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Third Pillar Of Islam

Charity is not just recommended by Islam; it is required of every financially stable Muslim. Giving charity to those who deserve it is part of the Muslim character and one of the five pillars of Islamic practice. Zakat is viewed as ”  compulsory charity “; It is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from God to respond to those members of the community in need. Devoid of sentiments of universal love, some people know only to hoard wealth and to add to it by lending it out on interest. Islam’s teachings are the very antithesis of this attitude. Islam encourages the sharing of wealth with others and helps people to stand on their own and become productive members of society.

In Arabic, it is known as zakat, which literally means ” Purification,” because zakat is considered to purify one’s heart of greed. Love of wealth is natural, and it takes firm belief in God for a person to part with some of his wealth. Zakat must be paid on different Categories of Property: Gold – Silver – Money – livestock; Agricultural Produce; And Business commodities, and is payable each year after one year’s possession.

Not Performing The Hajj When Able to

Allah, the Most High, says, {Pilgrimage thereto is a duty, men owe to Allah those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of his creatures.} (Al-Umran: 97)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever can afford this journey to the sacred House, by provision and transportation, and he does not make the pilgrimage, there is no blame if he dies as a Jew or a Christian. This is because Allah says, “Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah -those who can afford the journey.” (Reported by At- Tirmidhi)

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I have considered sending men to these cities to see who has not made the pilgrimage, and collect the non-Muslim poll tax (Jizya) from everyone possessing the means who has not performed it. They are not Muslims.”

Ibn ‘ Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Whoever does not make pilgrimage or pay Zakat will ask to be returned to life when dying.” Someone said, “No one asks to be returned except the unbelievers.” He said, “Allah, the Almighty, says, {And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say: O my Lord! Why didst thou no give me respite for a little while, I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.} (Al-Munafiqun: 10)
i.e., I should have made a pilgrimage.

Allah Most High says, {But to no soul will God grant respite when the time appointed for it has come.}
It was asked, “In what amount is Zakat obligatory?” He answered; “Two hundred Dirhams and the equivalent amount if it is gold.” Someone asked, “What about pilgrimage?” He said, “Provision and transportation.” Sa’id Ibn Jubair said, “If I have a wealthy neighbor who died without making a pilgrimage, I would never pray over him.”

18 Sources Of Blessing/ Barakah!

If you ever feel distant from Allah, don’t despair, just put your forehead to the ground and ask the Most Merciful from His bounties.

18 sources of Barakah! If we were to look for an Islamic definition of Productivity, it can probably be summarised in the word “barakah” or Blessing. Being able to achieve more with few resources, doing much in little time, and generating a lot with little effort is surely a blessing from Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala). Yet Barakah has somehow become a lost treasure these days; everyone’s looking for it, but no one seems to find it! You always hear people complaining that there’s no barakah in their time, no barakah in their sleep, no barakah in their money, and the rest of it. In this article, we’ll solve this mystery inshaAllah: we’ll find out what Barakah is and where you can find it! What is Barakah? A Well-known daee explains it as follows:
“Barakah is the attachment of Divine goodness to a thing, so if it occurs in something little, it increases it. And if it occurs in something much, it benefits. And the greatest fruits of Barakah in all things is to use that barakah in the obedience of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala)”

Sources of Barakah
I’m a firm believer that Barakah is not a lost treasure; rather, it’s right in front of our eyes! This treasure is only available and ready to be handed over to the one who works for it. Below, I list some of the sources of Barakah. It’s not an exhaustive list; therefore, I do hope you can contribute to it with your comments inshaAllah so we can all share and extend our understanding of this great treasure.

1. Good Intentions
If you want something to have barakah attached to it, have good intentions for it. More specifically, make sure that the deed is intended for the sake of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala). Looking again at the definition of Barakah, you may guess that without us intending what we have or do for the Sake of Allah, the “Divine goodness” won’t be found in our deeds.

2. Piety and Belief in Allah
Allah says in the Quran: “If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth…”(Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 96). And He says in the Quran: “And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine” (Surah Al-Talaq, Verses 2-3).

Those Whom Allah Will Shade With His Shade On The Day When There Will Be No Shade But His

Praise be to Allah.

Seven of those whom Allah will shade with His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His were mentioned in the saheeh ahaadeeth.

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are seven whom Allah will shade with His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His:

(1) a just ruler;
(2) a young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, (i.e., worship Allah (Alone) sincerely from his childhood),
(3) a man whose heart is attached to the mosque (who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque);
(4) two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake, and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only;
(5) a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for an illegal sexual intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah;
(6) a person who practices charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e., nobody knows how much he has given in charity).
(7) a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears.”
(Agreed upon, narrated by al-Bukhaari, Volume 2, Book 24, Number 504; Muslim, no. 1712; and others).

Charity Is Due Everyday

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “When you get up in the morning, charity is due from every one of your joints. There is charity in every ascription of glory to Allah; there is charity in every declaration of His Greatness; there is charity in every utterance of praise of Him; there is charity in every declaration that He is the only true God (worthy of worship); there is charity in enjoining good; there is charity in forbidding evil. Two Rak’ah of Duha (Forenoon prayer) is equal to all this (in reward)”. [Muslim].

Commentary:
There are three hundred and sixty joints in the human body. It is these joints which enable us to work and make all kinds of movements. If man’s body did not have these joints, it would have been impossible for him to sit, stand, lie, move, and use different organs of his body. Thus, every joint is a blessing for which one must express gratitude to Allah. It is yet another Blessing of Allah that He has also told man a very easy way of Thanksgiving, which can be practiced even by the poorest man in the world.

This means of Thanksgiving is recitation of Tasbih (Subhan Allah), Tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah), Takbir (Allahu Akbar), Tahlil (La ilaha illallah), and to preach virtue and forbid wrong/ unlawful, etc. If one is unable to do even this, then he should perform at least two Rak’ah prayer at any time between sunrise and sunset.

Deeds Which Will Benefit The Deceased After His Death

1. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “If a company of Muslims numbering one hundred pray over a dead person, all of them interceding for him, their intercession [i.e. prayers for forgiveness and mercy] for him will be accepted!”[1]
“If a company of the people prays over a dead person, they will intercede for him”[2]

2. The deceased feels the comforting presence of his brothers in Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) after the burial, for a period of time equal to the time taken to sacrifice a camel and distribute its meat. ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When you bury me, stay around my grave for the time it would take to sacrifice a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may be comforted by your presence until I see how I will answer the messengers of my Lord.” [Reported by Muslim]

3. Praying for strength and forgiveness for him immediately after his burial. From Uthman Ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “Whenever the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had finished burying anyone, he would stand by the grave and say: ‘Ask for forgiveness and strength for your brother, for even now he is being questioned.’”[3]

4. Continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), which he set up in his lifetime; beneficial knowledge; and a pious son who will pray for him. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies, his deeds stop, except for three: continuous charity, knowledge which benefits others, or a pious son who will pray for him” [Reported by Muslim]

5. Charity given by the son of the deceased on his/her behalf. From A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): a man said to the Prophet (Peace be upon him): “My mother died suddenly without making any will. I think she would
have given charity (Sadaqah) if she had been able to speak. Would she have a reward if I gave charity on her behalf?” He said: “Yes”. [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim]

6. All believers and Muslims should pray for him and ask forgiveness for him. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: “And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who came before us into the Faith …” [Surah al-Hashr, 59:10]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays for forgiveness for the believing men and believing women,
Allah will give him one reward for each believing man and believing women (he prayed for).”[4].

7. Defending the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in this world. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies his good deeds come to an end, except for his
defending the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah (fi sabilil-lah). This deed will grow (i.e. in reward) until the Day of Judgment, and he will be protected from the Fitnah of the graves”.[5]

[1] Muslim.
[2] AI-Nisa’i: classed as Hasan by al-Albani, Sahih al­ Jami’, No. 5663.
[3] Abu Da’ud; classed as Sahih by al-Albani, op. cit, No. 956.
[4] AI- Tabarani, al kabir, classed as Hasan by al- AIbani, op. cit., No. 5902.
[5] Abu Da’ud, al-Tirmidhi. Described by the latter as a Sahih Hasan Hadjth.

Zakah To Off-spring Of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

Question:
I have heard that a Syed [Off-Spring of Prophet Mohammad] cannot take Zakah. How should a Syed be financially assisted if Zakah is not permitted for him to take?

Answer:
It is not permissible to discharge one’s Zakah by distributing it to a Syed. [Shami]

As with regard to the concern that How should a Syed be financially assisted if Zakah is not permitted him to take? Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi Rahmatullahi alaihi (the former Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband) states: That wealthy person should financially assist them with donations since Zakah is considered the filth of one’s wealth. The status of the Syeds is far above that they should make use of the filth of people’s wealth. It is stated in Hidaayah,

Zakah should not be given to the Bani Haashim because Rasoolullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said “O Bani Haashim! Indeed Allah has prohibited for you the filth and squalor of people”.

It is not permissible to give zakat to the progeny of Hadrat Fatimah Radi Allahu anha, the progeny of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu anhu, Hadrat Abbas Radi Allahu anhu, Hadrat Ja’far Radi Allahu anhu, Hadrat Aqeel Radi Allahu anhu, Hadrat Haarith bin Abdul Muttalib Radi Allahu anhu. Similarly, the charities that have been made wajib by the Shariah cannot be given to the progeny of the above Sahabah. Such charities are, nazr, kaffarah, ushr, sadaqatul fitr. Apart from these, all other charities can be given to them.

As for the family of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, the vast majority of the Hanafiyyah, the Shaf’iyyah, the Hanbaliyyah, and the majority of the Zaidiyyah hold that nonobligatory sadaqah is permissible for them but not the obligatory one, since to them the obligatory sadaqah is nothing but filth that comes out from people’s holdings. This is understood to mean that the (prescribed) zakah and not the nonobligatory sadaqat, are forbidden to them. It is said in alBahr that nonobligatory sadaqah is restricted by being confined to a donation, gift, or endowment.

In Al Bahrur Raaiq it is stated that the generality of this Hadeeth disqualifies the notion that a Bani Haashim is permitted to give Zakaah to a fellow Bani Haashim (which also includes the Syeds).

[Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Vol. 7 Pg. 254/5, also see Vol. 11 Pg. 123/4, Vol. 3 Pg. 32]

And Allah knows the Best

Author: Darul Iftaa
Organization: Jamiatul Ulama – Council of Muslim Theologians, Johannesburg – South Africa

Are You Ready for Last 10 Days of Ramadan

Allah says in the Qur’an: “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn”. [Quran: 97:3-5]

The blessed Laylatul Qadr can be found in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, the most blessed nights of the year. As such, we should increase our worship and devotion during this period.

Aisha reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet tightened his waist belt (i.e., worked harder), prayed the whole night, and kept his family awake for the prayers. [Bukhari]

Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet said: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]

Such immense rewards are to be gained during these blessed 10 nights. How can we afford to miss out on them? Who is to say that we will live to see the next Ramadan? We must make the best of these 10 nights. If we cannot manage all the 10 nights, then as many as we can manage, particularly on the odd-numbered nights: 21st, 25th, 27th, and 29th.

There is a saying that a person who fails to plan plans to fail. There are a few points to consider:

– Remain in I’tikaf: The best way of catching the blessed night is to remain in I’tikaf, which both men and women can do. If it is not possible for one to remain in I’tikaf for the whole of the 10 days and nights, then one should try to remain in I’tikaf for as many days and nights as possible.

– Worship all 10 nights: Try to worship the whole of the 10 nights or as many days you can manage, as that is the best way to catch the unimaginable and incomprehensible rewards of Laylatul Qadr. Every good deed from Maghrib until Fajr on Laylatul Qadr is rewarded with a minimum of at least 83 years’ of worship. Subhan Allah, that is longer than most of us will live!’

– Best dua of the last 10 nights: اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Aisha reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).” [At-Tirmidhi].

– Give charity: Any good act such as charity during Laylatul Qadr is rewarded like you have done it for over 83 years.

– Eat light: As you will be staying up until Fajr, the more you eat, the harder it will be for you to stay up and the less productive you will be!

– Hydrate well: Keep some water with you at all times. This will help you stay up, feel energized and refreshed, and have a clearer mind.

– Complete all tasks beforehand: Make arrangements to clear as many of your pending tasks as possible, or make a plan for tackling them later. This way, we are free to worship during the 10 nights without being distracted by worldly tasks.

– Show exemplary character: The Prophet said: “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the Scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” [At- Tirmidhi]. So we must aim to be the best in character during these blessed nights and continue to do so for the rest of the year. We must not argue, swear, backbite, slander, or gossip.

– No time-wasting: We must make a firm intention that during these blessed 10 nights, we will not take part in idle talk, watch TV, play computer games, or spend time on social media. There are 355 days in the year for all that – if you really cannot resist. This is just 10 nights! There will be indeed an utter loss and regret for those of us who waste these blessed 10 nights.

– Making life changes: We should make the necessary changes to improve ourselves as Muslims and what better time to make such changes than during these blessed 10 nights when we can change our lives forever. We must internalize these changes and make a firm commitment to Allah, and maybe he will wipe off our sins until we become newborn babies, In Sha Allah

Charity: Rewards Of Giving “Sadaqa”

Bsmillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem was-salaat was-salaam ala Sayyidina muhammadin wa `ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam

Small illnesses are for small sins, and great illnesses are for great sins… May Allah not deprive us of the faiz, the Divine Outpourings, of Ramadan… To pronounce “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” in the holy month of Ramadan is not the same as saying it in the other months. Every good deed, `amal salih, counts 70 times this month. Ramadan is the month of gathering precious ‘jewels and gold’, because Allah is paying for the good deeds fawq-ul ‘ala, with above what is High.

Every night the blessings are different, the thirty nights are like thirty springs – each one different from the other. Allah has so many sources, He is Jalla Jalaluhu… They think it is a joke… Don’t go around without having wudhu!

Shukr, ya Rabbi! Let us say and praise Your mighty Name with our tongues: Allah, ya Jalil…Allah, dhul Jalal!’

They envy us for making Dhikr and mentioning His Name…Shukr…Shukr…Shukr! Don’t be afraid! Whoever is saying “Shukr” will not fall on the Sirat, the Bridge [that each person must cross, over hell], nor will he fall into hell, and he will not die from a terrible illness. Illness escapes from a grateful person who says “Shukr.” So for saying “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” once there is a seventy-fold reward. Everything that you do in Ramadan is precious and full of blessings. What is given during this month of rewards is not given in all the other months… So give and don’t be afraid, Allah will give to you… With their knowledge and the inventions developed, some people are above all other nations.

No one is ahead of them. Now they even built tea machines that produce seven different kinds of tea… They also invented paper money… Now there is paper instead of gold and silver…and now we have credit cards.

In old times, buying and selling was done with Salawat and Basmala, and buyer as well as seller took their share of the blessings. And the goods never finished. You can still see the blessings in Makkah: after the night prayer millions of people do their shopping, but in the morning you see the shops full just like before, nothing is missing. The goods go and come. That is because of the Baraka that Allah gave to that place.

Allah is saying: “What you give for My sake, I am not accepting, rather I give it back to you ten-fold”. There are five kinds of Sadaqa: One kind is rewarded 1-to-1, another one is rewarded 1-to-10, another 1-to-70, the fourth kind is rewarded 1-to-700 and for one kind of Sadaqa there is endless reward from Allah Almighty Himself.

1-to-1 is for Haraam-money, the money for example that is gained in banks, because to take interest is not allowed in Islam. And you have to know what to do with that money.

There was one rich Arab in London who received millions of pounds sterling for the money he put in the bank. He refused to take it because he said in Islam it is not allowed, but the bank said they couldn’t take it back. Then the bank took the money and donated it for the restoration
of a cathedral in England… The reward for Sadaqa from Haram money is 1-to-1.

If you give to someone who comes to your door to beg, your reward is 1-to-10. If you give to poor neighbors, your reward is 1-to-70. If you give to poor relatives, the reward is 1-to-700. The endless reward is for those who give money to strengthen Islam, to make it stand up, and to keep it strong. That reward is not written by the angels, but by Allah Almighty Himself with His Hand of Power [yad il-qudra]. For example, the money can be used to build or keep Mosques, Dergahs, Zawaya, Madrasas, Waqifs. As it is Allah Who gave to you – why do you fear to give?

Allah says: “I am sending provision in unknown and unexpected ways to My servant”. Therefore, Allah doesn’t want employees in mosques – it is His attribute to provide for His servants in His way. They should not eat from the Bait-ul-Mal. Don’t tie yourself to payment – tie yourself to Allah! But we are running after the rubbish of the Dunya to collect it. Collect jewels instead!

May Allah give us a mind oriented toward Akhirat. If we don’t look after Akhirat first, the mind also doesn’t function in Dunya… The proof: If our mind was functioning well, this world would be like paradise.

Sheikh Assayyid Nazim Adil AlJilany AlHaqqany

Purification Of The Heart And Soul In Islam

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The command to purify our hearts from sin was an essential Islamic teaching ever since the early stages of the revelation in Mecca. This is known as the “purification of the soul” (tazkiyyat an-nafs).
Allah said:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّاهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّاهَا
He has succeeded who purifies the soul, and he has failed who corrupts the soul. Surah Ash-Shams 91:9-10
And Allah said:
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
A day when there will be no benefit in wealth or children, but only in he who comes to Allah with a pure heart. Surah Ash-Shu’ara 26:88-89

We learn from these verses that our success in the Hereafter depends upon the purification of our hearts in this life. We must purify our hearts from spiritual sins such as greed, malice, envy, arrogance, and worldliness. In their place, we must adorn the heart with spiritual virtues such as generosity, compassion, benevolence, humility, and asceticism.

Purification of the heart was one of the first commands with which Moses, upon him be peace, was sent to Pharaoh.
Allah said:
اذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ فَقُلْ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ
Go to Pharaoh, for verily, he is a transgressor. Say to him: Will you purify yourself? Surah An-Naz’iat 79:17-18

Purity of heart is also one of the defining characteristics of Abraham, upon him be peace.
Allah said:
وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ جَاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
Verily, among his people was Abraham, when he came to his Lord with a pure heart. Surah As-Saffat 37:83-84

One of the primary methods we can use to purify our hearts is to perform sincere supplications and prayers according to the prophetic way (Sunnah).
Allah said:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ
He has succeeded who purifies himself, who remembers the name of his Lord, and prays. Surah Al-A’la 87:14-15

When we exalt Allah and ask for our sins to be forgiven, this removes arrogance from our hearts and makes us humble. When we pray for Allah to guide others, this removes malice and hatred from our hearts and makes us love others for the sake of Allah. When we remember the Hereafter and the Day of Resurrection, this makes us less attached to the world and more inclined to help others.

In this way, the Messenger of Allah would purify his heart every morning and evening by performing supplications and prayers. Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me: O boy, if you are able every morning and evening to remove any rancor from your heart towards anyone, then do so.
Then the Prophet said to me: O boy, that is my tradition and whoever revives my tradition has loved me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise. Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2678, Grade: Hasan

The ritual prayer is meant to prevent us from committing sins and immoral deeds.
Allah said:
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
Verily, the prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45

Abu Huraira reported: A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “Indeed, so-and-so prays in the night, but he steals in the morning.” The Prophet said: Verily, it should prevent him from doing that. Source: Musnad Ahmad 9486, Grade: Sahih

The next method we can use to purify our hearts is to give in charity and perform good deeds for others.
Allah said:
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ
But the righteous one will avoid Hellfire, who gives from his wealth to purify himself. Surah Al-Layl 92:17-18

And Allah said:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ
Take from their wealth a charity by which you cleanse them and purify them, and invoke blessings upon them. Surah At-Tawbah 92:103

When we give away our wealth in charity, this removes worldliness from our hearts and envy of what others have, and it makes us hope for our good deeds stored in the Hereafter. Charity means not only giving wealth, but also giving people your time, your effort, your work, and even a smile or a kind word. Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every good deed is charity. Verily, it is a good deed to meet your brother with a smiling face and to pour what is left from your bucket into the vessel of your brother. Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1970, Grade: Sahih

Charity is a duty upon every Muslim, for every person can give something from his wealth, time, and energy. At the very least, Muslims can refrain from harming others and that is also charity. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Charity is due upon every joint of the people for every day upon which the sun rises. Being just between two people is charity, and helping a man with his animal and lifting his luggage upon it is charity, and a kind word is charity, and every step that you take towards the mosque is charity, and removing harmful things from the road is charity. Source: Sahih Muslim 1009, Grade: Sahih

When a Muslim sins, his or her heart is covered by a stain, but it is removed by repentance and good deeds. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Verily, when the believer sins, a black spot appears upon his heart. If he repents and abandons the sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished, but if he increases in sin, the blackness increases. That is the covering which Allah has mentioned in his Book: Nay, but on their hearts is a covering because of what they have earned. (83:14) Source: Sunan ibn Majah 4244, Grade: Sahih

Therefore, a Muslim must continue to perform supplications, prayers, charity, and good deeds until the heart is purified from sin.

In conclusion, the salvation of a Muslim depends upon the purification of the heart and soul from vices and adorning the heart with virtues. Purification is achieved through performing sincere supplications, prayers, and acts of charity toward others. We must remember that we will be judged on the Day of Resurrection according to the purity of our hearts and the righteousness of our deeds.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions. Source: Sahih Muslim 2564, Grade: Sahih

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
By Abu Amina Elias