Even a Smile

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem

All praise is for Allah swt, We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah swt from evil of ourselves and wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever Allah guides, cannot be lead astray and whomever Allah misguides none can guide him

What do money, a good word and removing something harmful from the road have in common?

Giving charity is such an important part of Islam that even the Arabic word tasaddaqa {to give charity} comes from the root sadaqa meaning to speak truth , to be sincere Sadaqah { voluntary charity} is different from zakah, the compulsory alms that are collected every year.

A muslim shows his sincerity of faith and attains piety by being generous.:
" Ye will not attain unto piety until ye spend of that which ye love. And whatsoever ye spend, Allah is aware thereof" - Al-Imran :92

There are many verses in the Qur'an in which Allah ta'ala tells muslims to give in charity. Sometimes this charity is in expiation for a wrongdoing and other times it is an acknowledgement that everything one "owns" is in fact a trust from Allah ta'ala and that anything spent in the way of Allah ta'ala will be paid in full multiplied on the Day of judgement. Infact the Qur'an in places calls this spending "a beautiful loan".

Muslims are enjoined to give charity without reproach to the recipient. It is also better for them to give secretly rather than openly. so that their intention is entirely to gain the pleasure of Allah ta'ala and not to gain the admiration of people.

" A kind word with forgiveness is better than alms giving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute, Clement. O Ye who believe! render not vain your alms giving by reproach and injury, like him who splendeth his wealth only to be seen of men and believeth not in Allah and the last day ----- {Al-Baqarah 2 : 263 - 64}

It is easy to give money as charity when one is wealthy, but the best charity is given when one fears poverty, for one must then sincerly trust in Allah's reward.

When Prophet Muhammad sallal lahu alaihi wasallam , was asked which charity is the best, he replied, "That you shud give charity {in a state when you are} healthy, close fisted, haunted by the fear of poverty and 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 would be saying : This is for so and so. and this is for so and so and so. Lo, it has already come into {the possession of so and so} { Reported by Muslim}

Even the money that a person spends on his family counts as charity if his intention is for Allah. The Prophet sallal lahu alaihi wasallam said , " When a muslim spends on his family seeking reward for it from Allah, it counts for him as charity." {Reported by Muslim}

There is reward in good deeds done with no expectation of remuneration in this life.

And a woman may give charity of her husband's earnings. A'ishah }RA , the wife of Prophet sallal lahu alaihi wasallam reported that he said " When a woman gives in charity some of the food in her house, without causing any damage , there is a reward for her for whatever she has given, and a reward for her husband for what he earned. The same applies to the trustee. In no respect does the one diminish the reward of the other" {Reported by muslim}

Infact Prophet Muhammad sallal lahu alaihi wasallam told his followers that sadaqah {voluntary charity} is incumbent upon them every single day. But this sadaqah can take many forms :

"There is a compulsory sadaqah {charity} given for every joint of the human body {as a sign of gratitude to Allah } everyday the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as sadaqah ; and to help a man concerning his riding animal, by helping him to mount it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as sadaqah; and every step taken on one's way to offer compulsory prayer {in the mosque} is also a sadaqah; and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also sadaqah" Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim}

Thus even those who have little or no extra money can charity. For them, there is till reward in good deeds done for the pleasure of Allah with no expectations of remuneration in this life. Elsewhere, the Prophet sallal lahu alaihi wasallam told even more ways that muslims can give charity.

The Prophet sallal lahu alai hi wasallam said, "Giving charity is obligatory upon every muslim" It was asked "What do u say of him who does not find the means to do so?"

He said, "Let him do manual work, this doing benefit to himself and give charity"

It was asked ,"What about one who does not have means to do so?"

He said , "Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved".

It was asked "What do you say of one who cannot even do this?"

Prophet {sallal lahu alaihi wasallam}, replied "He should then abstain from evil , for verily that is charity on his behalf" {Reported by Muslim}

Muslims are also encouraged to establish an ongoing charity whose rewards they will continue to reap after their deaths. This can be knowledge that is passed on in book or other form, fruit trees from which the poor may eat, or an endowment.

Thus sadaqah, in whatever form should be a part of Muslims's daily life. Such charity strengthens the Muslim's piety, turns his intentions to his Creator, and spreads wealth and goodwill among the community.

Let's thank Allah ta'ala for the beautiful etiquettes taught to us through the verses of the Qur'an and hadith, May Allah help us to follow these and lead us on right path and thus lead us to heaven {Jannah} Ameen