AlMujtaba Islamic Articles > Islamic Practical Laws
 

AL-SADAQAH (ALMS) – Part One

 

Muhammad Ibn ‘Ajlaan has reported that:

 

I was in the company of Imam Ja’ffar al-Sadiq (a.s.) when a man from a distant city arrived and greeted the gathering.

 

“How were your brothers when you took leave of them?” The Imam (a.s.) asked him.

 

The man spoke well of them and praised them a great deal. The Imam (a.s.) then asked,

 

“Do the rich visit the indigent when they fall ill?”

 

The man said that they seldom did. The Imam (a.s.) then carried on and asked,

 

“Do the rich seek to know the condition of those who are poor?”

 

“Rarely”, answered the man.

 

“Do the affluent ones help out the poor and the needy?” asked the Imam (a.s.) again.

 

The man said, “You speak of attributes which are rare amongst our people”.

 

Thereupon the Imam (a.s.) said, “How then do these people consider themselves to be (our) Shia’h (when there exists no bond of brotherhood between the affluent and the impoverished ones?”   (Al-Kaafi)

 

 

One of the things which is highly recommended in Islam, in addition to obligatory poor tax is al-Sadaqah which means ‘to give alms to the poor and the needy’.

 

Praising the people who are Muttaqeen (those who are God wary), Allah (SWT) says:

“And there was a share in their wealth for the beggar and the deprived”.  (51:19)

 

 

Elsewhere, He (SWT) has also included people who are considerate of the poor and help them with their wealth among the doers of good who shall be handsomely recompensed in the Hereafter.

 

“…. And in whose wealth there is a known right for the beggar and the deprived…” (70:24)

 

 

                                              To be continued……….

 

 

Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff

mulla@almahdi.org.uk


Source: http://www.almahdi.org.uk