THE CONCEPT OF CHARITY IN ISLAM

You might have honored many Muslims by presenting away loads of charity. The essence of such donations alters, of course. Regardless, it does illustrate a powerful Islamic ritual. However, a question arises: What is the importance of charity in Islam? Is it mandatory? Is not offering charity an iniquity? But most notably, what is the role of charity in Islamic civilization? We endeavor to answer these actual questions.

Forms of Charity in Islam

Several additional types of charity in Islam are mentioned, the two most significant being zakat (compulsory charity) and sadaqah (volunteer charity). In Islam, Zakat refers to the precise, standardized percentage of the extra income of a person that must be donated to the poor and needy people. Sadaqah can be given to anyone in multiple forms, including a smile, wise guidance, or support to build a home or masjid. 

The Prophet stated: “Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your displacement of stones, thorns or bones from the tracks of people is a charity. Your advice of a person who is mislaid is a charity.” (Bukhari)

Similarly, another Hadith emphasizes the need for every part of a person to perform charity:

“A charity is scheduled for every joint in each person on every day the sun arrives: to perform justly between two people is a charity; to support a man with his horse, raising him onto it or heaving up his belongings onto it, is a charity; a pleasing word is a charity; and dragging a harmful thing from the route is a charity.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Why Charity is So Important in Islam

The word ‘charity’ is cited many times in the Holy Qur’an, and for an acceptable reason; charitable actions and gestures of compassion, including supporting those who are in need, sharing your wealth, sponsoring orphans, widows, and more, also hold significant preference and priority in the Book of Guidance.

It is vital to comprehend that Allah’s (SWT) advice is there to assure we stay on the right track, remain modest, and want the most profitable for others just as we would like for ourselves and our loved ones. Allah (SWT) has granted us our hearts so we may feel kindness towards others, but our hearts and minds shape us into good human beings. Giving to others and supporting others is not an extreme act; it is thoroughly humanity. 

Transmitting your endorsements to those who don’t have them is one of the noblest acts indeed one can do.

Charitable acts are a lack of humanity naturally and in Islam especially. The Holy Quran highlights the importance of charity in Islam again and again in its verses. The memorial of Islam stands on five pillars, out of which the third one is charity. Multifarious ayahs and hadiths sermonize charity.

Charity will protect you on the Day of Resurrection:

The assurance has been created by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In a hadith from Al-Tirmidhi, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared: 

The shadow of a believer on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity. (Al-Tirmidhi) 

It will be a moment when nothing or no one will protect you, even if they desired to. The scorching heat under which all society will have to stand will be intolerable. Regardless, Allah (SWT) will not neglect those who supported their poor in periods of distress and pain. Protection on even the Day of Judgment is promised for those not unaware of the significance of charity in Islam. 

Charity saves you from Accidents:

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated: 

“Give charity without pause, for it stands in the form of misfortune” (Al-Tirmidhi) 

If your history has been riddled with incidents and calamities, which have caused you a lot of danger, here is your key. Now, you understand what to do, do not you? We can notify you that giving a few bucks in charity for safety from misfortunes is not a bad deal.

Charity gets the wealth Circulating:

It may be the most significant aspect of charity in the context of the world we live in today. The poor receive their rightful share of the wealth of the rich through zakat, fitrana, and sadaqah. Wealth enters the system through the beautiful Zakat system. It prompts the destruction of segregation that isolates the rich and poor people.

The charity that goes on forever:

We are sure you are aware of the term Sadaqah e Jariya. Let us assist you even if you are not. A sadaqah e jariya is the sort of charity that continues until the end of time. A mosque, for instance, had a water pump installed because of a water shortage. You see, things like these kinds of actions. In Islam, charitable giving of this kind is very influential. It is because this is the kind of thing that goes on, even after you are not a part of this world. However, your good deed will reap your rewards in the afterlife. 

The Pitfall of Greed:

Greed can be dangerous. It may be more difficult to part with that hoarded wealth in the future the longer one holds onto it without donating it to charity. The greedy will not only come back to haunt them if they conceal their wealth and deny the needy even the small acts of kindness, but their misery will also grow, and they will be directed in the wrong direction. 

The Prophet stated: “Avoid being unjust to others, for at the Day of Judgment it will divert into a variety of dark, and avoid parsimony because it destroyed those before you. It encouraged them to kill and minister the illegal as legal.” (Muslim)

Conclusion

This discussion only gives a summary of the significance of charity in Islam. After reading this article, one can only grieve the sad situation if we do not assist our needy brothers and sisters. However, we hope that the discussion will benefit as an ambitious force you to do more charity this year!