Giving charity out of our wealth does not decrease our wealth but instead Allah (s.w.t.) increases it:
“Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: for He loves not creatures ungrateful and sinner.” (Qur‘an, 2: 276)
The Many Forms of Charity
There are several different categories of charity in Islam, the two main ones being Zakat (obligatory charity) and Sadaqah (non obligatory charity). Zakat is a specific, standardised charity that must be given to the poor and those in need. Sadaqah (Nafilah) can be given to anyone, and in many different forms, including: a smile to another, advice to a friend, spending on the family, helping build a home or Masjid, etc.
When looking at financial expenditure, there are two types of Sadaqah:
Sadaqah Wajibah – This is charity which is binding in nature. This includes Sadaqah al-Fitr, etc.
Sadaqah Nafilah – This is charity which is not binding in nature but is optional and voluntary. This type includes Lillah etc
See different types of Charity and rulings
Sadaqah (voluntary charity) is a virtuous deed in Islam. In fact, it is considered as a proof of one’s eeman (faith). The more we give sadaqah the more we increase our eeman and thus, expect Allah’s rewards both in this world and in the life hereafter.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 261:
The charity of those who expend their wealth in the Way of Allah may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces seven ears and each ear yields a hundred grains. Likewise Allah develops manifold the charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah, verse 254:
O ye who believe, spend of the wealth We have bestowed upon you (in Allah’s way), before the Day comes when there shall be no buying and no selling; when neither friendship nor intercession will be of any avail.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 274:
Those who spend of their goods (in charity) by night and by day in secret and in public shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 110:
And be steadfast in prayer and give zakah: and whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you ye shall find it with Allah; for Allah sees well all that ye do.
The Prophet said:
“Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is a charity. Your guidance of a person who is lost is a charity.” (Bukhari)
Another Hadith illustrates the importance of every part of a person’s body performing a charity:
“A charity is due for every joint in each person on every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity; a good word is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
Shade on the Day of Judgment
The Prophet said:
“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
On the day when all other shade will be gone, Allah will provide His shade for those who give charity and care for the poor. The Muslim’s sacrifice in this life will be their protection on the Day of Judgment.
A Protection From Calamity
By sacrificing part of one’s wealth and giving it in charity, the individual is guaranteeing protection for themselves from tragedy and misfortune. The Prophet said:
“Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
Charity That Keeps On Giving (Sadaqah-e-Jariya)
If a person performs a deed that continues to benefit others in a good way, the performer of the deed will continue to collect the rewards for his or her single act for as long as it benefits others (even after the person passes away). The Prophet said:
“When a person dies, his works end, except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him.” (Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi, others)
Hadith Qudsi:
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that Allah The Glorious and Exalted Says: Spend (on charity), O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.11 Narrated by Abu Huraira: A man asked the Prophet (saws),
“O Allah’s Messenger (saws)! What kind of charity is the best?” He (saws) replied. “To give in charity when you are healthy and greedy hoping to be wealthy and afraid of becoming poor. Don’t delay giving in 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,’ as at that time the property is not yours but it belongs to so-and-so (i.e. your inheritors).”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.492 Narrated by Haritha bin Wahab: I heard the Prophet (saws) saying,
“O people! Give in charity as a time will come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and one (who will be requested to take it) will say, “If you had brought it yesterday, I would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.793 Narrated by Adi bin Hati: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying,
“Save yourself from the (Hell) Fire even with half a date (to be given in charity); and if you do not find a half date, then with a good pleasant word.”
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2860 Narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Khudr: The Prophet (saws) said:
A man giving a dirham as sadaqah (charity) during his life is better than giving one hundred dirhams as charity at the moment of his death.
Related by Ahmad and Tirmidhi: Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
“Allah receives charity by His right hand, and then He causes it to grow for each of you. Just as you raise a horse, colt, foal, or young weaned camel, so that morsel becomes as large as the Mount of ‘Uhud.”
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) reported Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) as saying:
“Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth… (Muslim)
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1527 Narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal: The Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
Charity obliterates sins just as water extinguishes fire.