Saturday, Ramadan 01, 1446 AH (01/03/2025)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May Allah extol the Messenger in the highest company of Angels and grant him peace; and likewise, his family, his Companions and all those who truly and sincerely follow him until the Day of Resurrection.
Dear brothers and sisters! Allah the Most High says:
“For those who believe in the existence of the unseen, and perform the prayers, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”
Quran, 2:3
Allah the Almighty created us within a “gradient of wealth” like finances, material elements, health, appearance, intelligence to learn and the ability to master different skills. In this Qur’anic verse, Allah the Most High asks believers to share part of the wealth He provided them with the less fortunate. In this perspective, the Arabic word Zakah means to self-purify our soul. From this definition, this compulsory charity of money (Zakatul-mal) is the intention of every rich person to self-purify his/her soul by helping the poor. The amount of charity is fixed at 2.5% of a Muslim’s total savings and wealth above a minimum amount (Nisab) is donated annually.
Allah the Most High says:
“…And do good as Allah has been good to you…”
Qur’an, 28:77
In addition to this obligation, we can have the opportunity to self-purify our soul and add good deeds by giving whatever we can. For example, the following Qur’anic verse:
“They ask you (O Muhammad) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and the needy and for wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds, Allah knows it well.”
Qur’an, 2:215
Moreover, being kind and considerate towards relatives, neighbours and coworkers are also good deeds as mentioned in the following Qur’anic verse:
“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the needy, the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet) and those whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful.”
Qur’an, 4:36
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) teaches us that we can help people in many ways as he said:
“Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises.”
He was then asked:
“From what do we give charity every day?”
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) replied:
“The doors of goodness are many: enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one’s legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one’s arms. All of these are charity prescribed for you.”
He then said:
“Even your smile for your brother is a charity.”
Bukhari
Regarding the reward of planting trees, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (Sadaqah) for him.”
Bukhari
To care and protect animals, he told the following story:
“A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile, he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, ‘This dog is suffering from thirst as I did.’ So, he went down the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it with his mouth and watered the dog. Allah appreciated him for that deed and forgave him.”
The Companions said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?”
He replied:
“There is a reward for serving any living being.”
Bukhari
As mentioned in this Qur’anic verse:
“And We have sent you forth [O Muhammad] not but as a mercy for mankind and jinn.”
Qur’an, 21:107
Abdullah Ibn Mu’awiyyah reported: The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever does three deeds will taste the sweetness of faith (Iman): one who worships Allah alone, who declares there is no God but Allah, and who gives charity from his wealth each year with a cheerful and earnest soul.”
Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1679
Surely, charity is a purifier of sins and wealth. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Sadaqah (charity) extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.”
Tirmidhi
All perfect praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings, and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his family, his Companions, and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau
Chief Imam of:
Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah Mosque;
Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria
📞 +2348038289761
