Thursday, June 1, 2017

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARITY IN ISLAM

There are 59 Ayahs relating to Charity (Sadaqa) in the Glorious Qur’an. Surah al-Tawbah Ayah 60 says, “Charity funds (Sadaqat) are only for the poor, the destitute, the tax collectors, those whose hearts are inclined (towards Islam), the slaves, those who cannot pay their debts, for the cause of Allah, and for those who have become needy on a journey, is an obligation Allah has decreed. Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise.” Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 271, “It is not bad to give alms in public. However, if you give them privately to the poor, it would be better for you and an expiation for some of your sins. Allah is well-aware of what you do.”
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Four things continue to reward a person even after his death; a man who dies on the true path, a good advice or knowledge given by him to someone who acts on that, an act of charity and a good son who prays for him and asks for forgiveness on his behalf.  Give charity and cure your sick-ones, for verily charity repels accidents and illnesses, and is a source of increase in your life spans and your honorable deeds. Charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord. It prevents seventy types of adversities and seventy doors to evil, prevents undignified death, increases sustenance. Every kind act is considered charity, guarding your tongue is charity, abandoning evil act is a charity. The best form of charity is that which is secretly given to the poor by one who himself has little to offer. The angel of death is told the soul of a person, but if during that time charity is given then the order to remove his soul is cancelled.
The best act of charity is carried out in the month of Ramadan.
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Charity acts as a shield against the fire. It is an effective cure. Attract sustenance by giving charity. If you reduced to poverty, then trade with Allah through giving charity.”
The incidence of charity given by Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Imam Ali (a.s.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) is a supreme example of giving charity for the love of Allah (s.w.t.) and He (s.w.t.) rewarded the “Pure Panjetan” by the revelation of Surah al-Dahr or al-Insan. The relevant Ayahs expressing their utmost love may be seen in the Ayah 8 and 9 which says, “They feed the destitute, orphans and captives for the love of Allah, saying, “We only feed you for the sake of Allah and we do not any reward or thanks from you.”
Any work or effort put to spread Islam is also an act of charity. The love of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is a very act to Allah (s.w.t.). Surah ash-Surah Ayah 23 refers, “(Muhammad), say, “I do not ask for you any payment for my preaching to you except (your) love of (my near) relatives.”
Sayyad Nematullah Jazairi was a student of Allama Majlisi. They agreed to share about the life hereafter to whoever survive the other. After the death of Allama Majlisi, Nematullah Jazairi saw in a dream in a good condition. Allama Majlisi related that as soon as he was buried, he was asked as to what he brought as a good deed. He mentioned various deeds but it was not accepted. He was terrified but remembered an act of charity. He related that once he was walking on the street of Isphahan when he noticed that a poor old man was being harassed by some pedestrians. He summoned courage and faced the crowd and asked about the reason of harassment. He was told that the poor man had a debt. He offered to pay the poor man’s debt. When Allama related this event, a door to heaven was opened for him and so many blessings were showered on him.  
A member of Shaikh Hasoon Taliqani, had gone for pilgrimage to Mashhad. He asked from his family about a resident of Najaf, Muhammad Nassaar, had died on a certain date. The family confirmed his death but inquired as to how he came to know about the death. The pilgrim related that on the day Muhammad Nassaar died, he saw in his dream the funeral procession of the dead man. However, he did not recognize anybody in the procession. He asked in the dream why there was nobody from Najaf was present. He was told that since the deceased used to recite majlis for Imam Hussayn (a.s.), then it was only fit that the companions of Imam Hussayn (a.s.), the martyrs of Karbala be in the funeral ceremony.

               Source: The Glorious Qur’an, The Beauty of Charity by Ahmed Ali Al-Kuwaiti,
                  al-islam.org: Excerpts from the Holy Qur’an, an eternal guidance to to mankind

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