“And nothing do you spend in the least (in His Cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance.”
Sebe’ 34; 39
Regulating the social order and balancing the harmony of the society from the point of wealth and poverty widely depends on giving charity in society. Just like the existence of the wealthy, there also exist weak and destitute people in the society. Those who have the means should look for those who are in need, feel the pain of the poor, and help them as much as he/she can just for the sake of Allah.
Because of its significance, charity is among the most encouraged acts of worship in the Qur’an and in the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh). As a blessing to His servants Allah the Almighty showed many ways of charity and made them easy. In this respect, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “If a man spends on his family (with the intention of having a reward from Allah) sincerely for Allah’s sake then it is a kind of alms-giving in reward for him.” (Bukhari, Iman, 41) Here is another prophetic saying in this regard, “Never a Muslim plants a tree, but he has the reward of charity for him, for what is eaten out of that is charity; what is stolen out of that, what the beasts eat out of that, what the birds eat out of that is charity for him. (In short) none incurs a loss to him but it becomes a charity on his part.” (Muslim, Musaqāt, 7)
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) became an example for his ummah and lived a generous life. His companions imitated him and narrated his blessed life to us. The Prophet’s disposal of his property is based on the principle of charity. His view to worldly property was also from the perspective of giving in charity. As a matter of fact, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) considered the things that he gave in charity as his real possession. His happiness for helping others was greater than the happiness of the receiver of his charity.
The Prophet (pbuh) considered the life in this world as a field to get ready for the life of the Hereafter; because the return for the actions done in this world will certainly be seen in the Hereafter. This is why we should try to increase our capital for the afterlife in the extent of the Lord’s blessings bestowed upon us. Abu Dhar’s (r.a.) following experience shows clearly how the Prophet (pbuh) viewed the life in this world and worldly possessions:
I was walking with the Prophet (pbuh) in Harra district of Medina. We saw the Uhud Mountain on our way. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) told me:
“O Abu Dhar!” I replied:
“Yes, O Messenger of Allah! What is it?”
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Nothing is more delighting to me than this that Uhud should be of gold for me, and no dinar is left with me out of it before three nights pass except a dinar which I would set aside for the repayment of debt upon me.” (Muslim, Zakāt, 3) Then he continued:
اِنَّ الأَكْثَرِينَ هُمُ الأَقَلُّونَ يَوْمَ الْقِياَمَةِ
“Those who are rich in this world would have little reward in the Hereafter except those who spend their money here and there (in Allah’s Cause), and they are few in number.” (Muslim, Zakat, 32; Bukhari, Istiqraḍ, 3)
The Prophet (pbuh) got many properties and lands from the war booty, but he endowed some of them for the benefit of the believers (Ibn Sa’d, I, 501-503), gave some in charity to the needy, and spent a part of it for the expenses of the Muslim army. The Prophet’s fearless donations were the result of his endless trust and confidence in the Lord Almighty. In fact once the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Allah said, ‘Spend (O man), and I shall spend on you.” He also said, “Allah’s Hand is full, and (its fullness) is not affected by the continuous spending night and day.” He also said, “Do you see what He has spent since He created the Heavens and the Earth? Nevertheless, what is in His Hand is not decreased, and His Throne was over the water; and in His Hand there is the balance (of justice) whereby He raises and lowers (people).” (Bukhari, Tafsir, 11: 2; Tawhid, 22) In this way, the Prophet (pbuh) informed us not to fear from giving charity.
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), who never attached too much importance to worldly possessions, was the most generous of the people. In this respect, Musa b. Anas reported on the authority of his father:
It never happened that when Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was asked for something for the sake of Islam that he did not give it. A person came to him and he gave him a large flock (of sheep and goats) and he went back to his people and said:
“My people, embrace Islam, for Muhammad gives so much charity as if he has no fear of want.” (Muslim, Faḍail, 57-58)
Another report about this lofty characteristic of the Prophet (pbuh) is below:
“Some Ansari people asked for something from Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) and he gave it to them. They again asked him for something and he again gave it to them. And then they asked from him and he gave it to them again till all that was with him finished. And then he said,
“If I had anything else, I would not keep it away from you. Remember whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.” (Bukhari, Zakāt, 50; Muslim, Zakāt, 124)
We need to comprehend the meaning of the verse “Allah receives their gifts of Charity” (al-Tawba 9; 104), to observe the dignity of the receiver of our charity, and to treat them kindly. In our society there are both those who are in need but cannot openly tell their needs because of their modesty and those who can easily speak about their needs. We should not hurt their feelings and we should deal with them kindly. As it was stated in his saying, “I am not stingy” (Muslim, Zakāt, 127), the Prophet (pbuh) was distinguished by his generosity. He would never like to send anybody empty handed. If he had something to give, he would give it; if he did not have anything, he would treat the needy people kindly and promise that he would help them as soon as he got something. Allah the Almighty asks the believers to act similarly in the following verse:
“And even if you have to turn away from them pursuit of the mercy from your Lord which you do expect, yet speak to them a word of easy kindness.” (al-Isra 17; 28)
Imam Buṣiri elegantly expresses this attribute of the Prophet (pbuh) in the following lines from Qasidah Burdah:
نَبِيُّنَا الامِرُ النَّاهِى فَلاَ اَحَدٌ اَبَرَّ فِى قَوْلِ “لاَ” مِنْهُ وَلاَ “نَعَمِ”
“Our Prophet (pbuh) is the one who commands the right and forbids the wrong. There is nobody who says “no” or “yes” nicer than him.”
1. Hurrying in Giving Charity
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would not store wealth; he would give the excess amount, after he met his obligatory needs. He recommended his followers to give the excess amount of their needs to the poor in order to be rich in the Hereafter. He also advised that those who think about the afterlife and who would like to face an easy Judgment Day that they be the giving hand in his following saying:
“Abu Umama reported Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as saying: O son of Adam, it is better for you if you spend your surplus wealth, but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is, however, no reproach for you if you withhold means necessary for a living. And begin charity with your dependants; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand.” (Muslim, Zakāt, 97) Because there is no better preparation for the Hereafter more blessed than charity. The expert Arabic man of letters Harirī addresses to those who would like to get ready for the Hereafter by giving charity to others saying:
“O the wealthy who walk in fur! Whoever is blessed by wealth should donate it to the needy, and those who have the means should help the others, for the world is brutal and the time is disloyal. Power and ability are like a dream; and opportunity looks like a summer cloud. By Allah I would spend the winter for getting ready.” (Maqamāt, p. 188)
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) personally lived according to what he taught and was a living manifestation of the Qur’an. Our Prophet (pbuh) would hurry in all kinds of good deeds especially charity. He did not like to quit in completing a good deed because of an obstacle. One of the nice examples in this regard is narrated by ‘Uqbah b. Ḥārith:
“I performed the afternoon prayer with the Prophet and after we finished the prayer he got up quickly and went to one of his wives’ room. When he came out, he noticed the signs of astonishment on the faces of the people that was caused by his rush. He then explained it saying:
“I remembered while I was in my prayer that a piece of gold was lying in my house and I disliked that it should remain with us throughout the night, and so I have ordered it to be distributed.” (Bukhari, Adhān, 158)
The significance of charity increases in a society where there are too many people in need. Being merciful, which is an attribute that all believers must have, does not let a believer to be oblivious of the pains of the poor. This is why the Prophet (pbuh) would prefer the needy over himself and gave them whatever he had. Especially when he saw someone who was clearly in need, he would feel his/her hardship and try to take care of his/her needs. Mundhir b. Jarir reported on the authority of his father:
“While we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the early hours of the morning, some people came there who were barefooted, naked, wearing ripped woolen clothes, or cloaks, with their swords hung around their necks. Most of them, nay, all of them, belonged to the tribe of Mudar. The color of the face of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) underwent a change when he saw them in poverty. He then entered his house and came out. He then asked Bilal to pronounce adhan. Bilal pronounced adhan and iqama, and the Prophet (pbuh) observed prayer along with his companion and then addressed them reciting verses of the Holy Qur’an:
“O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you.” (al-Nisa 4; 1)
He then recited a verse from surat al-Hashr:
“O you who believe! Observe your duty to Allah. And let every soul look to that which it has sent on before for the morrow. And observe your duty to Allah! Lo! Allah is informed of what you do.” (al-Hashr 59; 18).
Then the audience began to vie with one another in giving charity. Some donated a dinar, others a dirham, still others clothes, some donated a sa’ of wheat, some a sa’ of dates; till the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Bring even if it is half a date.”
Then a person from among the Ansar came there with a bag of food which his hands could scarcely lift; in fact, they could not lift. Then the people followed continuously, till I saw two heaps of eatables and clothes, and I saw the face of the Messenger (pbuh) glistening like gold on account of joy. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it subsequently, without any deduction from their rewards; and he who sets in Islam an evil precedent, there is upon him the burden of that, and the burden of him also who acted upon it subsequently, without any deduction from their burden.” (Muslim, Zakāt, 69)
On the day that our beloved Prophet (pbuh) passed away, Aisha (r.a.) had six or seven dinars. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had ordered her to distribute them to the poor. Because Aisha (r.a) had been busy with the health of the Prophet (pbuh), she had not had the chance to fulfill that order. When the Prophet (pbuh) woke up, he asked Aisha (r.a.):
“What have you done with the dinars? Did you distribute them?” Aisha (r.a.) replied:
“No, I did not, because I was busy with taking care of you.” The Prophet (pbuh) asked that the dinars to be brought to him. Then he held them in his hands and said:
“What would be the state of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, if he meets his Lord while having these dinars?” Then he distributed them among five families from Anṣar and said:
“Now I feel relieved,” and began to sleep. (Ibn Hanbal, VI, 104; Ibn Sa’d, II, 237-238)
In this respect, Imam Qastallanī says that:
“If the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), who is the most beloved Apostle of Allah, who is the greatest of all prophets, and whose all mistakes, past and future, are already forgiven, thinks like this, than you should think about what the state of those who violated others rights and committed many sins would be when they meet Allah the Almighty!” (Qastallanī, II, 480-81)
2. Rewards for Charity
Allah the Almighty opens several doors from unexpected places for those who help the needy. Even though it may seem like charity decreases the amount of wealth, it actually does not decrease but adds blessings and abundance to it. It is like trimming branches of a tree, which makes it strong and fruitful. Qays b. Sal’ (r.a.) narrates:
“My brothers complained about me to the Prophet (pbuh) that I was throwing my wealth. I told the Messenger of Allah (pbuh):
“O Messenger of Allah! I take my share of dates and then give it to the people as charity and for the sake of Allah.” The Prophet (pbuh) touched my chest and said three times:
“Give in charity, so Allah will give you.” After this incident, whenever I attended an expedition, I had a ride, while others were walking. I was also the wealthiest among them.” (Haythamī, III, 128)
In another hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) said “There are three characteristics that I can swear by them” and then he counted them as follows:
“Servants’ wealth does not decrease by giving in charity. Allah increases the honor of those who are patient against the injustices they faced. Allah opens the door of poverty for those who open the door of begging.” (Tirmidhī, Zuhd, 17)
Giving in charity not because of hypocrisy or to show-off but for the sake of Allah strengthens human beings spiritually and physically. In this respect, the Prophet (pbuh) talked about the creation of the earth and how mountains were fixed on the earth to make it stronger. Angels were astonished by the strength of the mountains and they asked Allah the Almighty whether there was anything stronger than the mountains. Allah the Almighty said that he created iron, fire stronger than iron, then water stronger, and finally the wind as the strongest of them all. He then said that he created human beings stronger than all of them and added:
“If a human being gives charity with his/her right hand and does this so secretly that his left hand does not know about it, he then becomes stronger than all of them.” (Tirmidhī, Tafsir, 113-17)
Allah the Almighty created humans as the most honorable creation. Humans’ degrees and honor are ranged among them according to their sincerity while giving charity. Those who give their charity secretly and modestly are the greatest of them and have the highest rank.
Those who get strength through charity will also be protected and helped by the Lord the Almighty. It is certain that those who give charity for the sake of Allah will receive various blessings from Allah the Almighty and will never be deprived. The Prophet (pbuh) tells the following exemplary story about the blessings of charity:
“While a person was in the wilderness he heard a voice from the cloud commanding it thus: Irrigate the garden of so and so. After that the clouds slinked aside and poured water on a stony ground. It filled a channel amongst the channels of that land and that person followed that water and he found a person standing in the garden busy in changing the course of water with the help of a hatchet. He said to him:
“Servant of Allah, what is your name?” He said:
“So and so.” And it was that very name which he had heard from the clouds. And he said to him:
“Servant of Allah, why do you ask me my name?” He said:
“I heard a voice from the clouds pouring the rain, saying: Water the garden of so and so like your name. What have you done for the favor shown to you by Allah in this matter? He said:
“Now as you state so. I calculate the yield I get from my garden. And I give one-third as charity out of it and I and my children eat one-third of it and one-third I keep it as seed.” (Muslim, Zuhd, 45)
This fortunate man received unique blessings from Allah the Almighty in such an arid place like the desert just because of his generosity. Thus, he could water his garden and get bountiful yields.
Human beings cannot stay away from sins and mistakes. And it is a fact that these sins and mistakes may attract Allah’s anger. Charity and almsgiving, on the other hand, attract the Divine mercy and put out Allah’s anger. They cause the punishment determined for stinginess to be forgiven and make the residents of heaven pray for that servant. For the reason that, the blessings of these prayers attains the happiness of leaving this world in faith. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said that:
“Charity extinguishes the Lord’s anger and eliminates an awful death.” (Tirmidhī, Zakat, 28)
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), on the one hand, encouraged charity, and on the other hand prohibited begging strongly and stated its material and spiritual harms. This is why he advised his ummah to be dignified and patient.
3. Prophet’s Manners in Giving Charity
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) gave his companions the best training about charity, as he did in disciplining them in every aspect of life, and so they became the most generous people in the world. One of those blessed people (may Allah be pleased with them all) came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to ask him the best and most rewarding way of giving charity:
“O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the best? Upon this the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“That you should give charity in a state when you are healthy and close-fisted, one haunted by the fear of poverty, hoping to become rich charity in such a state of health and mind is the best. And you must not defer charity to such a length that you are about to die and then say: This is for so and so, and this is for so and so. It has already come into the possession of your so and so inheritors.” (Muslim, Zakāt, 92) Thus, he stated that charity given during the times of hardship is more valuable than the charity given during the times of comfort and free from the concerns.
Our Prophet (pbuh) advised his companions to be generous and to give without feeling worry. In addition, he said:
“Spend according to your means; Do not withhold your money by counting it (i.e. hoarding it), for if you did so, Allah would also withhold His blessings from you.” (Bukharī, Kitāb al-Zakat, 21; Muslim, Kitab al-Zakat, 88) Thus, he expressed that stingy people would only harm themselves by their own acts.
According to the terms of the treaty signed in Hudaibiyah with the polytheists of Quraish, a year had passed and it was time for umrah. In the month of Dhu al-Qa’dah from the seventh year of hijrah, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) commanded to all those who had attended the expedition of Hudaibiyah to get ready for a minor pilgrimage. People were also informed to get ready by announcements. Arabs who came from the vicinity and who were in Medina at the time said:
“By Allah! O Messenger of Allah (pbuh)! We neither have food nor anybody who can give us food.” Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) asked the residents of Medina to give them charity and to help them. He also told them that if they did not help, they would be perished.” Upon this the Medinans said:
“O Messenger of Allah (pbuh)! What can we give as charity? We cannot find anything.” The Prophet (pbuh):
“Whatever you have, even if it is half a date…” (Waqidī, II, 732)
This shows that generosity does not mean giving much, but the real generosity is to give in the extent of one’s means and to make charity a habit.
Companions who took the Prophet (pbuh) as their example in generosity manifested wonderful scenes of charity and almsgiving. On the day that the Prophet (pbuh) invited Muslims to help the Muslim army, which was going to the expedition of Tabuk, Ulbah b. Zayd (r.a.), who was a poor companion of the Prophet (pbuh), woke up in the middle of the night, performed prayer, and begged:
“O Allah! You ordered and encouraged us to go to battles. But you did not give me a ride to go to the battle with Your Messenger. You did not give a ride to Your Messenger to supply me with. I have always given my charity from my property, body, and possessions. O Allah! I am giving these things that you have bestowed upon me as charity.”
In the morning he went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh):
“O Messenger of Allah! I have nothing to give as charity except this. I also forgive those who hurt my feelings, say bad things about me, or tease me because of this. Upon these loving, forgiving, and merciful words Our Prophet (pbuh) said:
“May Allah accept your charity.” And he could not say anything else. The next day a teller announced:
“Where is the person who gave you his charity yesterday?” Nobody appeared. The Prophet (pbuh) asked:
“Where is that person who gave in charity yesterday?” Nobody stood up. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) repeated:
“Whoever is that person let him stand up?” Ulbah (r.a.) stood up. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told him:
“I accepted your charity. By Allah, in whose power is Muhammad’s being, you are written into the registers of those whose charities have been accepted.” (Ibn Ḥajar, Al-Iṣābah, II, 500; Ibn Kathīr, Al-Sirah, IV, 9; Waqidī, III, 994)
In order to follow the orders of the Prophet (pbuh) and adorn themselves with the beautiful attribute of generosity, companions presented the merit of giving everything they possessed as charity. Virtues presented by those who had very few possessions are much more exemplary for us.
An Ansari, Abu Aqil (r.a.), brought a measure of dates to the army which was on its way to Tabuk, although he needed the dates more than anybody else. He said:
“O Messenger of Allah! I carried water on my back for the entire night and earned two measures of date. I kept one of them for my family and brought the other one to you to gain my Lord’s contentment.” Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:
“May Allah bless both what you brought and what you kept at home” and ordered the dates to be put into the rest of donations. (Tabarī, Tafsīr, X, 251)
Allah’s Apostle said, “If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from the honestly-earned money and 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 so much as that it becomes as big as a mountain” (Bukhari, Zakāt, 8) Therefore, charities are guaranteed investments for our eternal life in the Hereafter. These donations will be enlarged by Allah the Almighty based on sincerity, and they will mediate for the donors for all kinds of severities of Judgment Day.
In the Age of Happiness, companions of the Suffa did not have time to earn their livelihood, for they devoted their entire time for Islam and for worshipping Allah. This is why other believers would bring date-fruit to them. On one occasion some people brought spoilt dates to them. Because the companions of Suffa were very hungry, they had to eat them. Upon this incident the following verse was revealed:
“O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have earned, and of that which We bring forth from the earth for you, and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when you would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.” (al-Baqara 2; 267) (Wahidī, p. 90)
In fact, a person’s intention and mood are very important while spending for the sake of Allah. Those who consume the best quality of the things abundantly for their own needs and desires while they give reluctantly from the worst and cheapest parts as charity should know that they are showing their own value in the presence of Allah the Almighty.
Ibn ‘Arabī (q.s.) narrates:
“A poor sufi asked from a man to give him charity for the sake of Allah. The man took out of a purse which was filled with various sizes of silver coins. Then he began to look for a small change. The poor sufi was watching him. Then he turned to me and asked:
“Do you know what this man is looking for?” I said:
“No, I do not.” He then said:
“He is looking for his state in the presence of Allah the Almighty, because he will give for the sake of Allah. And whenever he finds a large coin, he is changing his mind. In a way with his body language he is saying that “he does not have such value in the presence of Allah.” He will continue his search until he finds a small coin.
When the man found a small coin and gave it to the poor sufi, the poor sufi told him that:
“Your value in the presence of Allah is as much as this money.” (Nihat Keklik, p. 172)
Those who internalize Islam and apply it to their lives have known the significance and benefits of charity in Islam and have tried to manifest it in their lives. Among them were both those who had very little property and those who benefited from all kinds of blessings of the world. One of them was the twenty seventh sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mahmud I, who was personally inscribing seals and selling them. He was giving his earnings to the poor as charity. Thus, he was sincerely giving the purest and most lawful part of his earnings as charity. (Zeki Kuşoğlu, p. 26)