The Significance of Sadaqah in Quran and Hadith

Sadaqah in the Quran and Hadith, is a virtuous act of charity.

It purifies wealth, nurtures compassion, and seeks divine rewards. In Islam, Sadaqah is about sharing what you have, no matter the time or amount, to help those in need.

Let’s find out what Sadaqah in Quran and Hadith explain to us:

Sadaqah in Quran

Following are the valuable verses of Sadaqah in the Quran:

Spending in Allah’s Cause

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies ˹the reward even more˺ to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.”

 (Surah Al Baqarah: 261)

Key Takeaways 

• Those who spend their wealth for Allah’s cause produce multiple grains, likened to a grain
• Allah multiplies the reward for those He wills, emphasizing His boundless knowledge
  

Achieving Righteousness through Sacrifice

“You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.”

(Surah Al Imran: 92)

Key Takeaways

• True righteousness is attained by giving from what one loves and cherishes
  
• Allah is fully aware of all ways of charity, highlighting the importance of sincerity in giving

Urgency in Giving Before the Day of Judgment

"O believers! Donate from what We have provided for you before the arrival of a Day when there will be no bargaining,1 friendship,2 or intercession. Those who disbelieve are ˹truly˺ the wrongdoers."

(Surah Baqarah: 254)

Key Takeaways 

• Believers are urged to spend from what Allah has provided before a day comes when no transactions or intercessions will help
  
• It underscores the importance of timely charity and the urgency of doing good deeds

Continuous and Varied Charity

“Those who spend their wealth in charity day and night, secretly and openly—their reward is with their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”

(Surah Baqarah: 274)

Key Takeaways 

• Those who give in charity both day and night, secretly and openly, are assured of their reward with Allah
  
• They will have no fear or grief, indicating the peace and contentment that comes with sincere giving

Easing the Burden of Debtors

“If it is difficult for someone to repay a debt, postpone it until a time of ease. And if you waive it as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.”

(Surah Baqarah: 280)

Key Takeaways 

• If someone is struggling to repay a debt, it is better to give them time or forgive the debt as an act of charity
  
• This act of kindness is more beneficial and carries great virtue if understood

Guidance on Whom to Spend On

“They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend on goods is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it."

(Surah Baqarah: 215)

Key Takeaways 

• Charity should be directed towards parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and travelers
  
• Whatever good is done, Allah is aware of it, emphasizing the significance of intentional and directed charity

Discreetly Needy Individuals

“Charity is for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah to move about in the land for work. Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need of charity because they do not beg.

You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah.”

(Surah Baqarah: 273)

Key Takeaways

• Charity is also for those engaged in Allah’s cause who cannot work for a living and do not beg openly
  
• Recognizing and supporting such individuals is crucial, as their modesty may conceal their need

Agreement with the Children of Israel

And remember when We took a covenant from the children of Israel stating, “Worship none but Allah; be kind to parents, relatives, orphans and the needy; speak kindly to people; establish prayer; and pay alms-tax.” But you Israelites turned away—except for a few of you—and were indifferent.

(Surah Baqarah: 83)

Key Takeaways 

• The agreement includes worshiping only Allah, being kind to parents, relatives, orphans, and the needy, speaking kindly, establishing prayer, and giving alms-tax
  
• This verse highlights the comprehensive nature of righteousness, encompassing faith, family, social responsibilities, and personal conduct

Sadaqah in Hadiths

Following are the hadiths about the Sadaqah: 

Different Ways of Sadaqah in Hadith

Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

"Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you.

Your seeing a man with bad eyesight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you."

Jami at-Tirmidhi 1956
Book 27, Hadith 62

Key Takeaways

• Smiling at your brother is charity
  
• Commanding good and forbidding evil is charity
  
• Guiding a lost person is charity
  
• Helping a visually impaired person is a charity
  
• Removing obstacles from pathways is charity
  
• Assisting someone with their load or mount is charity
  
• Speaking kindly is charity

Daily Acts of Sadaqah

Hammam b. Munabbih reported that-this is out of (those ahadith) which Abu Huraira narrated to us from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). And he while making a mention of hadith reported from Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said this:

“Sadaqa is due on every joint of a person, every day the sun rises. Providing justice between two men is also a Sadaqa.

And assisting a man to ride upon his beast, or helping him load his luggage upon it, is a Sadaqa; and a good word is a Sadaqa; and every step that you take towards prayer is a Sadaqa, and removing harmful things from the pathway is a Sadaqa.”

Sahih Muslim 1009
Book 12, Hadith 72

Key Takeaways

• Sadaqa is due on every joint of a person every day
  
• Causing justice is charity
  
• Assisting someone with their mount or load is charity
  
• Speaking a good word is charity
  
• Every step toward prayer is charity
  
• Removing harmful things from pathways is charity

Principle of Sadaqah in Islam

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam:

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents.

And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient."

Sahih al-Bukhari 1427, 1428
Book 24, Hadith 31

Key Takeaways

• The upper hand (giver) is better than the lower hand (receiver)
  
• Starting charity with dependents is recommended
  
• The best charity is from what is left after one's expenses
  
• Self-sufficiency is rewarded

Deeds Cease Except for Three Things After Dying

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

A man said: Messenger of Allah, my mother has died ; will it benefit her if I give sadaqah on her behalf ? He said: Yes. He said: I have a garden, and I call you to witness that I have given it as sadaqah on her behalf.

Sunan Abi Dawud 2882
Book 18, Hadith 21

Key Takeaways

• According to hadith on charity, Giving on behalf of a deceased person can benefit them
  
• The man sought confirmation from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on whether his act of charity would benefit his late mother
  
• The man gave his garden as charity and sought witnesses to affirm his intention of doing it for his mother’s benefit
  
• The Prophet (PBUH) affirmed that such acts of charity do indeed benefit the deceased
  
• This hadith illustrates an act of love and respect for deceased parents by continuing to perform good deeds on their behalf

Sadaqah Jariyah

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased)."

Riyad as-Salihin 1383
Book 12, Hadith 8

Key Takeaways

• Sadaqah Jariyah is a type of Sadaqah that will give you reward after dying
  
• Beneficial knowledge left behind
  
• A virtuous descendant who prays for the deceased

Sadaqah Gives Protection

It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“Envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood, and charity extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire. Prayer is the light of the believer and fasting is a shield against 
the Fire.”

Sunan Ibn Majah 4210
Book 37, Hadith 111

Key Takeaways

• Envy consumes good deeds
• Charity extinguishes bad deeds
  
• Prayer is the light of the believer
  
• Fasting shields against the Fire

Allah's Shade on the Day of Resurrection

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Seven people Allah will give them His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but the Shade of His Throne (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection):

And they are: a just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom an extremely beautiful woman seduces (for illicit relation),

but he (rejects this offer and) says: 'I fear Allah'; a man who gives in charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand does not know what the right has given; and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become tearful".

Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Riyad as-Salihin 449

Key Takeaways

Seven Types of People Will Receive Allah's Shade on the Day of Judgement:

1. A just ruler
   
2. A youth who grows up worshiping Allah
   
3. A person whose heart is attached to the mosques
   
4. Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah and meet and part on that basis
   
5. A man who resists the temptation of an extremely beautiful woman by saying, "I fear Allah."
   
6. A person who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given
   
7. A person who remembers Allah in solitude and sheds tears

Gate of Charity (Baab as-Sadaqah)

Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah's Messenger (PBUH) saying, "Anybody who spends a pair of something in Allah's Cause will be called from all the gates of Paradise, "O Allah's slave! This is good.'

He who is amongst those who pray will be called from the gate of the prayer (in Paradise) and he who is from the people of Jihad will be called from the gate of Jihad, and he who is from those' who give in charity (i.e. Zakat) will be called from the gate of charity, and he who is amongst those who observe fast will be called from the gate of fasting, the gate of Raiyan." 

Abu Bakr said, "He who is called from all those gates will need nothing," He added, "Will anyone be called from all those gates, O Allah's Messenger (PBUH)?" He said, "Yes, and I hope you will be among those, O Abu Bakr."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3666
Book 62, Hadith 18

Key Takeaways

• Spending in Allah's cause is highly rewarded, leading to calls from all gates of Paradise.
  
• Specific gates of Paradise correspond to different acts of worship:
    - The gate of prayer for those who pray regularly
    - The gate of Jihad for those who engage in Jihad
    - The gate of charity for those who give in charity (Zakat)
    - The gate of fasting (Raiyan) for those who observe fasting
  
• Abu Bakr inquired if anyone could be called from all these gates. The Prophet (PBUH) responded to him expressing hope that he would be among those blessed with this honor.

Feeding Someone is a Sadaqah

Al-Miqdam heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say,

"What you feed yourself is sadaqah. What you feed your child, your wife and your servant is Sadaqah."

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 195
Book 9, Hadith 40

Key Takeaways

• Feeding oneself is considered charity
  
• Providing food for one's child is charity
  
• Feeding one's spouse is charity
  
• Providing food for one's servant is charity

Obligation of Sadaqah

Abu Musa reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

"Every Muslim must give Sadaqah." They said, "And if he does not find anything (to give)?" He replied, "Then he should work his hands, benefit himself and then give Sadaqah."

They asked, "And if he is unable to or does not do it?" He replied, "Then he should help someone with a great need." They said, "And if he does not do it?" He replied, "Then he should command the good or command the correct." They said, "And if he does not do that?" They said, "He should refrain from evil. That is Sadaqah for him."

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 225
Book 11, Hadith 5

Key Takeaways

• Every Muslim is required to give Sadaqah (charity)
  
• If unable to give material charity, one should work, benefit oneself, and then give charity
  
• If unable to work, one should help someone in great need
  
• If unable to help someone, one should command good or correct behavior
  
• If unable to command good, one should refrain from evil, which is also considered charity

In conclusion, Sadaqah in Quran and Hadiths offer timeless guidance and wisdom, emphasizing the importance of compassion in Islam. Through these sacred teachings, Muslims are encouraged to engage in acts of charity. This noble cause purifies their wealth, nurtures their faith, and contributes to the well-being of society.

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