Sadaqah means charity. It is a voluntary act of good deed that is given for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah and without expecting anything in return.
Sadaqah does not have to be money. It can be anything we do to make someone happy. Examples are smiling, sharing, saying kind words and picking up harmful object along the path and animal thread.
Muslim can give any of the form of charity at any time. We get many good deeds and rewards in turn when we give Sadaqah.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَأْخُذُ الصَّدَقَاتِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٠٤ التوبة﴾
TYPES OF SADAQAH
There are two types of Sadaqah as outlined by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They are;
Sadaqah is when a person makes a charitable donation or does something that may benefit someone else, an animal, or the earth. Acts of Sadaqah are a one-off act and can include things such as:
- volunteering at a homeless shelter
- helping a neighbour in need
- helping someone who is lost
- smiling at a stranger in the street
- being cheerful at a stranger on the street.
These are free acts. Moreover, donations to an animal shelter or a one-off donation to the poor/ needy would also be considered Sadaqah.
SADAQAH JARIYAH
Sadaqah Jariyah is an act of charity that provides ongoing benefits. For completing an act of Sadaqah Jariyah, Allah (SWT) gives rewards even after the person has left this earth. For as long as your charitable act continues to benefit a person, animal, or the planet, you will be bestowed with relative rewards. By giving Sadaqah Jariyah in either one’s name or that of a beloved one who passed on, one can earn continous reward now and in the hereafter.
Examples of Sadaqah Jariyah include:
- sponsoring an orphan for both Western and Islamic Education
- donating portable water to a community to ease their affairs.
- contributing to building a school, mosque, hospital and so on.
BENEFITS OF SADAQAH (CHARITY)
- SADAQAH CURES ILLNESS AND PREVENTS DEATH
The prophet (S.A.W) said “Treat your sick ones with charity”. It’s good to give Sadaqah when a loved one falls ill in order to help cure disease and avert ill-fate.
عن أبي أمامة الباهلي رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم يقول ( دَاوُوا مَرضاكُمْ بِالصَّدقةِ )
- SADAQAH EASES HARDSHIP & REMOVES CALAMITIES
The prophet (S.A.W) said “Give Sadaqah without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity”. As a Muslim, we believe that Allah has created this life as a test of our faith and loyalty to Him through hardship.
So, giving out Sadaqah during a difficult time shows strong Iman and gratitude to Almighty Allah.
- SADAQAH IS AN INVESTMENT IN THIS LIFE AND HEREAFTER
Allah promises us that he will increase our wealth, sustenance and bring us success in this life and the hereafter when we give Sadaqah.
عن أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- قال: قال رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم-: (إِذَا مَاتَ الإنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عنْه عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِن ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِن صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو له).
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“When a human being dies, all one’s deeds cease, save three: Sadaqah Jâriyah, [religious] knowledge [one leaves behind] from which others benefit, and a righteous child who prays for his/her dead parents” (Muslim)
- SADAQAH ATONES OUR SINS
On the day of judgement, every person will be held accountable for their sins, both major and minor. Giving Sadaqah regularly is a simple way of helping to expiate any sins we have committed knowingly, and unknowingly.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire” (Hadith, Tirmidhi).
- SADAQAH OFFERS SHADE ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT
The Prophet (SAW) said: The believer’s shade on the day of judgement will be his charity.
On the day of judgement, the burning sun will be right above our heads and everyone will want to sit under the shade of Allah. The person who gives hidden charity is one of the seven (7) who will be offered the shade.
- SADAQAH PURIFIES THE NAFS (SOUL)
Our wealth, no matter how big or small, is a gift from Allah and can in some cases even be a burden. We are accountable for how we spend it and should try to spend it wisely. Spending our wealth on charity extinguishes wordy desires and attains the reward of the hereafter.
In conclusion, a Muslim should bear in mind that the best Sadaqah is when his right hand gives out Sadaqah and the left knows nothing about it (Hadith). One should also try his/her best not to show off whenever s/he gives Sadaqah as it might nullify or cancel out the reward to be attained from the Sadaqah.
Allah said in the Glorious Qur’an; O You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words” (Qur’an, 2:264).
– OMOTOSHO, Ahmed Omotayo.
