Sadaqah is the act of voluntary charity, giving without a strict requirement to help those who are less fortunate, who do not have the means to help themselves or who are struggling with poverty or the negative effects of conflict.
Giving Sadaqah is considered an altruistic deed and is an excellent way to show your faith and devotion to Allah (SWT), although you should only give within your means. Giving goods or resources is not the only way Sadaqah is recognised, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
To smile in the company of your brother is charity. To command to do good deeds and to prevent others from doing evil is charity. To guide a person to a place where he cannot get astray is charity. To remove troublesome things like thorns and bones from the road is charity. Pouring water from your jug into your brother's jug is charity. To guide a person with a defective vision is charity for you.
Sadaqah is not giving solely for reward but is the act of giving or helping for good and for the respect of Allah (SWT). There is no set time when Sadaqah must be paid, and unlike Zakat, it is not obligatory, and you do not need to offer a regular donation.
Sadaqah is given in many different ways, from offering simple kindness to a brother or sister to investing in an important structure like a school, orphanage or water pump that could continue to support people for many more years to come.
There are different forms of Sadaqah depending on the length and purpose of the contribution. These are:
Any type of asset that is donated, purchased or inherited in order to provide for continuous charity is known as Waqf.
Unlike Zakat, Sadaqah can be received by anyone in need, and there are no restrictions on donating Sadaqah at any time during the year or the individual's lifetime.
When making your Sadaqah contribution, you should never brag or boast about your giving. Your Sadaqah donation must be made privately between you, the recipient and Allah (SWT), who will return your generosity with forgiveness, love and respect. When you have decided to give your Sadaqah, you should not count what you give, choosing to give as much assistance as possible, and you must not delay once your Sadaqah has been decided.
It’s also a necessity for Sadaqah to only be given from a halal or lawful source.
If you choose to donate Sadaqah in the name of Allah (SWT) with UK Islamic Mission, our team will be more than happy to distribute your donation to those you would like to assist. Providing warm meals, clean water, and life-sustaining shelters, or providing less fortunate individuals with opportunities they would otherwise go without.
Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth, and the servant who forgives, Allah adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).
Muslim Vol. 4, Hadith 6264
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