The Reward for Giving Alms I

Heidi Mahmoud Kheyamy

24 Mar 2018

It is not frequently mentioned that giving charity has as many, or possibly more, benefits for the receiver as it has for the giver. For instance, donating could save a man from being punished in hell-fire in the hereafter. It is not necessary to contribute a great quantity of anything, as the Prophet Muhammad said: “Allah will speak with everyone amongst you without any interpreter between them. He (the man) would see towards his right and would not find anything but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he would see towards the left and would not find anything but (the deeds) which he had done before. He would see in front of him and would find nothing but Fire just before his face. So protect (yourselves) against Fire even if it is with the help of half a date (in alms)." [Sahih Muslim 1016 b, Book 12, Hadith 85]  

Moreover, alms-giving with recurring benefit is a distinguished good deed; as it is considered one of the three deeds that last even after a person's death. Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as saying: “When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).” [Sahih Muslim 1631, Book 25, Hadith 20]

It is desirable to be generous; as Allah rewards the open-handed man. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “There is never a day wherein servants (of God) get up at morn, and are not visited by two angels. One of them says: O Allah, give him more who spends (for the sake of Allah), and the other says: O Allah, bring destruction to one who withholds.” [Sahih Muslim 1010, Book 12, Hadith 73]

Additionally, man is expected to donate that which he or she holds dear, to prove his true faith in Allah. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” [Ali ‘Imran, 92]

Unfortunately, many people feel that money they give to charity will make them less affluent. On the contrary, the money a man donates will never decrease the wealth he or she possesses; and the proof is in the saying of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH): “Sadaqah (alms) does not decrease (a man’s) property and Allah increases the honor of him who forgives and no one will humble himself for Allah’s sake except that Allah raises his status.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 16, Hadith 1530]