Charity – an Islamic perspective

Before I reflect on the importance of the acts of charity or indeed a charitable deed in Islamic teaching, let me read this verse from the Surah 63:

‘And spend of what Allah has granted you by way of sustenance before death should come to any of you, and then he says: ‘Lord! Why you did not defer my return for a while so that I might give alms and be among the righteous. But when a person’s term comes to an end, Allah never grants any respite. Allah is well aware of all that you do’. S 63 V10-11

This verse tells us all about the importance of charity in Islam. Some points from this verse to be noted are:

1-      God commands people to spend from the sustenance given to them, in the way of charity.

2-      God is generous and He wants His servants to be generous with what they have been granted by God.

3-      God telling us that an act of charity is one of the things that will be desired by people in the next life and they will wish they had done it in this life.

4-      Additionally, acts of charity lead to a righteous life, full of compassion, kindness and caring for people.

Hence, charity is a detailed subject in Islamic teachings. Charity is divided into two clear categories: 1) Zakah 2) Sadaqah

1)      Zakah is the compulsory act of charity, and applies widely to all aspects of finance and commodity related items.

a) Zakah is levied at 2.5% from the annual calculation of whatever a person may have in the form of money or investments.

b) Zakah also applies on commodities and merchandise that are held for trade purposes. Both are calculated as 1/40 or 2.5% of their value.

c) There is also Zakat on agricultural produce, if it exceeds a threshold of 651.4 kg, according to the majority of scholars.

d) Zakah also applies to livestock, such as cattle, sheep and camels, paid in kind, whose value is determined by an established method of calculation.

Zakah’s importance lies in its position as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakah, besides being a contributing factor in reducing social inequality, has a spiritual purpose. The Quran puts it succinctly, saying: ‘O Prophet! Take alms out of their riches and thereby cleanse them and bring about their growth (in righteousness) and pray for them. Indeed your prayer is a source of tranquillity for them. Allah is All Hearing, all-Knowing’. S9 V103

Who are the recipients of Zakah? The Quran gives the details. They are eight categories. It says: ‘The Alms (Zakah) are meant only for the poor and the needy, and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the Way of Allah and for the Wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. S9 V60

Sadaqah:

Now we come to the second type of the charity, Sadaqah. Sadaqah differs from Zakah in that it is a voluntary act of generosity, goodness and giving to others. Charity is a noble word and a highly appreciated act in Islam. Charity is something that pleases Allah and raises the ranks of the giving person. The general rule to describe this is: ‘All acts of goodness are charity’. It is extremely rewarding act and for a Muslim it is a way to get closer to God.

The Prophet Mohammad said: “Every act of goodness is a charity. And it is an act of charity to meet up with your brother with a smiling or cheerful face, or by emptying your bucket of water into his bucket.”

The Prophet Mohammad also said: “No Muslim plants a tree or grow a crop, but that a human, or animal or birds or anything else eats from it, but it would be a charity for him”.

As we can see, the concept of charity is not limited only to financial support for others. Charity is a much wider concept in Islam. Indeed,  it provides the opportunity for all segments of people to be generous and charitable in their own way, whatever their expertise or social standing.

The Prophet once said: “Charity is compulsory on all Muslims.” His Companions said: “O Prophet of God! If someone doesn’t have anything, what he would do?” He replied saying: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and do charity.” The Companion said: “If he does not find anything then what he should do?”  He replied: “He should go out to help those in desperate need.” They said “If he didn’t find anyone to help what he should do?” The Prophet replied: “Let him do good and withhold himself from evil and that would be a charity from him”.

The Prophet also said: “Every soul is obligated with doing charity every day the sun rises in it. For instance,  he may reconcile between two people, which would be a charitable act for him. He may help someone to get on the back of his riding animal and that would be a charitable act. Or, he helps another to lift his goods on to the back of his animal and that would be a charity for him. Or, he should remove harmful objects from the path of people and that would be a charity for him. Every good word spoken is a charity. Further, the steps taken to go for prayers are also charity.”

We can see from all that I have  mentioned, that charity is a much wider concept in Islam and, of course, includes voluntarily giving financial support to those who need it. With regard to financial charity, we are provided with further guidance:

The Prophet said: Giving in charity does not decrease in your wealth’.

And the Quran says: ‘Allah deprives interest (usury) of all blessing, whereas He blesses charity with growth. Allah loves none who is ungrateful and persists in sin’. S2 V276  

The Quran says: ‘If you dispense your charity publicly, it is well; but if you conceal it and pay it to the needy in secret, it will be even better for you’. S2 V271

So who are the recipients of sadaqah?

Once the Prophet said: “Give in charity.” A man said: “I have one dinar, Who deserves it as a charity?” The Prophet replied: “Yourself. “The man said: “I have another dinar?” The Prophet said: “Give it to your wife as charity.’’ The man said: “I have another dinar. Who deserves this charity now?” The Prophet replied: “Your child.” The man said again: “I have another dinar, who would deserve this one?” The Prophet replied: “If you have any servant she deserves this charity.” The man said “I have another dinar, now tell who deserves this charity?” The Prophet replied: “Now it is your discretion to spend it on whoever deserves it most.”

In conclusion, it seems to me, as a student of Islamic theology, that in addition to those acts of goodness and charity designed as obligations in Islamic teachings, all other voluntary acts of monetary help, generosity and goodness to others and dealing with people kindly, is regarded as Sadaqah, or charity, and considered as rewarding acts by God.

Hajj 2020: downsizing of hajj

The date of hajj 2020 is getting ever closer, but this year we face an unusual situation for hajj and pilgrims. Potential pilgrims were, as usual, excited and waiting to fulfil their fifth pillar of Islam. It is a spiritually emotional occasion; a lifetime journey, taken for Allah, alone, which binds us with a spiritual attachment to our destiny.

However, the devastating effects of coronavirus, Covid-19, have turned the world upside down. The world ‘s affairs seem to have come to a grinding halt. The resultant lack of routine in people’s lives and its negative impact on our thinking, may also have created cynicism or despair in our minds.

As a result of the Corona virus epidemic many world governments have imposed strict measures in their efforts to minimise any further spread of the virus. Social distancing has been one of the required measures and has, in some countries, been strictly enforced. In the Muslim world, this has impacted heavily on the five congregational daily prayers, Friday congregations and other such activities, such as night prayers in Ramadan or Eid salaah; all of which are extremely important activities in a Muslim’s spiritual life. Muslims are still waiting for their mosques to be reopened and their religious, spiritual and their social lives, to restart.

Hajj was always in the back of Muslims’ minds. People wondered whether Hajj would be performed this year or not. Most of us thought it was unlikely, at least on any big scale, despite it being an international event.

This was partly due to the required social distancing between people, but also due to the fact that international flights have been brought to a near halt. Strict measures taken by different countries, to stop the spread of Covid-19 through the movement of people, meant people would not be able to travel internationally to any destination. As a result, flights were not organised and any flight that was would be many times more costly, even if available.

The social distancing rules meant less people in a wider space which would make it impossible to accommodate any large numbers of people and control them in one place.

In the wake of this difficult situation, the Saudi Government took, after much long and hard thought, a wise decision; not to hold the hajj this year for international pilgrims. Instead, the decision was taken to organise the hajj on a smaller level and only for pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, drawn from both the expatriate Muslim communities and Saudi citizens. This decision has been well received, widely appreciated and supported wholeheartedly by Muslim communities all over the world.

Islam is a live religion and serves its communities in their changing situations accordingly through a process call Ijtihaad; finding a current solution to a relevant problem through a process of applying the spirit of religious texts and the target purpose of its teachings.

So, hajj 2020 has not been cancelled. Instead, its spirit has been accommodated and it is being performed on a smaller scale, which is nearly as good as being performed on a larger international level.

Islam has a very important rule in the form of a saying of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. The Prophet said: ‘Allah loves that His allowances were taken and applied as He loves His obligations were performed’.

We find, in Islamic teachings, so many allowances, even in the matters of religious obligations. For example, when people are on journey, they are allowed to shorten their prayers (Salaah) from four Rakaah to two Rakaah. In difficult situations, Muslims are allowed to combine certain daily prayers in order to avoid certain difficulties.

Women are allowed not to offer their salaah during their monthly cycles and to make up for any missed prayers afterwards. Men and women are allowed not to fast during extended travel or, if they are ill, until they get better. In Islam, we have numerous other examples that show Islamic teachings as being pragmatic and applied in accordance to the situation at the time.

The Quran offers certain guidance in this regards too. It says in the Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse 286: ‘Allah does not lay a responsibility (obligation) on anyone beyond his capacity.’

This guiding rule exists in the Quran in many different forms and seems to be the spirit of divine teachings.

Saving life has precedence in Islam over all other considerations such as the consumption of what is considered haram if it saves life. Because of the possible or potential infection of Coronavirus, the downsizing of hajj this year will help in the saving of many lives,

It is estimated that, throughout Islamic history and for many reasons, there have been more than 40 occasions, when hajj was either downsized or was not performed at all. In the light of this, the Saudi Arabian government’s wise decision to avoid the infectious viral disease of Covid-19, makes very good sense.

Hajj demonstrates the majesty of Islamic teachings and sends a powerful message of Islam towards humanity and towards their Creator the Almighty, Allah. The powerful Khutbah (sermon) given by the Prophet Mohammad, during his farewell hajj, reminds us all of the ever binding obligations towards Allah and humanity on each occasion of hajj every year.

The downsizing of hajj this year, by the Saudi Government, does not mean its purpose has less value or that we pay less attention to the spirit of its teachings. Hajj will return and continue in all its majestic appearance and continue to send a powerful message by our performance of its spiritual activities. We look forward to next year and pray to Allah, the Almighty, to remove the epidemic of Covid-19 or any other such viral diseases from humanity and that the world regains its health and full glory of activities.