Mosque Foundation

There are many windows of opportunity in this life, especially placed by Allah ﷻ, to purify our souls and gain forgiveness for our sins. These opportunities are open to every believing individual, young and old, poor and wealthy, ill and healthy, educated and illiterate. It matters not. Some take advantage of these windows, seeking them with every turn and twist in worldly life, both in happiness and calamity.

For these people called al-Mossaddiqeen, Allah has created a special level in the heavens for those who give Sadaqah consistently. It is the quality for which they are most recognized and is what will witness for them on the Day when nothing can attest for them but their deeds.

This group of people is the best at finding the best bargains and offers, constantly searching and consumed with the Best Deal—The deal granted by He Who created us and assigned provisions for us. Allah ﷻ says, “Who will loan Allah a lofty loan which Allah will double unto their credit and multiply many times?” (Quran 2:245). The Mossaddiqeen grasped this deal because they recognized it is like no other that can be granted in this worldly life. My brothers and sisters, Allah has blessed us with provisions, and He asks that we give from what He has presented us so that He may provide us with more; how generous is Our Creator?

So even when it is challenging to give Sadaqah, the Mossaddiqeen remember that it does not decrease wealth. The Prophet ﷺ stated, “Charity does not decrease wealth, and the servant who forgives, Allah makes him more respected; and the one who shows humility, Allah elevates him in the eyes of the people” (Muslim).

For this reason, the Mosque Foundation community’s perception of Sadaqah has gained great regard and esteem from other communities. Your sincere commitment to give from your wealth and possessions protects your families and will continue to bi’thinillah. To spend in Allah’s cause by propagating His religion is a charity with high merit and great reward. The one who spends in the cause of Allah will continue to be rewarded even after death. You provide a place to pray, a site to learn about religion, seek counsel, and to support the needy.

We must consider several requirements to ensure that our Sadaqah is accepted. First of all, Sadaqah must be given from money that is earned lawfully. Allah says, “Oh you who believe, spend from what you (lawfully) earned” (Quran 2: 267).

Second, when giving Sadaqah, the believer must purify their intention and make their purpose to gain Allah’s pleasure and reward. The Prophet ﷺ said, “All deeds are based on intention, and everyone will be rewarded according to what he intended” (Bukhari).

Third, the believer should make haste in giving Sadaqah and should only delay it with a valid reason. It is also much better for Muslims to give Sadaqah when there is a need than to wait until death comes and it is too late. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was once asked about the best of all charities, to which he replied, “The best charity is what you give during your life while you are in need of it.”

Fourth, it is more befitting for a Muslim to give Sadaqah from their best possessions, which you love most. Allah says, “By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely as a charity) from that which you love; and whatever you spend Allah knows it well” (Quran 3: 92).

However, this does not mean that one should lessen the value of their Sadaqah if they only have little to give. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said to his companions, “One Dirham could be better in reward than one hundred thousand Dirhams.” A man asked, “And how is that, oh Messenger of Allah?” He ﷺ replied, “A wealthy person takes one hundred thousand Dirhams, which is one part of their wealth, and gives it as a charity, while a poor person who only has two Dirhams pays one of them as a charity.”

By Sh. Jamal Said

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