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Charity/Zakah
Giving -Investing for the hereafter
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said Angels once asked Allah if there was anything in His Creations stronger than the mountains, iron, fire, water and the wind. Allah replied: " Yes, the son of Adam, who gives charity with his right hand while concealing it from his left."
[Al-Tirmidhi, 602]
The Prophet Salalaho Alayhe wasallam said, "Every small bone of everyone has
upon it a charity for every day upon which the sun rises. Bringing about justice
between two is an act of charity. Helping a man get on his mount, lifting him onto it or helping him put his belongings on it, is also regarded as charity and saying a good word is also a sadqah, and every step you take towards salah is a charity. And removing a harmful thing from the path is also a charity."
[Bukhari and Muslim]
Smiling at your brother or sister is considered sadqah. Even spending on your family, which you do anyway, for the sake of Allah, is a sadqah.
He PBUH also said,
"Every Muslim has to give charity." The people asked,
"O Allah's Prophet! 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 that?"
He replied, "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." [Bukhari]
"The people most loved by Alllah are those who are most useful. The deeds most loved by Allah, are;
happiness brought to a Muslim, helping to relieve a hardship from him, paying a debt for him or driving away his hunger. Helping a brother in Islam in need, is dearer to me than doing itikaf (spending time to worship) for one month in a masjid."
[Sahih al-Jami]
"Actions take pride in themselves, and the act of charity will say, I'm the highest.'"
[Sahih of Ibn Khuzaimah]
"The upper hand is better then the lower hand. The upper hand is the hand which spends and the lower hand is the hand which is held out to ask for money."
[Muslim]
A giving person is protected from hardship, misfortune and disease by his actions. Ahadith support this idea:
"Charity locks seventy doors of evil."
[Sahaih al Jami]
"Actions of virtue protect one from evil, sickness and catastrophe."
"Heal your sick with charity"
[Sahaih al Jami]
Quran tells us:
" Surely the charitable men and the charitable women, who have lent Allah a good loan [their contribution] shall be multiplied for them and for them is a generous reward."
[57:18]
Charity is a loan to Allah, not to people:
"Whoever will lend Allah a fair loan, Allah will multiply it manifold,....."
[2:245]
"Whoever spends any money for Allah, his reward will be for seven hundred times of that amount."
[Tirmithi]
Allah has promised us that whatever we spend in His cause, will bring about an increase in our wealth.
"And whatever you shall expend, He will replenish it. And He is the Best of all Providers."
[34:39]
We should never imagine that charity reduces our wealth in any way. Because Allah Ta'ala tells us:
" If you are grateful I shall increase My favors upon you."
[14:7]
Hadith Qudsi:Almighty Allah says:
" O people, spend and I will spend upon you."
[Bukhari]
"Money is not decreased by Sadaqah."
[Muslim]
Allah promises us:
"Surely the charitable men, and the charitable women, who have lent Allah a good loan, (their contribution) shall be multiplied for them and for them is a generous reward."
[57:18]
WHY WOULDNT YOU WANT TO GIVE SADAQAH MORE OFTEN AFTER READING AND KNOWING ALL THIS???
Yahaya ibn Mu'ath said:
" The only grain I know that will out weigh the mountains of the world is a grain of charity."
"Separate yourself and the fire of Hell, even if only by giving (as charity) a part of a date."[Bukhari]
" Be charitable, even by giving (something as small as) a date, for it provides for a hungry person, and wipes away a sin like water puts out a fire."
" Sinful behavior with one's wife, children or neighbors can be repented for by performing salah, charity and virtuous deeds."
[Bukhari]
"A servants money does not decrease from charity" and, "Sad is he who worships the Dinar, sad is he who worships the Dirham, sad is he who worships velvet, sad is he who worships hunger, sad and relapsing." [Bukhari]
One of the doors of Paradise is named 'The Door of Charity' as we are told by hadeeth related by Abu Huraairah, that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, "Whosoever has given charity two (things of any kind) for the worship of Allah will be called to, from the doors of Heaven, and charitable people shall enter through the Door of Charity."
[Bukhari]
The giver must have faithful intentions. He must be aware of hypocrisy and recognition because that is the kind of disbelieving and Allah Ta'ala does not want it.
Giving charity for recognition and reputation does not only annul the charity and delete its reward; the case is much more severe.
It is one of the causes of punishment.
Allah says: "O you who believe! Do not render your charity in vain by reminders of your generosity and by injury."
[2:264]
"Three will not enter Paradise; one who is disobedient to his parents, one who is addicted to alcohol and one who reminds of what he gave."
[Nasaa'i]."
Allah says, "If you disclose your charity, it is well, but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you. It will remove some of your sins. And Allah is All-Informed with what you do."
[2:271]
We must try to give charity secretly but if there is a greater benefit by showing people so they can follow in the path of the giver and do likewise and to persuade them to do more good, then doing it openly is better.
Prophet (s.a.w) said, " When a Muslim dies , all his deeds come to an end except for three:
a standing charity,
Knowledge that others may benefit from,
and an upright child invoking Allah's mercy for him."
[Bukhari and Muslim]
Allah says," The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the cause of Allah, with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank,
in the sight of Allah." [9:20]
"Everyday two angels descend, and the first one says, 'O Allah, give the spender (in charity) more.' The second angel says, 'O Allah, give the one who will not spend (in charity) destruction (of his wealth.)"
[Bukhari]
A hadith narrated by Anas Ibn Malik says,
" Allah the Almighty told Ya'quob (Jaccob) through Jibrael Ameen (Angel Gabriel) :
"Do you know why I took your sight and bent your back, and why the brothers of Yusuf did what they did? You killed a sheep (slaughtered) and a poor orphan was fasting came by and you gave him nothing from it."
[Al Hakim]
One who fears poverty should trade with Allah. Pay Zakah and give Sadaqah (charity) a sure way to get gigantic profits.
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