All kinds of charity and goodness that one voluntarily does just for the sake of Allah are called sadaqah (charity). There is no limit for the amount or designated time for charity. People can give charity whenever they want and whatever amount they wish. Moreover, it is not necessary to be rich to give charity. For this reason, the term charity (sadaqah) is more comprehensive than almsgiving (zakat).
Allah advises people to let others benefit from the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them. By sharing the means given by Allah with others, one shows one's gratitude to Allah as well. Moreover, Allah states, ِ" Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and (those who) lend unto Allah a goodly loan, it will be doubled for them, and they will have a noble reward." and informs us that He will replace such good deeds by multiple rewards. [Hadid, 57: 18]
The religion of Islam advises us to protect the poor and the needy. It encourages its followers to help others and share the means they have with others. Allah commands in the Qur'an on this issue: "…For those who have believed among you and spent (for the sake of Allah), there will be a great reward." [Hadid, 57: 7]
Covering the expenses of one's relatives is considered as charity. This point is mentioned in the following verse: "Show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, close neighbors, distant neighbors, close friends, the traveler, and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess." [Nisa, 4: 36]
Our religion gives great importance to social solidarity and unity. The Prophet confirmed the importance of solidarity as follows: "…Whoever helps and fulfills the needs of his Muslim brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts on the Day of Resurrection…" [Bukhari, Mazalim, 5; Muslim, Birr, 58]
This glad tidings of the Prophet has led Muslims to social solidarity. Then, that financial assistance became institutionalized in time. Our ancestors strived to fulfill this religious command. They opened soup kitchens to feed the poor, hospitals (dar al-shifa) to treat the sick, nursing homes (dar al-ajaza) to protect the old. Likewise, they established endowments that provided multipurpose service such as those that helped students, arranged dowry payments for orphans, contributed to scientific research, and even provided food for animals in extreme weather conditions.
A Muslim should think about the needy and help them. For instance, Madinan Muslims accepted and treated Meccan immigrants as their own siblings and shared their food and drink with them.
The religion of Islam commands solidarity and unity in society, and charity is one of the ways to achieve this. Charity has a wide scope. As financial support is considered a type of charity, establishing charitable organizations for the benefit of people and behaving in a friendly manner toward people also are considered charity.
Establishing or contributing to the establishment of charitable foundations for the benefit of the public, such as mosques, schools, dorms, and hospitals are types of charity. This type of charity that is done for public welfare is called continuous charity (sadaqah al-jariyyah), in other words, its spiritual rewards continue even after death. The Prophet states on this issue: "When a man dies, his acts come to an end except for three: sadaqah al-jariyyah (continuous charity), knowledge from which people benefit, and a pious child who prays for him." [Muslim, Wasiyya, 14]
Charity is not only carried out by financial means. Sharing one's knowledge and experiences with other people is also charity. Because meeting the financial, nutritional and medical needs of the poor is charity, all good and beneficial actions are also charity. Visiting a sick or old person, greeting a person one meets with a smile, and speaking to people kindly are all charity. In relation to this issue, the Prophet said, "Meeting your brother with a cheerful countenance is also charity."33 Moreover, it is also charity to share people's sorrow and to comfort them. [3 Muslim, Birr, 144]
Sadaqah al-fitr is a type of almsgiving that should be paid in the month of Ramadan before the festival prayer. This charity is colloquially known as zakat al-fitr or fitra. Every rich Muslim is obliged to pay fitra. Yet, because it is not a big amount of money, those who are not rich also can pay it. For this reason, fitra accustoms people to generosity.
Sadaqah al-fitr is paid for every family member. A family elder can pay the fitra for each and every one of the members of their family. Its amount alters depending on the economical level and financial conditions of the person. The amount of sadaqah al-fitr is equal to that person's daily expenses in food. Sadaqah al-fitr can be given to the recipients of almsgiving.
People are social beings by their nature. They cannot live alone and have to continue their lives in society. This fact makes them responsible and gives them some duties.
In order to live a peaceful life, it is necessary to create justice, balance, and peace in society. The religion of Islam has established several principles to actualize this goal. For example, almsgiving and charity are from the principles that procure social solidarity and unity
Those who give zakat and charity fulfill their duty of servitude toward Allah. Thus, they obtain the pleasure and gratification of Allah. Those who give a part of their property for the sake of Allah receive the reward of what they do from Allah. This is expressed in verse 261 of Surah al-Baqarah as follows: "The example of those who spend their wealth for Allah's cause is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Embracing and All-Knowing."
Almsgiving and charity purify people from bad attributes such as stinginess, jealousy and selfishness. Almsgiving and charity help them to become accustomed to generosity. The Prophet speaks about generous people as follows: "Generosity is close to Allah, close to paradise, close to people, but far from hell…" [Tirmidhi, Birr wa Sila, 40]
Moreover, almsgiving and charity purify the property of the rich, because the poor and needy have a right over the property of rich. Regarding this issue, Allah commands the following: "Take from their wealth charity (almsgiving) by which you purify and cleanse them…" [Tawbah, 9:103]
Almsgiving and charity increase the compassion and mercy of the rich. By means of charity, poor people begin to love and respect rich people and not feel jealousy over their property and possessions. The poor do not want to be permanently the receiving hand. Rather, they want to improve their financial situation and become the giving hand. Thus, it creates a social balance in society and strengthens feelings of unity, solidarity and brotherhood.
The money that the poor people receive from zakat increases the quality of labor. With increased purchasing power, the marketplace booms. Moreover, Allah protects and blesses the property of those who pay their zakat and charity. [Surah al-Fatir, 35: 29-30] Allah commands in a verse, "Allah gives increase for deeds of charity. For He does not love any ungrateful sinner." [Baqarah, 2: 276]
As long as people who are aware of their responsibilities fulfill their duties of justice, honesty, generosity, benevolence, righteousness and sensibility, such feelings will continue to exist in society. Peace and happiness shall prevail.
