"Salah is evidence (of Iman) and fasting is a shield (from sins) and Sadaqah wipes out sins as water extinguishes the fire.” (Hadith)
What is Sadaqah?
Sadaqah – a charity and or spending – is given to the needy to receive a reward from Allah and not gain any kind of respect and/or appreciation from people. Spending in the way of Allah is to take part in sharing your knowledge, supporting the schools, contributing to the construction of Mosques, digging a water well, establishing libraries for the public, providing assistance for travelers, serving your neighbors and relatives in need, supporting the needy, sponsoring the orphans, financially helping the debtors, and any other means by which to do good to an individual or a community.
What is Sadaqah Jariyah?
Sadaqah Jariyah is a continuous charity contribution that prevails for a long time even after one passes away. For instance, if a person digs a water well in a village and the villagers benefit from it is a Sadaqah Jariyah. And/or someone establishing a school where children get an education is also a Sadaqah Jariyah because its effect will remain for generations.
What are the benefits of Sadaqah?
Giving Sadaqah in the form of cash will help money circulate in the society, giving Sadaqah in the form of service will help happiness, kindness, generosity, and humanity survive in a society. Despite profiting its worldly benefits, one saves for him its rewards for his hereafter too. Allah has stated the reward of giving Sadaqah in many places in the Holy Quran:
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍۢ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍۢ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies ˹the reward even more˺ to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Al-Baqarah, 261)
What are the types of Sadaqah?
Various types of Sadaqah can be contributed to the community even without spending any money or possession, and they are as follow:
- Smile
- Calling towards righteousness and preventing evil.
- Guiding a traveler.
- Helping someone physically.
- Removing an obstacle from the pathway.
- Giving water to someone.
- Lending money.
- Abstaining from creating troubles.
- Doing justice between two people.
- Planting a tree.
There are some Sadaqat that are described as superior by the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and if someone gives these types of Sadaqat, then he will earn the reward of a superior Sadaqah. A few of them are mentioned below:
- A poor person who gives Sadaqah, based on his financial ability.
- Giving Sadaqah while being healthy.
- Giving Sadaqah despite being greedy.
- Giving Sadaqah despite the fear of becoming poor.
- Provide food to a hungry
- Reconciliation between angry Muslim brothers.
- Releasing a prisoner.
- Prevent bloodshed.
What is the difference between Sadaqah and Zakat?
Sadaqah is an act of contribution for the pleasure of Allah. It is not a compulsory deed and can be done any time of the year. It can be in the form of money or service towards mankind.
Zakat on the other hand is a compulsory charity for Muslims once a year. 2.5% of the annual earnings must be paid after one has reached his Nisab threshold.
Verses of the Holy Quran about Sadaqah
Numerous verses in the Holy Quran encourage the Muslims to give Sadaqah in the way of Allah and for His pleasure. Some of the verses of the Holy Quran about Sadaqah are mentioned below:
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مَنًّۭا وَلَآ أَذًۭى ۙ لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
قَوْلٌۭ مَّعْرُوفٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن صَدَقَةٍۢ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًۭى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌۭ ۞
“Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words—they will get their reward from their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve. Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.” (Al-Baqarah, 262, 263)
وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًۭا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍۭ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌۭ فَـَٔاتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌۭ فَطَلٌّۭ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And the example of those who donate their wealth, seeking Allah’s pleasure and believing the reward is certain,1 is that of a garden on a fertile hill: when heavy rain falls, it yields up twice its normal produce. If no heavy rain falls, a drizzle is sufficient. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.” (Al-Baqarah, 265)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ
“O believers! Donate from the best of what you have earned and of what We have produced for you from the earth. Do not pick out worthless things for donation, which you yourselves would only accept with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.” (Al-Baqarah, 267)
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا ٱلْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ
“To give charity publicly is good, but to give to the poor privately is better for you, and will absolve you of your sins. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Al-Baqarah, 271)
لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًۭا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ ٱلْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَآءَ مِنَ ٱلتَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔلُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ إِلْحَافًۭا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
“Charity is for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah to move about in the land ˹for work˺. Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need ˹of charity˺ because they do not beg. You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah.” (Al-Baqarah, 273)
Ahadith of the Holy Prophet on Sadaqah
9 blessed sayings of the Holy Prophet about the excellence of giving Sadaqah.
- Sadaqah locks up 70 doors of evil.
- Everybody will be under the shade of his Sadaqah (on the Day of Judgement) until the judgment will be taken place amongst the people.
- Sadaqah protects the contributors of Sadaqah from the heat of the grave.
- Sadaqah extinguishes the wrath of Allah and prevents one from a bad death.
- Give Sadaqah early in the morning as the calamity does not precede charity.
- Sadaqah of a Muslim lengthens life and repels a bad death and by the blessing of it, Allah prevents the (evil habit of) arrogance and boasting from him. Whoever gives Sadaqah for the sake of the pleasure of Allah, that Sadaqah becomes a shield between this person and the fire.
- Save yourself from the fire even if with a piece of date; this is equivalent to feeding a hungry person.
- Salah is evidence (of Iman) and fasting is a shield (from sins) and Sadaqah wipes out sins as water extinguishes the fire.
How to donate Sadaqah online?
It is simple, just click the ‘Pay Sadaqah’ button below and donate the amount in the way and for seeking the pleasure of Allah. Hayat Orphanage will utilize and spend your Sadaqat on education, lodging, food, and the future of 100+ orphans in our orphanage and many more orphans in their addresses across Afghanistan. However, Hayat is more than an orphanage. The compassionate workers at Hayat provide round-the-clock assistance and advice. The orphans receive extra support with their education such as help with homework, extra curriculum books, access to computers, and most importantly, activities such as training practices and various trips.
These orphan children are the next generation of Afghanistan, so let’s build the future of Afghanistan. To continue and always improve the services of Hayat Orphanage, we need your support and assistance. So, keep up your cooperation and continue making donations.