Sadaqah, The Voluntary Charity
“And spend [in the way of Allah ] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says,
فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
“My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.”
What is Sadaqah (Charity)?
Sadaqah is a voluntary act of charity towards others, whether through monetary generosity or any other acts of kindness. Actions like good deeds, helping others, removing harm from people’s path, a simple smile… are all considered a form of Sadaqah when they are done purely for the sake of pleasing Allah swt.
What is Sadaqa Jaariyah (Ongoing Voluntary Charity)?
Another form of Sadaqah is Sadaqah Jaariyah (ongoing charity). This form of charity benefits people in the present time as well as the future, such as digging a well, planting a tree, etc.
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said,
“If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from the honestly earned money, as Allah accepts only the honestly earned money –Allah takes it in His right (hand) and then enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much that it becomes as big as a mountain.
Sadaqah During Ramadan
“The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ then used to be more generous than the fast wind.”
May Allah make us from amongst the givers of charity.