Why is Charity Important in Islam?

Forms of Charity

There are many types of charity in Islam, two being Zakat and Sadaqah. Did you know smiling is also a form of charity? It is a sunnah practice that our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to do, and we should do so, too. 

Zakat

Zakat is a compulsory form of charity, and it consists of giving 2.5% of your wealth to charity every year. Zakat must be paid in gold, silver, stock, shares, cash, or any other valuable asset. 

To be eligible to give Zakat, one must be Muslim, an adult, of sound mind, and have enough wealth. This level of wealth is called Nisab—the minimum amount needed to be considered wealthy. 

While there are requirements for whom Zakat is compulsory, there are also conditions for who can receive Zakat. There are eight categories of people who can receive Zakat: 

1. Faqir – A person who has wealth but less than Nisab. 
2. Miskin – A person who has no wealth at all, such as a homeless person or refugee. 
3. Mukatab – An enslaved person working to free themselves. 
4. A person in debt – Debt takes a person below Nisab. 
5. A soldier who has been cut off from his troop. 
6. A pilgrim who has been cut off from his group. 
7. Wayfarer – Someone wealthy at home but has no wealth while travelling. 

One who works as a state Zakat collector can get a wage from it. It is not applicable to most Muslim charities in the West. 

Who Can Not Receive Zakat?

• Non-Muslims. 
• Someone who possesses Nisab. 
• Descendants of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 
• One’s parents or grandparents. 
• One’s spouse. 
• One’s children or grandchildren. 
• An enslaved person, even when working to free themselves (unless Mukatab). 
• A partially formerly enslaved person. 
• The shroud of the deceased. 
• The debt of the deceased. 

Sadaqah

Sadaqah is a voluntary form of charity that can be given at any time and to any person or cause.

These are not necessarily acts of physical charity, like donating money, but can be other actions, including the following:

• Feeding a homeless person.
• Paying for someone’s groceries.
• Feeding a hungry or thirsty animal.
• Removing a harmful object from the road.
• Helping an older adult cross the road.
• Carrying someone’s bag for them.
• Using kind and polite language.
• Smiling – it’s sunnah!

These are the easiest forms of charity to perform and often cost nothing!

Sadaqah Jariyah

Sadaqah Jariyah refers to acts of charity that have ongoing benefits and, hence, ongoing rewards: 

• Planting a tree – You will get a reward for anyone who eats from it or takes shade under it. 
• Donating a wheelchair to a hospital. 
• Bringing up righteous children who pray for you. 
• Building a well to provide water. 
• Sponsoring or adopting an orphan. 

The Importance of Charity in Islam

There are many benefits of giving charity in Islam, so why is charity important in Islam? The importance of giving charity in Islam stems from the fact that it is a means of helping others; no matter how small or what form of charity it is, it can have a big impact and help other people greatly. Not to mention, your acts of charity can be a form of Dawah and encourage people to become Muslim or look into Islam.

Ultimately, our wealth is a test and a trust from Allah (SWT) – we should use it in the best ways, like helping others as much as we can and knowing that Allah (SWT) will provide for you when you help other people.

Hadith on Giving Charity

Some of the most important Islamic quotes about charity include the following:

The Prophet (peace be upon him): “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (peace be upon him): “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (peace be upon him): “Do not show lethargy or negligence in giving alms and charity till your last breath.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

The Prophet (peace be upon him): “A charity is due for every joint in each person on every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity; a good word is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “Protect yourself from hellfire even by giving a piece of date as charity.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Donate to Orphans in Need

Why is charity so important in Islam? Your donations can help people all around the world, including those in India, Bangladesh, the Gambia, Palestine, Somalia, Senegal, and Pakistan.