How to Give the ‘Correct’ Way
By Syed Imtiaz Ahmad
Sept/Oct 25
The framework and practice of charity in Islam comes from the stories of the earliest Muslims. When someone visited their home, they offered food even though they often did not have enough for themselves. When someone needed clothes, they offered some of their own even though they did not have enough to clothe themselves. They avoided publicly declaring their acts of charity, saying, “We feed you for the sake of God alone, no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks” (Quran 76:9).
Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “There is a (compulsory) sadaqa (charity) to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to God) every day the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as sadaqa, and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as sadaqa, and (saying) a good word is also sadaqa, and every step taken on one’s way to offer the compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also sadaqa and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also sadaqa” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2989, Book 56, Hadith 198).
The Prophet also noted, “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah (a continuous charity), knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him” (hadith from Abu Hurairah in Sahih Muslim; Riyad as-Salihin 1383; Book 12, Hadith 8).
Charity: A Truly Islamic Action
A charitable person is someone who feels a sense of belonging and responsibility to others. Qualities of a charitable person include being generous, kind, and understanding as well as being aware of the various ways to aid those in need by donating money, time, or other resources. They are also often lenient and not judgmental.
While the benefits of charity at the receiving end are obvious, it is not the same situation for the giver. For the giver, the overarching benefit is to please God. But, since He has power over all things in this world and the Hereafter, this implicit benefit is of far greater in value. Among the profound benefits of giving charity are the belief that the donor can be protected from various calamities and misfortunes, receive divine intervention in times of need, and promote mental and emotional well-being. Prophet Muhammad said, “There is a single day in which a servant wakes that two angels come down (from the Heavens). One of them says, ‘O’ Allah! Give to the one that spends a substitute (for what he has spent)’” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1442, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1010). He also stated, “Charity extinguishes the sins like water extinguishes a fire” (cited on the authority of Ibn Majah, Sahih al-Bukhari).
And there are worldly benefits for charitable giving, too. Harvard University professor Dr. Arthur Brooks said people who give more charitably are 43% more likely to say they are “very happy” than non-givers, while non-givers are three and a half times more likely than givers to report they are “not happy at all.”
Clinical psychologist Dr. Megan Hays also says charitable giving has been shown to boost happiness, reduce stress, enhance self-esteem, and strengthen social connections. “Engaging in acts of generosity activates the brain’s reward system, fostering positive emotions and a sense of purpose,” she said.
Charity as Described in the Quran
The common terms used in the Quran for charity are zakat, sadaqah, and infaq. Almsgiving includes donating your time, and giving money, services, or resources to those who need it. All forms of charities are an act of pious benevolence and not an act of pity, and the provision of charity is a matter of social responsibility in Islam.
Zakat is obligatory for every Muslim as it is identified as one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat existed in pre-Islamic period as well, although not described in precise details as in Islam. Zakat is aimed at balancing the distribution of wealth. All those with annual savings of over a certain amount are required to pay zakat. The minimum amount, named nisab, a wealth threshold, is determined by grading the assets held. Not paying zakat is considered a sin and violation of Islamic jurisprudence. Paying zakat is considered an act of purifying your earnings by giving away what you have earned over the amount needed for your personal maintenance. The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains (Quran, 2:261).
Sadaqah refers to voluntary charity or righteous acts of giving. It is a form of worship that pleases God and is distinct from the obligatory charity, zakat. Sadaqah can involve monetary donations, acts of kindness, a warm shake of hands, or even a simple smile. Sadaqah is a righteous behavior, which shows sincerity of faith. It can be everything from an act of kindness to a monetary donation.
Infāq, another form of voluntary charitable giving, is defined as an act of spending simply to please God without asking for any favor in return.
Another Quranic lesson about charity stems a group of people visiting Prophet Muhammad and asking him what they should give to others. While they knew what God wanted them to give from what they had, they wanted to know how much they should donate. In reply, the Prophet was told by God to say al-afwa, whatever they could afford from the best part of what they owned.
This attitude allows the giver not to be too attached to his own material comforts, an altruism to prefer others to self. As the Quran states, “Make not your hand tied like misers to your neck nor stretched forth to its utmost reach so that you become blameworthy and destitute” (17:29). When asked about allocating their giving, the group was given examples of spending for parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, those in need, and any other good deed performed with your own money (2:215).
Blending Charity and Humility
But Muslims are also encouraged to not disclose their acts of charity: “If you disclose acts of charity even so it is well but if you conceal them and make them reach those really in need, that is best for you” (2:215). In his comments on this Quranic verse, the well-known translator Abdullah Yusuf Ali said, “It is better to seek no publicity in charity. But if it is known there is no harm. If it is for public purposes, it must necessarily be known, and a pedantic show of concealment may itself be a fault. The harm of publicity lies in motives of ostentation. We can better reach the really deserving poor by quietly seeking for them. The spiritual benefit ensures our own souls, provided our motives are pure, and we are really seeking the good pleasure of Allah” (The Holy Qur’an: Text, Translation and Commentary).
The primary focus of charitable giving should be on the sincerity of the act and avoiding riyah or showing off good deeds for the sake of praise or other gains. While there is no strict prohibition against publicizing charity, it is considered undesirable because it can undermine the true intention of the act.
As such, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former Chair of the Fiqh Council of North America, advised Muslims not to disclose the information of anyone receiving charity unless the charity is being given to a group. The purpose of charity should not be to show a person in difficulty, but rather to show the difficult situation so others are inspired to help.
Likewise, in Islam, someone who receives charity cannot be expected to give something back in return. If the donor asks for personal information, with or without a photo, for publicizing the charitable act, then the act of charity is nullified.
Syed Imtiaz Ahmad is the President of the Islamic Society of North America and Professor Emeritus at Eastern Michigan University.