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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

Charity Can Take Multiple Forms

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘On every Muslim there is enjoined (a compulsory) sadaqa (alms).’ They (the people) said, ‘If one has nothing?’ He said, ‘He should work with his hands so that he may benefit himself and give in charity.’ They said, ‘If he cannot work or does not work?’ He said, ‘Then he should help the oppressed unhappy person (by word or action or both).’ They said, ‘If he does not do it?’ He said, ‘Then he should enjoin what is good (or said what is reasonable).’ They said, ‘If he does not do that?’ He said, ‘Then he should refrain from doing evil, for that will be considered for Him as a Sadaqa (charity)’
(Sahih al Bukhari, Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 51).

It is clear from this hadith that volunteering can form a large part of our charity. So, instead of throwing money at any given cause, why not throw yourself into it?

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) Reported: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) Said, ” On every joint of man, there is Charity, on everyday when the sun rises: doing justice between two men is Charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal or to load his luggage on it is Charity, and a good word is Charity, every step which one takes towards (the mosque for) salat is Charity, and removing harmful things from the way is Charity “.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: Almighty Allah has made the human body flexible, that is to say, its parts have joints that enable him to make all kinds of movements. If human beings did not have these joints, it would not have been possible for the different parts to make movements which they do. Had it been so, one would not have been able to use various parts of his body as he likes. Thus, these joints are a valuable gift from Allah for which one should always be grateful to Him. In all, a person has three hundred and sixty joints in his body, as has already been stated in a Hadith narrated earlier.

According to some Ahadith, two Rak`ah of Duha prayer (optional forenoon prayer) have been regarded sufficient for this purpose, while in others, it has been stated that if one cannot do anything else to express gratefulness to Allah, he should refrain from harming others as it is a form of Sadaqah.

Habits For Success In The Family

1. Start by choosing the right spouse (Nur : 34)

2. Efforts must be exerted to correct any defects in a spouse once married. Develop the family spiritually. Remember Allah often. (Nur : 87)

3. Inculcate iman in the children. Follow the sunnah and read the Quran regularly especially sura baqara. Take care of your family’s education. Teach your spouse and children. Set up both book and audio-visual libraries. Invite good people to visit your home (Nuh : 28)

4. Treat your family as a small social unit. Establish shura by discussing family matters with your spouse and children. Some problems amicably and within the family. Children should not be allowed to see differences or conflicts between the parents. Exchange visits with good families. (Nur : 61)

5. Guard jealously the privacy of your home (Nur : 23, 28, 53)

6. Keep family secrets within your home.

7. Exercise control. Monitor what the children are doing.

8. Make sure that the family follows a fixed meal and sleep times.

9. All members of the family should co-operate in household work.

10. Joke and have some fun and humor with the members of your family. Avoid waste and extravagance. Waste leads to poverty.

11. Do not live a life of hyperconsumerism. Buy only what you need. It’s even advisable to buy less than what you think your needs are, because you often over-estimate those needs. Resist temptation to always ‘want’ things. Do not try to show off or compete.

12. Avoid debts. A debt is an instrument of enslavement.

WHAT ELSE YOU WANT TO KNOW?

1. Religion is the basis for family formation (Quran 2 : 221)

2. Family relations based on marriage and blood (Quran 25 : 54)

3. Family is a source of tranquility (Quran 25 : 74)

4. Husband as head of the family (Quran 4 : 34)

5. Wife is a leader in her home – Narrated Ibn Umar : The Prophet said, ‘All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards, The ruler is a guardian and the man is a guardian of his family; the lady is a guardian who is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards’ (Bukhari 7:98 hadith #128)

6. Duty to save family (Quran 66 : 1, 3-6)

7. Kindness for the young; respect for the old – ‘Hazrat Amr bin Shuaib relates on the authority of his father who heard it from his father, that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: A person who has no compassion for our children and does not honor our elders is not from us’ (Abu Daud and Tirmidhi) (Riyadh 1:217, hadith #355)

8. Expenditure on the family is sadaqa – Narrated Abu Mas’ud Al-Ansari : The Prophet said, ‘When a Muslim spends something on his family intending to receive Allah’s reward it is regarded as sadaqa for him’ (Bukhari 7:201, hadith #263)

9. Justice takes precedence over family (Quran 4 : 135)

10. Financial security – Narrated Umar: The Prophet used to sell the dates of the garden of Bani An-Nadir and store for his family so many foods as would cover their needs for a whole year’ (Bukhari 7:204, hadith # 270)

Mr. No Problem

A believer is a no-problem person. In all situations and circumstances he stands out as Mr. No Problem. His sensitivity towards others is so heightened that he does not like creating any problems whatsoever. The companions of the Prophet were very sensitive in this way, so much so that if a horse-rider’s whip fell to the ground, he would not ask a passerby to pick the whip for him. Instead, he would dismount and pick the whip himself (Abu Dawud, 2/124).

We learn from Islamic traditions that the best Muslim is one from whose evils people are safe. From one of these traditions we have the saying: A believer is one who fears God and keeps people safe from his evil (Al-Bukhari).

According to another tradition recorded in Al-Bukhari, the Prophet of Islam observed: “Sadaqa (voluntary alms) is incumbent upon every Muslim.” That is, every Muslim should be a giver. Asked what to do if one had nothing to give, he replied that one should earn and be a giver. When asked what the would-be giver should do if he were unable to earn, the Prophet replied: He should voice his good intentions towards others. Asked if he were unable to do even that, the Prophet replied that he should then refrain himself from causing harm to others, because this is also a gift. (Fathul Bari, 10/462).

According to another hadith the Prophet observed: “A believer with perfect faith is one who struggles to spend his life and property in the cause of God. And the second in rank is one who is engaged in prayer in some corner and from whom people are safe (Sunan Abi Dawud, 3/5).

We have a large number of such traditions in book of hadith. These demonstrate a range of characters which can be taken as models for posterity. Of this selection, the individual, who ranks highest in character is one who benefits others. The honest, but still acceptable standard of character in Islam is that of the individual who, being entirely harmless, creates no problems for the rest of society.

Remembering The Inevitable

“Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-­Knower, All-­Aware (of things).” (Qur’an, 31:34)

What thoughts cross our minds on a daily basis? Thoughts about our families, jobs, what the latest fashions are, money that is owed to us, problems we are facing, but who thinks about the one thing that is guaranteed? We all continue with our everyday jobs and responsibilities, however, when was the last time we stopped to really contemplate about death? I mean people are dying every day and will continue to die, but just how much impact does it have on our lives?

As Muslims we believe that the present life is a trial for the next realm of existence. We all know people who have died and mourned them, whilst simultaneously, life continues. Death is a reality and it is the only thing that we can be sure about – there is no escaping it and no delaying it. When our appointed time draws near, the angel of death will come to take back to Allah what is rightfully His. And no one is exempted from this. Allah said:

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” (Qur’an, 3:185)

The prophets died and experienced the pangs of death, something that we all will face. The questioning in the grave, the squeezing of the grave and the punishment of the grave are all awaiting us. These actions are real and we need to protect ourselves so that our time in the grave is made easier.

Three questions will be asked in the grave that seem easy to answer now, but do not be fooled, as our souls will be the ones answering and it will depend upon how we have lived in this life. How much do we remember Allah? How many times do we finish reciting the Qur’an? Are we really fulfilling the obligations to our kith and kin? Do we backbite our brothers and sisters, which Allah has compared with eating the flesh of a dead brother?

These are all important questions that we need to ask. If we find that our response to these is not in accord with what is expected, then we need to make a change now. It will be too late for a change after death.

Throughout this life, when we sleep, our souls depart from our bodies and enter an unknown world.

“It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.” (Qur’an, 39:42)

Knowing that, are we thankful to Allah for returning our souls to our bodies?

The Angel of Death never misses the appointed time, it will be their duly to take the soul. If the soul is that of a believer who spent the life in doing good deeds and avoiding sins, it comes out with ease, and angels give good news of the awaiting reward.

If the soul is that of some who did not believe and spent the life in sins and disobedience, it, having realized the reality, tries best to hide, but is forcefully pulled out in agony and pain.

Allah said in the Qur’an:

“Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah (Alone),” and then they stand firm , on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): “Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!” (Qur’an, 41:30)

After death, nothing will help us except three things that have been mentioned in a famous Hadith of Sahih Muslim: “If a human dies, then his good deeds stop except for three: a Sadaqa Jariah (continuous charity), a beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”

Some things we, the living, can do for those who have passed away are: Making Du’a for them, seeking Allah’s forgiveness for them, give charity on their behalf, and do Haj or Umrah for them.

Abdullah Bin Umar’s advice is a good reminder to end this article with: “If you live until the evening, then do not expect to live until the following morning. And if you live until the morning, then do not expect to see the evening. Take from your health for your sickness and from your life for your death.” (Al-Bukhari)