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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