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In Islam, Sadaqah is a type of charity that supports communities in need and strengthens a Muslim’s relationship with Allah. Sadaqah can be in many forms, including donating food, money, or knowledge. Even something as simple as helping a neighbor or smiling at a stranger are seen as honorable acts of Sadaqah. Keep reading to learn the significance and benefits of this charitable act, and how to give Sadaqah to organizations or people in your community.
What is Sadaqah in Islam?
Sadaqah is a voluntary charity Muslims give to please Allah. The word means “giving” and comes from the root “sidq,” which means “sincerity.” Sadaqah is a short-term donation in the form of money, clothing, food, knowledge, or kindness. Sadaqah Jariyah is a donation that has long-lasting benefits, like planting a tree.
Steps
Giving Sadaqah for Allah
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Contribute charity at any time to help people in need. Sadaqah can be given at any time or day throughout the year. However, some Muslims choose to donate what they have after an illness or a bad dream, and others give Sadaqah during Ramadan, when the rewards are greater.[26]
- Sadaqah can be given to both Muslims and non-Muslims, but it cannot be given to anyone who isn’t struggling or who has enough wealth to support them and their family.
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Give Sadaqah without anyone else knowing. In Islam, giving Sadaqah privately ensures that you give for Allah’s sake alone. It also protects you from showing off your good deeds or seeking praise from others. To gain the maximum reward in the hereafter and ensure your intentions are pure, try to give Sadaqah when no one else is watching.[27]
- Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) said “There are seven whom Allah will shade on the Day of Judgement…A man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).[28]
- However, it is also permissible to give Sadaqah openly if you’re looking to encourage other people to do the same.
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Make du’a and reflect on your intentions to give Sadaqah. Before giving your money or time to those in need, connect with Allah to make sure you’re doing it to become closer to Him. Perform Dhikr as you pray and say your intentions out loud so that Allah accepts your Sadaqah.[29]
- Try to avoid contributing charity for your own personal gain, and instead aim to give away what you have to strengthen your connection to Allah.
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Donate the best items you have or money from a lawful source. Sadaqah in the form of money must not be from haram sources, like selling alcohol.[30] The Quran also advises to “Donate from the best of what you have earned…Do not pick out worthless things for donation, which you yourselves would only accept with closed eyes” (2:267).[31]
- Donate money that has been earned from your job or lawful business dealings. Give away good-quality items that others want to use or wear, like new shirts or fresh cans of food.
- The Quran says “You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah,” (3:92) meaning that giving away what you love or desire is a truly good act of Sadaqah.[32]
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Donate to reputable, reliable organizations. If you plan to give your money or time to an organized charity, choose one that has a proven track record for using the funds for its intended purposes.[33] Reputable charities you can give Sadaqah to include:
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Try to avoid keeping track of the Sadaqah you’ve given. To keep your intentions pure and gain the maximum benefit from your good deeds, try to avoid expecting anything in return or counting what you have given. The Prophet (ﷺ) said “Spend in charity and do not keep count for then Allah will also keep count in giving you provision” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim).[34]
- After you have given charity, try to forget that you have given it at all. The ability to give Sadaqah is a gift from Allah that will grant you His mercy in the afterlife.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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No amount of Sadaqah is considered too small, and even giving anything of value to you can save you from Hellfire.[35]Thanks
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Some of the best forms of Sadaqah include giving water or food to those in need, giving shelter to those without one, and emancipating the enslaved.[36]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://sema-sy.org/importance-of-sadaqah-in-islam/
- ↑ https://www.savethechildren.org/us/ways-to-help/ways-to-give/ramadan-sadaqah-giving-donation
- ↑ https://www.orphansinneed.org.uk/news/what-is-considered-sadaqah-jariyah/
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/what-is-sadaqah-jariyah-charity-ever-flowing
- ↑ https://quran.com/57?startingVerse=7
- ↑ https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=272
- ↑ https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=263
- ↑ https://sapa-usa.org/difference-between-zakat-and-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/difference-between-zakat-and-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/difference-between-zakat-and-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/difference-between-zakat-and-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/ten-insightful-hadith-on-the-importance-of-charity-in-islam
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/benefits-of-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/ten-insightful-hadith-on-the-importance-of-charity-in-islam
- ↑ https://sunnah.com/urn/2117740
- ↑ https://quran.com/57/18?translations=18,19,84,85,95,20,21,22,101
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/benefits-of-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/types-of-sadaqah
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/benefits-of-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://quran.com/28?startingVerse=77
- ↑ https://sema-sy.org/importance-of-sadaqah-in-islam/
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/types-of-sadaqah
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/types-of-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.orphansinneed.org.uk/news/how-many-types-of-sadaqah-are-there/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/islamic-giving/sadaqah/types-of-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://oinusa.org/religious-dues/how-to-give-sadaqah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/how-to-give-for-the-sake-of-allah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/how-to-give-for-the-sake-of-allah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/how-to-give-for-the-sake-of-allah/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/how-to-give-for-the-sake-of-allah/
- ↑ https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=267
- ↑ https://quran.com/3?startingVerse=92
- ↑ https://sema-sy.org/importance-of-sadaqah-in-islam/
- ↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/how-to-give-for-the-sake-of-allah/
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/types-of-sadaqah
- ↑ https://www.zakat.org/types-of-sadaqah