Giving to Allah, a goodly loan

 

Verily those who give Sadaqah, men and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan, it shall be increased manifold, and there shall be an honorable good reward. (Quran 57:18)

The above verse from Holy Quran gives the importance of Sadaqah in Islam. Sadaqah, meaning ‘charity for the cause of Allah’ is a voluntary and sincere act in Islam. Sadaqah encompasses any act of charitable giving done out of compassion, love, friendship or generosity.

Sadaqah unlike Zakat is not obligatory on Muslims, which refers to the obligation that an individual has to donate a certain proportion of wealth each year to charitable causes. Zakat is considered as one of the five pillars of Islam and is regarded as a form of worship.

So giving anything in the way of Allah, be it Sadaqah or Zakat, is an act of submission and guarantees the best of rewards from our Creator. Allah SWT beautifully explains the reward of Sadaqah and Zakat in His book:
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes, in each spike is a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies his reward for whom He wills. And Allah is all encompassing and knowing. (Quran 2:261)

Quranic verses and the ahadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) attest to the fact that giving charity not only is an act of kindness towards the recipients but it has enormous benefits for those who give it including warding off life’s challenges and problems and resulting in increase of one’s wealth. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status.” (Sahih Muslim)

Regardless of our financial situation, we all want Allah to spend on us, Our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) reminded us of this by saying that if we want Allah to spend on us, then we should spend on others. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Allah said: “Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.” (Al Bhukari)

Every penny we spend is written in our deeds which would be used on the day when there would be no other way to increase our good deeds in order to get the ultimate reward of Jannah. So, let’s spend before it’s too late. Allah tells us in Surah Al-Baqarah: “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…” (Quran 2:254)

“Sadaqah wipes out sins like water extinguishes fire”. (Tirmidhi)

Spending in the path of Allah even in straitened and distressed circumstances:

Allah is so kind and benevolent that He becomes happy with His servants even when they spend out of their meagre resources and small fortunes. The only condition is sincerity and good intention. We should be ready to be charitable even in the times of difficulty and austerity.

Allah appreciates His servants thus in Surah Aal-e-Imran Verse No. 134:

‘Those who spend in time of plenty and in time of hardship and hold in check their anger, and pardon their fellow-men because Allah loves the doers of good.’

A similar accolade has been stated in Surah Al Baqara Verse No. 177: ‘And he who spends his affluence, however much he may cherish it, upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy and the wayfarer, and the beggars, and for the freeing of the human beings from bondage, and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues to the poor.’

Once the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about the best form of charity and he replied: “Spending in the condition when you are healthy and full of life and while you are afraid of becoming poor and have desire to be prosperous.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah has made wealth an indispensable means of human life and has taught man how to earn it but he has kept the end of all his efforts in His own hand. He can expand the material resources of whomsoever He wills and he can also constrict these. He has formulated an entire economic system within the auspices of Islamic Law that governs human quest for material sustenance. This system has been delegated even more beautiful and enriching by introducing voluntary charity, sadaqaat as well as fixed poor’s-due (zakaat).

Allah has made us interdependent and He is consistently watching our actions as to where we earn from and where we spend our earnings. On the Day of Judgment, according to the Prophetic traditions, we shall not be able to move an inch towards absolution unless we justify the means we adopted to earn money and the ends where we utilized it.

References/Source: Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi (www.najeebqasmi.com), https://www.almspay.com/blogs/sadaqah-and-zakat-a-goodly-loan-for-the-hereafter