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.