Some verses from the Qur’an and some ahadith which illustrate the importance of charity.
Charity in The Qur’an
* In the Qur’an, Allah swt, informs us of the rights of the poor upon the wealth of others:
Verily, the Muttaqûn (pious) will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise) (15) [...] And in their properties there was the right of the the beggar who asks, and the poor who does not ask the others. (19) Qur’an 51:15-19
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)”
[al-Baqarah 2:254]
“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allaah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.
262. Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allaah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”
[al-Baqarah 2:261-262]
“O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it, (though) you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein. And know that Allaah is Rich (Free of all needs), and Worthy of all praise”
[al-Baqarah 2:267]
“Believe in Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allaah’s way), theirs will be a great reward”
[al-Hadeed 57:7]
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allaah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allaah will take it in His right hand and tend it for the one who gave it as any one of you tends his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1344; Muslim, 1014.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allaah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allaah, destroy the one who withholds.’”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1374; Muslim, 1010.
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out – on Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha – to the prayer place, and when he had finished (the prayer) he preached to the people and enjoined them to give charity. He said, “O people, give in charity!” Then he went over to the women and said, “O women, give in charity for I have seen that you are the majority of the people of Hell.” When he went home, Zaynab the wife of Ibn Mas’ood came seeking permission to see him. It was said, “O Messenger of Allaah, here is Zaynab.” He said, “Which Zaynab?” It was said, “The wife of Ibn Mas’ood.” He said, “Yes, let her in.” So they let her in and she said, “O Prophet of Allaah, today you enjoined charity, and I have some jewellery which I wanted to give in charity, but Ibn Mas’ood claims that he and his child have more right to receive it in charity.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Give it in charity to Ibn Mas’ood, for your husband and your child have the most right that you should give it to them in charity.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1393; Muslim, 80.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah said: ‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.’”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5073; Muslim, 993.
* If the poor have a right on on our wealth then it follows quite logically that there should be a punishment for those who are able but do not give:
But as for him who will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: “I wish that I had not been given my Record! (25) [...] (It will be said): “Seize him and fetter him; (30) Then throw him in the blazing Fire. (31) “Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!” (32) Verily, He used not to believe in Allâh, the Most Great, (33) And urged not on the feeding of Al-Miskin (the poor). (34) Qur’an 69: 25-34
Every person is a pledge for what he has earned, (38) Except those on the Right, (i.e. the pious true believers of Islâmic Monotheism); (39) In Gardens (Paradise) they will ask one another, (40) About Al-Mujrimûn (polytheists, criminals, disbelievers), (And they will say to them): (41) “What has caused you to enter Hell?” (42) They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer the Salât (prayers) (43) “Nor we used to feed Al-Miskin (the poor); (44) Qur’an 74:38-44
* And of course those who freely give, will be rewarded:
Verily, the Abrâr (the pious and righteous) shall drink of a cup (of wine) mixed with (water from a spring in Paradise called) Kâfûr. (5) A spring wherefrom the slaves of Allâh will drink, causing it to gush forth abundantly. (6) They (are those who) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. (7) And they give food, inspite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin[] (the poor), the orphan, and the captive, (8) (Saying): “We feed you seeking Allâh’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. (9) Qur’an 76:5-8
* The sanctity of the human life:
Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g. by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by Allâh by committing the major sins) in the land! (Qur’an 5:32)
Charity in the Hadith
On the authority of Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, The Messenger of Allah, the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
Every person’s every joint must perform a charity 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; every step you take in prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity. (Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 26).
The prophet (PBUH) said: ‘Seven (types of) people will be covered with Allah’s shade on a day when there is no shade but His Shade, (from among them) a man who gives a charity hiding it, that (even) his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent’
The generosity of A’isha, may Allah be pleased with her:
She was given a gift of one hundred thousand dirhams. She was fasting when she received the money and she distributed the entire amount to the poor and the needy even though she had no provisions in her house. Shortly after, a maidservant said to her: “Could you buy meat for a dirham with which to break your fast?” “If I had remembered, I would have done so,” she said. *
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “The most beloved deed before Allah is that which continuous, even if it is little.”
