Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَأَنْفِقُوا مِنْ تَارَزَ قُنَكُم مِّنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِي أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَرْتَنِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٌ فَاصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّلِحِينَ
“And spend [in charity] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, ‘My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.'”
— Surah Al-Munafiqun: 10
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“When death approaches a person who had the means to pay Zakat but did not pay it, he will desire to return to the world. Why? Just to fulfill his charities! However, no one’s time of death will ever be delayed.”
— Durr al-Manthur
The reason for the shortcomings in accepting and acting upon Allah’s commands is being deeply immersed in wealth and property. However, one thing is certain and final: that is death.
No one knows when death will arrive. At that moment, one can do nothing but feel regret, and it will be impossible to give charity.
Therefore, those upon whom Zakat is obligatory must not delay it. There is no compulsion that Zakat must be given only in the month of Ramadan. We do not know if our lives will last until then. Hence, Zakat must be fulfilled immediately without any delay.
Delaying the payment of Zakat carries the risk of bringing illness upon oneself or danger upon one’s wealth.
Imam Ghazali (Rah) has explained that if someone does not fulfill Zakat immediately and delays it, it is considered a separate sin.
One must understand that Zakat and Sadaqah are completely different.
Some wealthy people occasionally give small charities to someone and think that their Zakat has been fulfilled. That is not the case; they must calculate their wealth and property, approach Islamic scholars (Alims) to learn the rulings of Zakat, and fulfill it accordingly.
Sadaqah is a voluntary (supererogatory) charity. Performing Sadaqah while failing to pay Zakat is like someone offering Nafl (voluntary) prayers while neglecting the Fard (obligatory) prayers.
Wherever Allah commands prayer (Salah) in the Qur’an, He mentions Zakat alongside it. We can find the phrase “Wa aqeemus-salah, wa aatuz-zakah” (Establish prayer and give Zakat) in numerous places in the Qur’an.
One must remember that just as prayer is vital for a Mu’min (believer), Zakat is also an extremely important obligatory duty.
Ameerul Mu’minin Abu Bakr (RA) says:
“Allah the Almighty has not separated prayer and Zakat. Therefore, fear Allah regarding the fulfillment of Zakat.”
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا اشْهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُم بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا يَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيمَةِ
“And let not those who greedily withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty think that it is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection.”
— Surah Ali ‘Imran: 180
It is mentioned in the Hadith that if any person possesses gold or silver and does not fulfill its obligatory Zakat, then on the Day of Resurrection, that gold and silver will be heated in the fire of Hell.
Then, with them, the person’s flanks, forehead, and back will be branded. This will be repeated over and over again until judgment is concluded among mankind on the Day of Resurrection, after which the person will see his path (to his destination).
The companion Abdullah ibn Samit (RA) narrates:
“Once, I was in the company of the companion Abu Dharr (RA). His allowance arrived from the Bayt al-Mal (Public Treasury). He had a slave girl who used it to buy necessary items. Even after that, seven Dirhams were left over. Immediately, Abu Dharr said, ‘Go and change this into smaller coins so we can distribute it to the poor.’
To this, I said, ‘Keep it with you. Some important need may arise, or some guest might arrive.’
Abu Dharr replied, ‘My beloved friend, the noble Prophet (ﷺ), told me something definitive. It is: “Any gold or silver that is locked up and not spent in the way of Allah will become coals of fire for its owner.”‘”
— Al-Targhib
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“O son of Adam! It is better for you to give away your surplus wealth as charity. If you withhold it and hoard it, it will be bad for you. However, there is no blame in keeping what is sufficient for your basic needs.”
— Mishkat
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَا ذَا يُنْفِقُونَ هُ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ
“They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, ‘The excess [beyond needs].'”
— Surah Al-Baqarah: 219
During the final moments of the Prophet (ﷺ), he gave seven gold coins to his wife Aisha (RA) and asked her to deliver them to his companion Ali (RA).
Right after saying this, the Prophet (ﷺ) fainted. Because of this, Aisha (RA) became completely preoccupied with attending to him. After a short while, when he regained consciousness, he reminded her about it again. Then he fainted once more.
Seeing the Prophet (ﷺ) repeatedly reminding her despite fainting frequently, Aisha (RA) sent those gold coins through someone to Hazrat Ali (RA). Hazrat Ali (RA) immediately distributed them among the poor. This event took place during the daytime.
That evening—which means the night preceding Monday—was the Prophet’s (ﷺ) last night. The Prophet’s (ﷺ) health was deteriorating. The time of departure was drawing near.
On that night, there was no oil even to light a lamp in Aisha’s (RA) house. Therefore, Aisha (RA) sent someone to the neighbor’s house to borrow a little oil to light the lamp. This was the level of charitable mindset the Prophet (ﷺ) maintained even in such a state, which we must reflect upon.
A companion asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which charity is best in reward?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“That you give charity while you are healthy and inclined to be avaricious, fearing poverty and hoping to become rich.”
It is mentioned in a Hadith:
“Treat your sick through Sadaqah. For indeed, Sadaqah wards off disgrace and illnesses, increases good deeds, and prolongs life. Giving Sadaqah prevents seventy types of afflictions.”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (Rah) states:
“Sadaqah protects a person from the whisperings of Shaytan at the time of death. It prevents one from uttering words of ingratitude due to the severity of sickness or the agonies of death (Sakarat). Furthermore, it averts sudden death.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“I swear by Allah regarding three things, so preserve them well in your minds. First, no wealth is ever decreased by giving Sadaqah. Second, if a person is subjected to injustice and bears it with patience, Allah the Almighty increases his honor because of his patience. Third, whoever opens the door of begging from others, Allah opens the door of poverty upon him.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Know the poor well and do good and be kind to them, for they possess great wealth.” Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What is that wealth?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“On the Day of Judgment, it will be said to the poor person, ‘Look at whoever fed you even a morsel of food, gave you a drink of water, or clothed you, then take him by his hand and lead him into Paradise!'”
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَالَّذِينَ يَكْذِرُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَبَشِّرُهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
“And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah – give them tidings of a painful punishment.”
— Surah At-Tawbah: 34
Whatever Allah has made obligatory upon the wealthy from their wealth is entirely sufficient for the poor.
If the poor suffer from a lack of food and clothing, it is only because the wealthy among them do not fully discharge their obligatory duties.
Listen carefully! Allah the Almighty will question those wealthy individuals strictly and will punish them severely, as warned by the Prophet (ﷺ).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Allah never fails to afflict a nation with famine if they refuse to pay Zakat.”
— Al-Tabarani
In this modern era, events like being swallowed by the earth, distortion of faces, earthquakes, sudden deaths, failure of rain, famine, terror gripping hearts, new types of diseases, enemies overpowering us, floods, and prayers of even righteous people going unanswered—all of these are afflictions caused by human sins and the failure to fulfill obligatory duties.
The companion Ibn Umar (RA) narrates: Once, the Prophet (ﷺ) turned to the people and said:
“O Muhajireen! There are five things; I seek refuge with Allah lest you should fall into them. If you get involved in them, you will face great danger:
- Fahišah (immorality/adultery) never prevails among a people such that they commit it openly, but outbreaks of pestilence and new diseases will spread among them which were unknown to their ancestors.
- They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be afflicted by famine, severe livelihood constraints, and the tyranny of their rulers.
- They do not withhold the Zakat of their wealth but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, it would never rain at all.
- They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies from other nations to overpower them and take away some of what is in their hands.
- Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek the good in what Allah has revealed, Allah will cause internal warfare and conflict to break out among them.”
Subhanallah! Exactly as the Prophet (ﷺ) warned, everything is happening in this day and age. The increased greed for material wealth among modern people has led them astray from Islam.
Charitable acts like loving one another, doing favors, helping the helpless, and assisting the poor are constantly diminishing. Nowadays, whatever help is rendered, ruthless acts of taking something in return under the guise of “commission” or “gifts” take place.
Because of this, even though the wealthy possess riches, they live in poverty due to the absence of Barakah (blessing). On the other hand, the poor try to live like the wealthy out of arrogance.
An act of charity does not mean helping only by giving money. Refraining from causing harm to others is also charity! Avoiding hurting someone’s feelings is also charity!
Furthermore, removing harmful objects from the path, helping the helpless, speaking comforting words to those in distress, providing medical assistance, establishing water bodies, and planting shade-giving trees—all of these are charitable acts.
Reminding people of the favors done to them and expecting returns after helping them are traits that go against Islam. Islamic laws are not meant only for outward actions like prayer and Hajj; they also teach manners related to the heart and character. Keeping the help rendered to others hidden is the true beauty of charity.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاليْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ
“Those who spend their wealth [in Allah ‘s way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly – they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah: 274
Charities must be spent solely to attain the pleasure of Allah. If someone does it so that others may praise him, then instead of receiving rewards, he will face severe punishment in the Hereafter.
This is because when a good deed is done for Riya (showing off/ostentation), it falls into the category of minor Shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Therefore, wealth must be spent with Ikhlas (purity of intention).
Moreover, helping someone and then bragging about it to others will become a cause for invoking Allah’s anger. The material aspect of charity belongs to the poor, but its Niyyah (intention) must be directed toward Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Every single morning, two angels descend. One of them says: ‘O Allah! Give status/abundance to the one who spends in charity.’ The other says: ‘O Allah! Bring destruction/loss upon the one who withholds.'”
— Mishkat
Nothing averts the afflictions written in destiny except charity and supplication (Dua). Therefore, fulfill it beautifully.
Let us give charity! Let us gain rewards from Allah!!
