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AL-SADAQAH (ALMS) – Part Four

 

THE BEST ALMS:

 

In traditions, there are certain Alms, which have been regarded as the best and superior in the sight of Allah (SWT). Some of them are as follows:

 

Unconditional Sadaqah:

 

The Holy Prophet (saww) was once asked, “Which type of Sadaqah is the best?” He (saww) replied, “That Sadaqah which you give whilst you are still healthy, (by nature) tight-fisted (possessive over wealth), hoping to remain alive (forever) and you fear poverty.” (Bihar al-Anwaar)

 

In other words, the best Sadaqah is that which one gives at a time when one is still healthy and possessive over one’s wealth due to the hope of living forever in this world and averting poverty.

 

Many of us are concerned about our future in this worldly life. It is for this reason that we work hard and accumulate wealth, which becomes difficult to part with. In addition, some of us also think that Sadaqah should only be given when we feel necessary such as to safeguard from illnesses and calamities.

 

Whilst it is true that Sadaqah protects us from all such things, the best Sadaqah is that, which is given purely to earn the pleasure of Allah (SWT), and its advantages will automatically follow.

 

 

Sadaqah Spent on Poor Relatives:

 

Many of us consider spending of Sadaqah on relatives as wrong and believe that such an act is disgraceful. Contrary to our belief and thinking, Islam encourages us to do the same.

 

It is reported from Imam ‘Ali bin al-Husayn (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (saww) has said, “Begin your charity at home. By this I mean that you spend on your father, on your mother, on your sister and on your brother. Thereafter, follow the sequence of those who are nearer, and then nearer.”

                                                                 (Bihar al-Anwaar)

He (saww) has also said, “If the near ones are needy then the Sadaqah can not be given to anyone else.” (Bihar al-Anwaar)

 

He (saww) has also said, “The best Sadaqah is the one which you spend on your sister, or on your daughter who has been returned to you (divorced), and she has no one save you who can support her.” (Bihar al-Anwaar)

 

There are two advantages of giving Sadaqah to one’s poor relatives:

 

Firstly, it will increase in the weight of good deeds when the deeds shall be put on the weighing scale in the Hereafter. Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) has said, “The first thing that shall be put in the weighing scale of a servant (on the day of Judgement) will be his charity on his relatives.” (Bihar al-Anwaar)

 

And secondly, the rewards of whatever one spends on his poor relatives shall be doubled. The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, “Verily the reward of every Sadaqah that is spent on poor relatives shall be doubled.” (Kanzul-‘Ummaal)

 

 

                                           To be continued………………………….

 

 

Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff

mulla@almahdi.org.uk


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