is that if anyone from the Muslim Ummah is in pain, others feel it too. By internalizing this hadith we should realize that we can’t sit still if our fellow Muslims are living without basic necessities. 

Let’s be real, we as humans often participate in things that we can derive benefit from. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, because everyone thinks about themselves. But, how can we even derive benefit to ourselves from giving charity? Isn’t charity about being selfless and giving to those in need?

Yes it is, but as Muslims, we can also gain from giving in charity. There are numerous times when Allah addresses mankind about spending in charity and how it will be of benefit to us. 

He says in the Qur’an: “Those who spend their wealth [in Allah’s way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly – they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will be concerning them nor will they grieve.” [2:274]

Charity may be a difficult task for some and a piece of cake for others. However much you spend, though, Allah will always be there to reward you for your best efforts, even if it’s just a dollar.

The main reason for giving charity in the long run is to make the lives of other people better. In this regard, we are putting our needs aside and thinking of those people who are living a life of hardship, or a life that is less desirable than the one you may be living. As a muslim, it is a duty to help other muslims living in less desirable conditions. On top of that, it is evidence of our humanity. The question is: Do we care enough about others to lend a helping hand no matter what?

We should always be ready to spend on charity whenever possible. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings upon him) would always encourage his companions to give in charity. He would remind them to spend it on charity before it was too late. There is one instance narrated by the companion Abu Huraira (God be pleased with him): “A man asked the Prophet, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! What kind of charity is the best?’ He replied: ‘To give in charity when you are healthy and greedy hoping to be wealthy and afraid of becoming poor. Don’t delay in giving charity till the time when you are on the death bed when you say, ‘Give so much to so-and-so and so much to so-and-so,’ and at that time the property is not yours but it belongs to so-and-so (your inheritors).’” [Bukhari]