The Virtue of Almsgiving: Charity Does Not Reduce Sustenance

Charity is one of the most highly recommended deeds in Islam. Many people think that giving alms reduces their wealth, but in fact, it opens the door to greater sustenance. In this article, we will explore the Quranic and hadith arguments that confirm that sadaqah does not reduce wealth, but rather the opposite. 

Quranic Proofs

A. Allah ﷻ Says in the Qur’an:  

مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

“Whoever lends to Allah a good loan (spends his wealth in the cause of Allah), Allah will multiply his repayment by a large double. And Allah narrows and widens (sustenance) and to Him are you returned.” (QS Al-Baqarah: 245)  

This verse confirms that when we give alms, Allah will reward us with double. Charity is not a drain on wealth, but rather an investment that will result in blessings. 

B. Allah ﷻ Says in the Qur’an: 

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِئَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is like that of a grain of seed that grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred seeds. Allah multiplies the reward for whom He wills. And Allah is extensive (in His bounty) and all-knowing.” (QS. Al Baqarah: 261) 

Here Allah ﷻ states that those who give charity in His way will be rewarded 700 times over, such is the magnitude of the rewards of charity in this world and in the Hereafter. 

C. Allah ﷻ Says in the Qur’an:  

وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

“And whatever you give in charity, Allah will compensate you, and He is the best Provider.” (QS. Saba’: 39) 

Here Allah ﷻ states that the person who gives charity will be reimbursed, so we should not be afraid of losing our sustenance when giving charity. 

D. Allah ﷻ Says in the Qur’an:

إِنَّ الْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَالْمُصَّدِّقَاتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ 

Verily, those who give in charity, both men and women, and lend to Allah with a good loan, will have their reward multiplied for them, and for them a great reward.” (QS. Al-Hadid: 18). 

In this verse, Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, refers to those who give charity in His cause as if they were lenders, and Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the best of lenders. 

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught about the importance of charity. The following are some of the evidence for this 

a. In a Hadith Narrated by Abu Hurairah, The Prophet ﷺ Said: 

مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ 

Charity does not diminish wealth (HR Muslim) 

From this hadith, we can understand that charity does not reduce the wealth of a servant who does it. 

B. In a hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷻ said: 

ما مِن يَومٍ يُصْبِحُ العِبادُ فِيهِ، إلَّا مَلَكانِ يَنْزِلانِ، فيَقولُ أحَدُهُما: اللَّهُمَّ أعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا، ويقولُ الآخَرُ: اللَّهُمَّ أعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا 

“There is no day when a servant passes his morning except that two angels will descend upon him, and one of them will say: O Allah, provide a substitute for him who spends his wealth.  The other one will say: O Allah, give destruction to the one who withholds his wealth.” (HR Al-Qurthubi) 

In this hadith, it is explained that the angels who descend in the morning pray for people who give alms with goodness. 

Charity or Sadaqah is an act of worship that is very much loved by Allah ﷻ, even though Allah ﷻ always promises those who give alms in His way with multiple rewards and guaranteed not to decrease their sustenance. May we always be given taufiq and guidance to give charity in His way. 

Wallahu a’lam 

References

Exit mobile version