ON THE VIRTUE OF CHARITY

The Messenger of Allâh said: “He who gives the equivalent of a date in charity from pure earnings - and Allâh only accepts that which is pure – then Allâh will receive it with His right hand (in other words, with His approval and blessing). Allâh will then nurture [and increase it] just as one of you nurtures his foal. This will continue till a single morsel [given in charity] will be as huge as Mt. Uhud.”

This is affirmed in the Book of Allâh as follows:

“Have they not learnt that Allâh is He who accepts repentance from His servants and takes charities.” (Sûrah at-Taubah, 9: 104)

“Allâh obliterates usury and amplifies charity.” (Sûrah al-Baqarah, 2: 276)

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Charity never decreased any wealth. Allâh most certainly increases the honour of a person who pardons another. He who humbles himself for the sake of Allâh , Allâh most certainly elevates him.”

A narration of at-Tabarânî rahimahullâh states that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Charity never decreased any wealth. No person extends his hand to give in charity without it being placed in the hand of Allâh (i.e. without Allâh accepting it and being pleased with it) before it is placed in the hand of the beggar. No person opens the door to begging while he is not in need of it without Allâh opening the door of poverty to him. A person says: ‘This is my wealth. This is my wealth.’ Whereas the only wealth which he has is that which he ate and digested, that which he clothed himself with and wore out, that which he gave and stored the reward thereof. Apart from this, he is going to depart and leave everything for the people.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “There is none among you with whom Allâh will not speak without any interpreter between himself and Allâh . The person will look to his right and see nothing except that which he sent forth. He will look to his left and see nothing except that which he sent forth. He will look in front of him and see nothing but the Hell-fire right in his face. So fear the Hell-fire even if it is by a piece of date.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “One of you should protect his face from the Hell-fire even it is by a piece of date.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Charity extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “O Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah! Flesh and blood that have been nurtured by unlawful wealth will never enter Paradise. The Hell-fire has more right over such a person. O Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah! People leave every morning: there is he who leaves to free himself and does so, and there is he who leaves and destroys himself. O Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah! Salâh is a means of acquiring proximity [to Allâh ], fasting is a shield, and charity extinguishes sins just as ice flows off a rock.” Another narration states: “just as water extinguishes fire.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Charity extinguishes the wrath of Allâh and repulses an evil death.” Another narration states: “Allâh repulses 70 doors of an evil death through charity.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Every person will be in the shade of his charity till the reckoning of all the people is completed.”

The Messenger of Allâh was asked: “Which charity is the most superior?” He replied: “The charity of the person who is poor. And commence by giving to your relatives first.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “A single dirham surpassed 100 dirhams.” A man asked: “How is that possible, O Messenger of Allâh?” He replied: “A man has an immense amount of wealth. He has 100 000 dirhams and gives [100 dirhams] from there. Another man has only two dirhams. He takes one dirham and gives it in charity.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Do not refuse the person who asks of you even if it means giving him a hoof of an animal [of a sheep or cow].”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “There are seven persons whom Allâh will shade on a day wherein there is no shade except the shade provided by Him.” Among these seven is: “a man who gives in charity and conceals giving it to such an extent that even his left hand does not know what his right hand gave.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Doing acts of kindness protects a person from evil occurrences. Charity given in secrecy extinguishes the wrath of Allâh . Maintaining ties of kinship increases one’s lifespan.” A narration of at-Tabarânî rahimahullâhstates: “Doing acts of kindness protects a person from evil occurrences. Charity given in secrecy extinguishes the wrath of Allâh . Maintaining ties of kinship increases one’s lifespan. Every act of kindness is a charity. The people of sympathy in this world shall be the people of sympathy in the hereafter. The people who are unsympathetic in this world will be unsympathetic in the hereafter. The first to enter Paradise shall be the people of sympathy.”

At-Tabarânî rahimahullâh and Imâm Ahmad rahimahullâh narrate that a person asked: “What is [the reward for] charity, O Messenger of Allâh?” He replied: “It is multiplied numerous times. And there is much more in store by Allâh .” He then recited this verse:

“Who is that person who will lend to Allâh a good loan? Thereafter Allâh will multiply it numerous times.” (Sûrah al-Baqarah, 2: 245)

The Messenger of Allâh was asked: “Which charity is the most superior?” He replied: “That which is given in secrecy to a poor person, or the charity that is given by a poor person.” He then recited this verse:

“If you give charity openly, what an excellent thing it is. But if you conceal it and convey it to the poor, that is better for you.” (Sûrah al-Baqarah, 2: 271)

The Messenger of Allâh said: “A Muslim who clothes a Muslim who has no clothes, Allâh will clothe the former with the green garments of Paradise. A Muslim who feeds a hungry Muslim, Allâh will feed the former from the fruits of Paradise. A Muslim who provides a drink to a thirsty Muslim, Allâh will make him drink from the sealed nectar [of Paradise].”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Charity to a poor person is considered as charity. Charity given to a relative is considered as two things: charity and maintaining ties of kinship.”

The Messenger of Allâh was asked: “Which charity is the most superior?” He replied: “Charity given to a relative who harbours internal enmity towards you.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “He who loans a milk-providing animal and then takes it back, or loans dirhams [to a person who is in need], or gives directions to a traveller, shall receive the reward of freeing a slave.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Every loan is an act of charity.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “On the night of my ascension (i.e. the night of Mi‘râj), I saw the following written on the door of Paradise: ‘The reward for charity is multiplied by ten. The reward for a loan is multiplied by 18.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “He who provides ease to a person in difficulty, Allâh shall give him ease in this world and in the hereafter.”

The Messenger of Allâh was asked: “What type of Islam is best?” He replied: “That you provide food and you greet him whom you know and him whom you do not know.”

A person said: “I asked the Messenger of Allâh thus: ‘Inform me of everything.’ He replied: ‘Everything was created from water.’ I said: ‘Inform me of something which if I do, I will enter Paradise.’ He replied: ‘Provide food, spread the salâm (the Islamic greeting), maintain ties of kinship, offer salâh while people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise peacefully.’”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Worship the Merciful [Allâh ], provide food, spread the salâm, and you will enter Paradise peacefully.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “From among the things that compel the mercy [of Allâh ] is providing food to a poor Muslim.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “He who feeds his brother till he satiates his hunger and provides him with water till he quenches his thirst, Allâh will distance him from the Hell-fire by seven trenches. The distance between each trench is equal to a journey of 500 years.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Allâh will say on the day of resurrection: ‘O man! I fell ill but you did not visit Me.’ Man will reply: ‘How could I visit You whereas You are the Sustainer of all the worlds?’ Allâh will say: ‘Did you not know that a certain servant of Mine had fallen ill, yet you did not visit him? Did you not know that had you visited him, you would have found Me with him? O man! I asked you for food but you did not provide Me with food.’ Man will say: ‘O my Sustainer! How could I feed You whereas You are the Sustainer of all the worlds?’ Allâh will say ‘Do you not remember a certain servant of Mine asking you for food but you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would have received the reward thereof from Me? O man! I asked you for drink but you did not provide Me with a drink.’ Man will say: ‘O my Sustainer! How could I provide you with drink whereas You are the Sustainer of all the worlds?’ Allâh will say: ‘A certain servant of Mine asked you for drink but you did not give him. Did you not know that had you given him a drink you would have received the reward thereof from Me?’”