17 How to Give Sadaqah in Islam

Sadaqah is taken from Arabic which means giving. This is one of the many charities or branches of faith that can link human life on earth, between the excess of wealth and the shortcomings. Sadaqah is one of the points given by Allah to all Muslims to obtain salvation and good happiness in the world and afterlife. It can prevent the downturn of disaster, catastrophe or adzab from Allah SWT. In addition, Allah has promised to multiply 10 times the reward of people who give sadaqah.

“Those who spend their wealth by night and day secretly and openly, then for them (is) their reward with their Lord, and no fear on them and not they will grieve.” (Al-Baqarah 2:274)

Here is presented how to give sadaqah in Islam.

1. Sadaqah from good and lawful doings

We need to give sadaqah from good and lawful doings to get rewards and merits. If we give sadaqah from prohibited or wrongdoings, we will not get rewards but we get sins from Allah.

“O you who believe[d]! Spend from (the) good things that you have earned and whatever We brought forth for you from the earth. And (do) not aim (at) the bad of it, you spend, while you (would) not take it except [that] (with) close(d) eyes [in it], and know that Allah (is) Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.” (Al-Baqarah 2:267)

See also: Types of Sunnah Prayer

2. Do not bring up and hurt the receiver of sadaqah

No one should bring up sadaqah to the person who receives it or humiliates the receiver or mentions the goodness or the merits which he has given to him. It can hurt the feelings of those who receive it and can remove the rewards of the sadaqah.

“O you who believe[d]! (Do) not render in vain your charities with reminders (of it) or [the] hurt, like the one who spends his wealth (to) be seen (by) the people, and (does) not believe in Allah and the Day [the] Last. Then his example (is) like (that of a) smooth rock upon it (is) dust, then fell on it heavy rain, then left it bare. Not they have control on anything of what they (have) earned. And Allah (does) not guide the people [the] disbelieving.” (Al-Baqarah 2:264)

See also: Importance of Islamic Month

3. Keep it secret

Sadaqah is the thing that Allah loves most. It makes us closer to the nature of sincerity and away from the nature of riya ‘(showing off).

“If you disclose the charities then good it (is). But if you keep it secret and give it (to) the poor, then it (is) better for you. And He will remove from you [of] your evil deeds. And Allah with what you do (is) All-Aware.” (Al-Baqarah 2:271)

See also: Importance of Marriage in Islam

4. Sadaqah in good health and not rich

We should not delay or wait when giving sadaqah, while the body in good health and strong enough. Giving sadaqah in all circumstances, whether happy or difficult will make us get more rewards and closer to Allah.

“You give sadaqah in good health and hard to take it out, in a state where you are afraid of being poor and wanting rich. So do not delay, so that the soul reaches the throat, then you say, ‘for fulan, for fulan, and for the other fulan’. Though it belongs to the fulan. “ (HR Bukhari and Muslim)

See also: How to Meditate in Islam

5. Perform sadaqah in the month of Ramadan

Worship has its own value in the month of Ramadan. It is the same with sadaqah. Therefore, Rasulullah SAW also gave an example to his people, during Ramadan he was more diligent in sadaqah than the usual months.

“Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is a very generous person. And he was more generous in the month of Ramadan when Jibril met him. Jibril met him every night in the month of Ramadan and repeated the Qur’an to the Rasulullah SAW. Really the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when met with Jibril more generous with the treasures of the wind that blows. “ (Muttafaq’ alaih)

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6. Sadaqah to the needy

Sadaqah is also worth more if it has a great value and much needed. Therefore, if we want to give sadaqah, we should also choose receiver of sadaqah or based on their level of need.

“Or feeding in a day of severe hunger, an orphan of near relationship, Or a needy person in misery.” (Al-Balad 14-16)

See also: Quran Verses about Love

7. Sadaqah after the mandatory need has been fulfilled

Give sadaqah if all the need to support the family, children, and wife, or maybe in paying the debt, as well as other things that must be in the first place. Those things also give us rewards, so we need to do those alongside with sadaqah.

“The best of charity is that which is out of necessity, and start from the one you bear.” (HR Bukhari)

See also: How to be Happy in Islam

8. Sadaqah according to ability

In giving sadaqah, it should not be too excessive and not too stingy. That is, if we can give sadaqah with a lot (max) and we are strong, patient, able to try, have no debt and no dependence to support then it may be according to the opinion of the scholar.

“And those who, when they spend, (are) not extravagant and are not stingy but are between that – moderate.” (Al-Furqan 25:67)

See also: How to Make Ramadhan Fasting Easier

9. Sincere in sadaqah

Someone must do sadaqah with sincere intention, both mandatory sadaqah and mustahab sadaqah (sunnah). If sincerity does not exist, then sadaqah will be void and can abort the reward. Some people give sadaqah with the aim of riya ‘and su’ah and proud to boast that he is known by his sadaqah. Such people will be in the rest of the Day of Judgment with a very severe punishment.

“You lie. Surely you give charity to be said to be generous. That’s the (reality) that has been said … “ (HR Muslim No 1095)

See also: Quranic Dua for Diseases

10. Studying the obligations in sadaqah

A Muslim is obliged to learn about the sadaqah that are required of him, to study the measurements and to whom the sadaqah should be given, as well as other things that will straighten his worship. He shall not be counted for performing his duties in worship until he does so in accordance with Allah’s instruction.

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11. Give the best treasure in sadaqah

Let no one deliberately give bad things or food for sadaqah, or choose the bad property in sadaqah. However, we need to choose the good one. The essence is like he handed himself to Allah.

“O you who believe[d]! Spend from (the) good things that you have earned and whatever We brought forth for you from the earth. And (do) not aim (at) the bad of it, you spend, while you (would) not take it except [that] (with) close(d) eyes [in it], and know that Allah (is) Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.” (Al-Baqarah 2:267)

See also: Dietary Laws in Islam

12. Sadaqah with what we love

If a servant is able to give sadaqah with something he loves from treasure, food or the like, then he will get a greater reward from Allah. It is like sharing happiness with the others.

“Never will you attain [the] righteousness until you spend from what you love. And whatever you spend of a thing then indeed, Allah of it (is) All-Knowing.” (Al-Imran 3:92)

See also: Akhlaq of Prophet Muhammad SAW

13. Give sadaqah to relatives, brother, neighbor first

If the relatives are included in the needy one, then their rights are greater than the rights of others. The closer the degree of kinship with the person receiving the sadaqah, the greater the reward of sadaqah.

“And give the relatives his right, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and (do) not spend wastefully.” (Al-Isra 17:26)

See also: How to live a Happy Married Life 

14. Not delaying the obligatory sadaqah

If it is compulsory for a Muslim to pay zakat on his property, his crop, his business, or any other of the obligatory sadaqah, then he is obliged to issue it in due time. He should not postpone it in the absence of udzur. Whoever delays getting out of his time without udzur, surely he will face the anger of Allah.

See also: Character of Prophet Muhammad

15. Put the obligatory sadaqah ahead of Mustahab (Sunnah)

We should issue obligatory zakat in order to put it first before mustahab zakat. That’s the law of origin because performing obligatory sadaqah is included in the pillars of Islam. Allah will not accept the practices of the sunnah until he practices the obligatory deeds. Allah’s favorite deed to get closer to Him is to fulfill the obligation.

“… and not a servant draws closer to Me with something more I like than what I have obliged upon it … “ (HR Bukhari No 6502 from Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu)

See also: How to Increase Wealth in Islam

16. Do jariyah sadaqah

Jariyah sadaqah is sadaqah which reward keeps flowing even though wedead. Including jariyah sadaqah is waqf, mosque construction, madrasah, procurement of clean water facilities, digging wells, planting trees for fruit can be utilized by many people and other projects that are sustainably utilized by the community.

“When Adam’s grandson died, then the whole charity was cut off except three; jariyah sadaqah, the knowledge or the righteous son who pray for his (parents) . “ (HR Muslim)

See also: Dua of Prophet Muhammad

17. Sadaqah for jihad fii sabilillah

The sadaqah of fii sabilillah is among the sadaqah that Allah loves for its virtue, for it is in the fight against the enemy and to exalt the sentence of God. It has aim to protect the da’wah of Islam and the honor of wealth, soul, and the Muslims.

“Whoever prepares (supplies) the warriors, he has indeed gone to war. Whoever bore the family of the warriors, indeed he has been at war.” (HR Bukhari and Muslim)

That’s how to give sadaqah in Islam. Hope this article will give us the courage and sincerity to give sadaqah to the people.