In one of our previous posts we talked of how to add to Barakah during the month of Ramadan and listed a number of actions that aids us in getting Barakah and multiplied blessings from Allah. The first action after keeping fast (Saum) and offering prayers and Tarawih was giving out charity more than we have do in other months of the years. We will now dwell more on to it in this post.
Allah encourages Muslims to give out charity profusely for it is a goodly loan to Allah for which the rewards are in abundance. Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward? [Quran 57:11]
Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas is quoted to have said that our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to be in the forefronts to help the poor and needy and dishing out whatever he had to help them. He ﷺ also used to free some of the prisoners during the month of Ramdan as an act of charity.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrates, saying, “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibril would come to him every night and he would study the Qur’an with him. Truly, when Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would meet Gabriel, he would be more generous than a fleeting wind.” [Agreed Upon]
Although Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was otherwise very kind hearted and helpful, but during the month of Ramadan his kindness to the poor would increase manifold. For releasing prisoners imprisoned on petty cases used to get his special attention. Sometimes He ﷺ would pay their debts for their release. He ﷺ would set prisoners on parole so that they could go home and spend the month of Ramdan with their families. The Prophet ﷺ is said to have said that even one piece of date is charity for someone who hasn't eaten for days. And following Him ﷺ, his companions used to help the poor to their utmost.
Dishing out charity and helping the poor keeps calamity away and ensures our needs will always be met: “Those who spend in charity will be richly rewarded” (Quran 57:10). Indeed, wealth does not decrease by giving in charity, but rather, grows and is purified, increasing also the individual's barakah (blessings and spiritual strength)
The Prophet Muhammad said: “The best charity is giving water to drink.” We should thus donate charity for installation of hand pumps in areas where regular water supply is not available, thus helping the poor and giving them access to clean drinking water. With every drop of clean water drank, blessings will come your way, Insha'Allah.
We should follow the life and sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ and must help the poor the year round, but more so in the month of Ramdan for not only it add to Barakah, but also allows the poor to fulfill their daily needs during the month of Ramadan.
Some of the forms of charity in Ramdan are Fidya for missing fasts in Ramadan and Kaffarah, a penalty fee are also paid during the month by observant Muslims. It is said that the rewards of giving charity during Ramadan are multiplied by 70 and the reward for any righteous act during Laylatul Qadr is equivalent to having performed the same act every day for over 83 years!
You may read more about the importance of charity as mentioned in many verses of Qur'an from our page: Selected verses from Qur'an under the heading Charity.
You may like to listen to a short lecture by eminent Muslim scholar Dr Waheeduddin Ahmed in which he emphasizes the importance of intention of giving charity for intention has to be very pure - not for personal gains or show off but the earnest desire to help others as directed by Allah:
May Allah help us to understand the simple and most practical religion of all - Islam and allow us to take advantage of the month of Ramadan and concessions given to us in fasting when traveling or being sick. Aameen.May Allah show us the right path so that we do not go astray due to what man has interpreted verses of religious scriptures to suit their own religions and faith. Aameen.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook
Follow @IslamUltimate
Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment