The Virtue of Spending and Giving out Sadaqah (alms)

 First Sermon:

 

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness and repent to Him. We seek refuge with Allâh from the evils of ourselves and from the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever that Allâh guides, none can mislead him, and whomever He sends astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allâh alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ )

(O you who believe, fear Allâh as he should be feared and die not unless you are Muslims) [Al-Imran: 102]

 

( يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا )

(O people fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul. From it, He created its spouse, and from both of them scattered many men and women. Fear Allâh, by whom you ask one another, and (fear) the wombs (lest you sever its relationship). Allâh is ever watching over you). [An-Nisa: 1].

 

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا )

(O you, who believe, fear Allâh and say sound statements. He will mend your deeds for you and forgive your sins. Whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger shall win a great victory) [Al-Ahzab: 70-71].

It is amazing that if you ask me how do I develop and increase my wealth? I would tell you: I spend out of it. Yes; if you want to increase the wealth then spend from it but for the sake of Allâh, and the proof of this is the words of Allâh, the Most Glorified and Exalted:

( وَمَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّن شَىۡءٍ۬ فَهُوَ يُخۡلِفُهُۖ ۥ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٲزِقِينَ )

And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers [Saba: 39].

 

And Allâh's replenishment for you is absolutely better than what you have spent. Moreover, the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) also said, "Wealth does not diminish by giving Sadaqah (charity)" (Muslim).

 

Slaves of Allâh! Today we have a way that leads not to the love of men, but rather the love of Allâh, the Almighty for you. Today, we have for you the immunity against scourges, calamities and diseases, the multiplication of your reward and good deeds, the atonement for your sins and getting rid of your faults and shortcomings, the increase for your livelihood and the development for your wealth. Today, we shall have a way to the heaven and a fortress against the Hellfire. .. Come on let's proceed to the issue in detail:

First: Spending is a way to win the love of Allâh, the Almighty. The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said, «The most beloved people to Allâh, the Almighty, are those who are most beneficial to the people. And the best deeds to Allâh, the Almighty, is the happiness you bring to a Muslim, or the plight you relieve him of, or a debt you pay off on his behalf, or the starvation you expel from him » (At-Tabarani).

 

As for the love people will have for you when you give them, it is a reality witnessed daily and does not need a proof; because the souls are predisposed to love the one that does some good to them.

 

Second: Giving out charity serves as a prevention from calamities. It was narrated that Umm Salamah, said: The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said, «Good gestures protect against bad ends (death), and hidden charity extinguishes the anger of the Lord» (At-Tabarani).

Third: Unlimited reward: Allâh, the Almighty said,

( مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقۡرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنً۬ا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُ ۥ لَهُ ۥۤ أَضۡعَافً۬ا ڪَثِيرَةً۬‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقۡبِضُ وَيَبۡصُۜطُ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ )

Who is he that will lend to Allâh a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allâh that decreases or increases (your provisions), and unto Him you shall return [Al-Baqarah: 245].

 

And this multiplication reaches to seven hundred times or more. Allâh, the Most Glorified, said

( مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٲلَهُمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتۡ سَبۡعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ۬ مِّاْئَةُ حَبَّةٍ۬‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ)

The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allâh, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allâh gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower [Al-Baqarah: 261].

 

Moreover, Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari (May Allâh be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) with a she-camel wearing a nose-string and said: "This is (a gift) in the Cause of Allâh." The Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) replied, "You will have in return for it on the Day of Resurrection seven hundred she-camels and every one of them will be wearing a nose-string"». (Muslim).

 

Indeed, one date-fruit of charity in the sight of Allâh, will become like a mountain of reward. Abu Hurairah reported Allâh's Messenger as saying: "If anyone gives as Sadaqah the equivalent of a date from that (earning) earned honestly, for Allâh accepts that which is lawful, Ar-Rahman, the Most Gracious, would accept it with His Right Hand, and even if it is a date-fruit, it would foster in the Hand of Ar-Rahman, the Most Gracious, till it becomes bigger than a mountain. "(Agreed upon).

 

Fourth: Protection against the torment of the grave and heat of the Day of Resurrection: Uqbah bin Aamir reported that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, «Indeed, charity extinguishes the heat of the graves for the people, but the believer will avail himself of the Day of Judgment under the shade of his charity» (Al-Bayhaqi in transmitted it in As-Shu'ab).

 

Fifth: Replenishment with that better than what has been spent: This is a promise from Allâh, the Most High,

( وَمَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّن شَىۡءٍ۬ فَهُوَ يُخۡلِفُهُۖ ۥ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٲزِقِينَ )

And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers [Saba: 39].

 

Abu Hurairah reported Allâh's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) as saying that Allâh, the Most Blessed and High, said: "O son of Adam, spend. I will spend on you » (Agreed upon).

 

Abu Hurairah (May Allâh be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said, "Two angels descend every morning, and one says: 'O Allâh, give him who spends something, in place of what he spends.' The other one says: 'O Allâh, give destruction to him who withholds" » (Agreed upon).

 

Sixth: Charity is a protection from the Hellfire. 'Adi bin Hatim (May Allâh be pleased with him) reported: that the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said, "Every one of you will speak to his Lord without an interpreter between them. He will look to his right side and will see only the deeds he had previously done; he will look to his left and will see only the deeds he had previously done, and he will look in front of him and will see nothing but Fire (of Hell) before his face. So protect yourselves from Fire (of Hell), even by giving half a date- fruit (in charity)" ». (Agreed).

 

Moreover, Fudwalah bin Ubaid reported the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), as saying, « Make between you and the Hell-Fire a protection even by giving half a date- fruit (in charity)» (At-Tabarani).

 

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, May Allâh be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), gave a sermon to the women and said to them: « O Assemblies of women, give in charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hellfire» (Agreed upon).

 

Hence, Sadaqah serves as a veil, protection and fortress against the torment of Hell.

Seventh: Charity is a paved road to Paradise: Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allâh be pleased with them) reported that Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said, "There are forty kinds of virtue; the uppermost of them is to lend a (milch) she-goat (to someone in order to benefit from it and then return it). He who practices any of these virtues expecting its reward and relying on the truthfulness of the promise made for it, shall enter Al-Jannah (Paradise)" » (Al-Bukhari).

 

If you give out charity even if it were milk of a goat for the sake of Allâh you will enter the paradise for that. Abu Hurairah, May Allâh be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, « He who spends a pair in the way of Allâh will be called from the gates of Al-Jannah: 'O slave of Allâh! This gate is better for you' and one who is constant in Salah (prayer), will be called from the Gate of Salah; and whoever is eager in fighting in the Cause of Allâh, will be called from the Gate of Jihad; and he who is regular in observing Saum (fasting) will be called from Ar-Rayyan Gate. The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity» (Agreed upon).

 

Eighth: Allâh will take care of the wealth from which one spends from: Every wealth from which you give out charity Allâh assumes the responsibility of caring for, preserving and developing it. The evidence for this is what was narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said: «While a person was in the wilderness he heard a voice from the cloud (commanding it thus): Irrigate the garden of so and so. (After that the clouds slinked aside and poured water on a stony ground. It filled a channel amongst the channels of that land and that person followed that water and he found a person standing in the garden busy in changing the course of water with the help of a hatchet. He said to him: Slave of Allâh, what is your name? He said: So and so. And it was that very name which he had heard from the clouds. And he said to him: Slave of Allâh, why do you ask me my name? He said: I heard a voice from the clouds of which is the downpour, saying: Water the garden of so and so, like your name. What do you do (for the favour) shown to you by Allâh in this matter? He said: Now as you state so. I look what yield I get from it, and I give one-third as charity out of it and I and my children eat one-third of it and one-third I return to it as investment. » (Muslim).

 

Hence, do not be afraid of perdition befalling your wealth as long as you give out charity from it; because it is Allâh who cares for it.

O Muslims! Allâh, the Most Glorified and Exalted, has revealed wealth as a test and trial for humans, because the wealth belongs to Allâh. We are only entrusted with it and it is a trust deposited with us. So whoever, spends it in goodness and takes out the Zakah due on it and gives out part of it as charity, such person will succeed in the test. But whoever, withholds the Zakah and declined to give out charity or spend for the sake of Allâh, he will lose in the exam. Allâh, the Almighty said,

( ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسۡتَخۡلَفِينَ فِيهِ‌ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬)

Believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad), and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allâh's Way), theirs will be a great reward [Al-Hadid: 7].

 

So consider yourself to see if you are successful or losing!

 

Second sermon:

 

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh alone. May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon the last Prophet.

 

My Dear Muslim brother! If you realize all that has been said then beware and beware of withholding charity and refusing to spend because if you do you would have acted niggardly to yourself and deprived it from the grace of Allâh. Allâh, the Almighty, said,

( هَـٰٓأَنتُمۡ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنڪُم مَّن يَبۡخَلُ‌ۖ وَمَن يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ‌ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا غَيۡرَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓاْ أَمۡثَـٰلَكُم)

Behold! You are those who are called to spend in the Cause of Allâh, yet among you are some who are niggardly. And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his ownself. But Allâh is Rich (Free of all needs), and you (mankind) are poor. And if you turn away (from Islâm and the obedience to Allâh), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes [Muhammad: 38].

 

Moreover,  Asma narrated that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said: « "Give (in charity) and do not give reluctantly lest Allâh should give you in a limited amount; and do not withhold your money lest Allâh should withhold it from you » (Agreed upon ).

 

O slave of Allâh! Spend and do not be afraid, because your charity will never diminish your wealth. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, «Wealth does not diminish by giving Sadaqah (charity) » (Muslim).

 

Do not be scared, you are required to spend as much as Allâh grants you. On the authority of Abu Hurairah, the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, «Indeed, aid comes from Allâh in accordance with the rate of provision» (Bazzar).

 

Do not be frightened that charity would perish your wealth, but that which is going to perish is the one that you refused to spend in the way of Allâh. Aishah, May Allâh be pleased with her, presents to us a practical evidence for this as she narrates that they slaughtered a sheep and distributed major portions of its meat. Then (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) asked, "Is there anything left?" She replied, "Nothing, except the shoulder." Thereupon, he said, "All of it is left except its shoulder." «(At-Tirmidhi). Hence, that which they gave out as charity will abide in the sight of Allâh and that which was not given out will perish.

 

Yes, do not be terrified for Ar-Rahman, the Most Gracious, the Most Glorified and Exalted is not miserly. Abdullah bin Masud narrated saying, "the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) came to Bilal and found with him a heap of dates. He said, «What is this, O Bilal?», He said, I prepare it for your guests. He (the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him))  said, «Are you not afraid that it will burn with smoke in the fire of hell, O Bilal spend whatever you wish, and do not fear any deficiency from the Lord of the 'Arsh (Throne)» (Al-Bazzar).

 

My Dear Believer! You have two ways before you; either to believe Allâh to be true, or believe the devil to be true. Allâh, the Almighty said,

( ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلۡفَقۡرَ وَيَأۡمُرُڪُم بِٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغۡفِرَةً۬ مِّنۡهُ وَفَضۡلاً۬‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ۬)

Shaitân (Satan) threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahshâ (evil deeds, illegal sexual intercourse, sins); whereas Allâh promises you Forgiveness from Himself and Bounty, and Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower [Al-Baqarah: 268].

 

Consider here who to believe to be true. If you believe Allâh to be true and cast off stinginess and miserliness by spending, you will sure be among those who would prosper. Allâh, the Most Glorified and Exalted, said,

( وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ )

And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful. [Al-Hashr: 9].

 

O Allâh! Make us among the benefactors, those who spend and give out charity. Make us among believers in your sustenance and replenishment that is better than what we spend...

Invoke prayers and blessings of Allâh upon the one Allâh, the Most Exalted and Glorified, has commanded you to do so when He said,

( إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا )

Allâh sends His Salah (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad) and also His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salah on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet him with the Islamic way of greeting [Al-Ahzab: 56].