In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity/sadaqah.” [At-Tirmidhi]
Dear brothers and sisters, being caring and compassionate for one’s fellow human beings is a central part of Islam, especially in this trying time that Allah the Almighty sent Coronavirus to test the whole world. When reading the Qur’an, one cannot help being struck by the number of times charity or sadaqah is mentioned: Feeding the poor and needy, supporting orphans, relatives and travellers, spending in the way of Allah… All of these references emphasise the importance of charity for every Muslim.
And several Hadiths – sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) – refer to this deep affection and brotherhood. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“You will not believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
He also said:
“The believers are like one body in their mutual love and affection: if one limb is injured, the rest responds with sleeplessness and fever.”
Respected brothers and sisters, if a Muslim feels the pain of his or her fellow human being, and wishes the same comfort and good life for others which he wishes for himself, it is a natural reaction to give in charity, to ease this suffering.
In addition to the indisputable benefits for those receiving charity, Islam also highlights the spiritual to give your wealth away selflessly to remember that every blessing they have in this life comes from Allah the Almighty. We must not hoard our wealth and blessings but instead recognise that He (Allah) wishes for us to be compassionate and share our provisions with others without pride. Allah the Most High says:
“You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words.” [Qur’an, 2:262]
And the Qur’an reminds us that there is a:
“Recognised right, for the needy and deprived” over our wealth.” [Qur’an, 70:24-5]
So by giving for the sake of others, a Muslim is fulfilling a duty to those in need and preventing him or her from becoming proud of their own generosity.
In fact, Allah the Most High describes those who prevent the supporting of orphans and the feeding of the poor as:
“Those who reject the faith.” [Qur’an, 107:1-3]
As charity should be given in:
“Prosperity or adversity.” [Qur’an, 3:134]
Without fear for one’s wealth. We should have faith that a sincere act of giving can only bring abundant reward. Allah the Almighty says:
“Those who spend their wealth in Allah’s cause are like grains of corn which produce seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains.” [Qur’an, 2:261]
And with Zakah – the obligatory annual tax due on an adult Muslim’s wealth – one of the five pillars of Islam, supporting the poor and needy through charity is an undeniable cornerstone of faith.
My beloved people, wallahi charity/Sadaqah is something that is encouraged every day. Let our governments in all levels, and the rich among us fear Allah and help the poor and the needy, so that Allah the Almighty can use it to protect us, our family and our beloved country from this fitnah of covid-19.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“There is no day in which the servant rise in the morning except that two angels descend; one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate the one who spends.’ The other angel says, ‘O Allah! Destroy the wealth of the one who is stingy.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It is also confirmed that charity repels calamities, as stated in the Hadith. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Doing good (to the people) protects one from misfortunes, secret charity extinguishes the anger of the Lord, and keeping ties with kinship increases one’s life span.” [At-Tabarani reported it and Imam Al-Albani classified it as hasan (good)]
Also, Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“Doing good (to the people) protects one from misfortunes, from calamities, and destruction; and the people of goodness in this worldly life will be the people of goodness in the Hereafter.” [Imam Al-Albani classified it as Sahih (sound)]
Moreover, in the Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim about the solar eclipse reads:
“The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, ‘When you see that [i.e. the eclipse], supplicate to Allah, say Allahu Akbar, pray, and give charity.’”
Sheikh Ibn Daqiq Al-Id, when interpreting this Hadith, said, “This Hadith is evidence that charity is desirable when someone fears something in order to repel the misfortune and the calamity that he fears.”
And Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim may Allah have mercy upon him said in his book Iddat As-Sabirin:
“In charity, there are numerous benefits which no one can enumerate but Allah, among which is that it protects one from misfortunes, from calamities and repels trials to the extent that it repels tribulations off an oppressor (i.e. charity repels tribulations even if it was given by an evil or an oppressive person). Ibrahim An-Nakha’i said: ‘They (the righteous predecessors) held that charity protects the oppressed man, wipes out the sin, preserves wealth, brings forth sustenance, brings joy to the heart, and necessitates having trust in Allah and thinking well of Him in the same manner that stinginess is mistrust in Allah. Charity repels the devil, purifies one’s soul and develops it, endears the slave to Allah and to His creation, and conceals all his defects in the same manner that stinginess conceals every good trait. Charity increases one’s life-span, incites people to supplicate for the person and to love him, repels the torment of the grave from the person, provides shade for him on the Day of Judgment, intercedes for him with Allah, eases the difficulties of this world and the Hereafter for him, and makes it easier for him to do all good deeds; indeed, its benefits are many times more.’”
Therefore, there is no harm in giving charity or sadaqah in order to attain what is confirmed in the Shari’a as a promise to repel a calamity from the person who gives charity.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
I pray, may Allah, the Exalted grant healing to all those tested positive of this Covid-19 or Coronavirus and may He restore back peace and security in our dear country, and continue to protect the health of the Nigerian citizenry and the world at large. Ameen.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761.
