The Virtue of Giving

Zakat is not the only form of charity in Islam, sadaqah is another and is referred to as voluntary charity for the sake of Allah. Sadaqah can be given at anytime during the year but just like any form of worship, the reward for sadaqah during Ramadan is increased. Sadaqah is not limited to any amount of money, it can a one dollar coin or a $10,000 donation to help build a mosque. There are many forms of sadaqah, and they are all rewardable by Allah. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “There are 360 joints and each of them owes sadaqa every single day. Every good word is sadaqah. A man’s helping his brother is sadaqa. A drink of water which he gives is sadaqa. Removing something harmful from the road is sadaqah.” Al-Albani

When giving charity always have the right intention, and continuously renew it before, during and after you have given for the sake of Allah. At times when we are told at Jummah that there is a fundraiser or new mosque being built or new Islamic school, we see it as burden for us that we have to give money that we worked hard for away. However, by looking at the glass half empty we are missing out some easy rewards. Look at the glass half full, giving a little bit of money to please Allah and help excel the Muslim community is important. Surely those men who give Sadaqah (alms) and those women who give Sadaqah and have advanced a good loan to Allah, for them it will be multiplied, and for them there is a noble reward. Quran 57:18 We are not constantly provided with government funding on certain Islamic project to improve our community, and we need to be able to rely on each other as this Ummah is one, and by giving we are granted with many rewards that will help us on the Day of Recompense. As Muslims we should always have positive take on situation whether good or bad, there have been many times when the Prophet of Allah ﷺ  or the companions have faced difficult situations but have had a positive look on life. It is better to be consistent when giving than to give one full amount once every month or year, Allah likes those forms of worship which are small but done consistently over those good deeds that are done in a huge amount but only once. It is better for you to give as little as five dollars are day for the rest of your life on a consistent basis. Allah has made this religion easy upon us do not it hard on yourself. The Prophet ﷺ said: A man giving a dirham as sadaqah (charity) during his life is better than giving one hundred dirhams as sadaqah (charity) at the moment of his death. Al-Albani (weak hadith). May we be consistent in all our good deeds, and constantly give for the sake of Allah.