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19-03-2024 |10 Ramaḍān 1445 AH

Charity

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The earth on the Day of Resurrection will be scorching, except for the shadow of a believer, for verily his charity will serve him as shade.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أرضُ القِيامَةِ نارٌ، ما خَلا ظِلَّ المؤمِنِ فإنَّ صَدَقَتَهُ تُظِلُّهُ.

Reference: ’[al-Kafi, v. 3, p. 4, no. 6]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Everyone will only have recourse to the shade provided by charity they had given until their affairs are judged [by Allah].’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): كُلُّ امرِئٍ في ظِلِّ صَدَقَتِهِ حتّي يُقضي بَينَ الناسِ.

Reference: [Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16068]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Verily charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لتُطفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ.

Reference: [Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16114]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Charity acts as a shield against the fire.’

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الصَّدقَةُ جُنَّةٌ مِن النارِ .

Reference: [Wasa’il al-Shi’ah, v. 6, p. 258, no. 17 ]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘Verily Allah, Blessed and most High, says, ‘In My stead, I have entrusted every single thing to the one who grasps it, except for charity, for verily I immediately seize that up in My Hand.

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّ اللّه‏َ تبارَكَ وتعالي يقولُ: ما مِن شَيءٍ إلّا وقد وَكَّلتُ مَن يَقبِضُهُ غَيرِي، إلّا الصَّدَقةَ؛ فإنّي أتَلَقَّفُها بِيَدِي تَلَقُّـفا.

Reference: ’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 134, no. 68]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Charity prevents seventy different types of adversities, the simplest of them being elephantiasis and leprosy.

ـ رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الصَّدَقَةُ تَمنَعُ سَبعينَ نَوعاً مِن أنواعِ البَلاءِ، أهوَنُها الجُذامُ والبَرَصُ.

Reference: ’[Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 15982]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Charity blocks seventy doorways to evil.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الصَّدَقةُ تَسُدُّ سَبعِينَ باباً مِن الشَّرِّ.

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 132, no. 64]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Charity prevents an undignified death.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الصَّدقَةُ تَمنَعُ مِيتَةَ السُّوءِ.

Reference: [al-Kafi, v. 4, p. 2, no. 1]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Give charity, and cure your sick ones through the giving of charity, for verily charity repels accidents and illnesses, and is a source of increase in your life spans and your good deeds.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): تَصَدَّقُوا وداوُوا مَرضاكُم بالصَّدَقَةِ؛ فإنَّ الصَّدَقةَ تَدفَعُ عنِ الأعراضِ والأمراضِ، وهِيَ زيادَةٌ في أعمارِكُم وحَسَناتِكُم .

Reference: ’[Kanz al-’Ummal, 16113]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Charity is an effective cure.

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الصَّدَقةُ دَواءٌ مُنجِحٌ .

Reference: ’[Nahjul Balaghah, Saying 7]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Increase your charity and you will be given [increased] sustenance.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ) :أكثِرُوا مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ تُرزَقُوا .

Reference: [A’alam al-Din, p. 333]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Attract sustenance by giving charity.’

الإمامُ‏ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): اِستَنزِلُوا الرِّزقَ بِالصَّدَقةِ.

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 68, no. 13]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘If you are reduced to poverty, then trade with Allah through giving in charity.’

الإمامُ‏ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إذا أملَقتُم فَتاجِرُوا اللّه‏َ بِالصَّدَقةِ .

Reference: [Nahjul Balaghah, Saying 258]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘I am sometimes reduced to poverty, so I trade with Allah through charity.

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّي لاَُملِقُ أحياناً، فَاُتاجِرُ اللّه‏َ بِالصَّدَقةِ.

Reference: ’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 206, no. 54]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘Giving in charity helps settle debts and leaves behind blessings.’[Ibid. v. 96, p. 134, no. 68]

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الصَّدَقةُ تَقضِي الدَّينَ وتُخلِفُ بِالبَرَكَةِ.

Reference: ’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 134, no. 68]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Verily every single Muslim is to give in charity every single day.’ When asked who would be capable of such a thing, he replied, ‘Your removal of an obstacle from the road is a charitable act; your guiding someone the way is a charitable act; your visiting the sick is a charitable act; your enjoinment of good to others is a charitable act; your forbidding others from wrongdoing is a charitable act, and your returning the greeting of peace is a charitable act.’[Ibid. v. 75, p. 50, no. 4]

رُويَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ) أنَّه قالَ: إنَّ علي كُلِّ مُسلمٍ في كلِّ يَومٍ صَدَقةً، قيلَ: مَن يُطِيقُ ذلكَ؟ قالَ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إماطَتُكَ الأذي عنِ الطَّريقِ صَدَقةٌ، وإرشادُكَ الرَّجُلَ إلي الطَّريقِ صَدَقةٌ، وعِيادَتُكَ المَريضَ صَدَقةٌ، وأمرُكَ بالمَعروفِ صَدَقةٌ، ونَهيُكَ عنِ المُنكَرِ صَدَقةٌ، ورَدُّكَ السَّلامَ صَدَقَةٌ.

Reference: ’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75, p. 50, no. 4]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Guard your tongue, for verily this is a charitable act that you perform for your own sake.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أمسِكْ لِسانَكَ؛ فإنّها صَدَقةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بها علي نَفسِكَ .

Reference: ’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 114, no. 7]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Abandoning evil [acts] is an act of charity.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): تَركُ الشَّرِّ صَدَقةٌ .

Reference: ’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 160, no. 168]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The best of people is he who gives away his hard-earned money [in charity].’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أفضَلُ الناسِ رَجُلٌ يُعطِي جُهدَهُ.

Reference: [Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16084]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The best form of charity is that which is secretly given to the poor by one who himself has little to offer.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ سِرٌّ إلي فَقيرٍ وجُهدٌ مِن مُقِلٍّ.

Reference: [Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16250]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The best form of charity is charity with one’s tongue through which lives are spared, adversities repelled, and benefits attracted towards one’s Muslim brother.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنَّ أفضَلَ الصَّدَقةِ صَدَقةُ اللِّسانِ، تَحقُنُ بهِ الدِّماءَ، وتَدفَعُ بهِ الكَريهَةَ، وتَجُرُّ المَنفَعةَ إلي أخيكَ المُسلِمِ.

Reference: [Qasas al-Anbiya’, p. 188, no. 235]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The best form of charity is for the Muslim to gain knowledge and then teach it to his fellow Muslim brother.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ أن يَتَعَلَّمَ المَرءُ المُسلمُ عِلماً ثُمّ يُعَلِّمَهُ أخاهُ المُسلِمَ.

Reference: ’[Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16357]

Description: The Prophet (S) when asked about the best act of charity, replied, ‘[It is the act of charity] towards a kin against whom one harbours secret enmity.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ) ـ لَمّا سُئلَ عن أفضَلِ الصَّدَقةِ ـ: علي ذِي الرَّحِمِ الكاشِحِ .

Reference: [Thawab al-A’amal, p. 171, no. 18]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The best form of charity is to shade someone under one’s tent for the sake of Allah.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ ظِلُّ فُسطاطٍ في سَبيلِ اللّه‏ِ عَزَّوجلَّ .

Reference: ’[Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16362]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The best act of charity is carried out in the month of Ramadhan.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ في رَمَضانَ .

Reference: ’[Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16249]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘The best form of charity is to cool down someone’s internal heat [by quenching their thirst].’

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ إبرادُ الكَبِدِ الحَرّي .

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 172, no. 8]

Description: Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) said, ‘Your assistance of the weak is one of the best forms of charity.

الإمامُ الكاظمُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): عَونُكَ لِلضَّعيفِ مِن أفضَلِ الصَّدَقةِ .

Reference: ’[Tuhaf al-’Uqul, p. 414]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Among the best means by which those who seek nearness to Allah may have recourse to His nearness, Blessed and most High, are: faith in Him and in His messenger …, giving charity secretly for verily it atones for one’s misdeeds, and giving charity openly for verily it protects against an undignified death.

لإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ أفضَلَ ما تَوَسَّلَ بهِ المُتَوَسِّلُونَ إلي اللّه‏ِ سبحانَهُ وتعالي، الإيمانُ بهِ وبرسولِهِ ... وصَدَقةُ السِّرِّ فإنّها تُكَفِّرُ الخَطيئةَ، وصَدَقةُ العَلانيَةِ فإنّها تَدفَعُ مِيتةَ السَّوءِ.

Reference: ’[Nahjul Balaghah, Sermon 110]

Description: Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said, describing his father Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.), ‘He used to go out in the dark night carrying a sack on his back and going from door to door, knocking on each and giving to whoever came out to answer it. He used to cover his face when giving to the poor in order that they may not recognise him

الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ في الإمامِ زينِ العابِدِينَ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ: إنّهُ كانَ يَخرُجُ في اللَّيلةِ الظَّلماءِ، فَيَحمِلُ الجِرابَ علي ظَهرِهِ حتّي يَأتِيَ باباً باباً، فَيَقرَعَهُ ثمّ يُناوِلَ مَن كانَ يَخرُجُ إلَيهِ، وكانَ يُغَطِّي وَجهَهُ إذا ناوَلَ فَقيراً لِئلاّ يَعرِفَهُ.

Reference: .’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 46, p. 89, no. 77]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘Do not give charity openly for people to see and commend you for it, for verily when you do that, you have already received your reward for it [in their commendation]. However, if you give with your right hand such that your left hand does not come to know it, then the One for whose sake you have secretly given charity will surely reward you for it openly.

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): لا تَتَصَدَّقْ علي أعيُنِ الناسِ لِيُزَكُّوكَ؛ فإنّكَ إن فَعَلتَ ذلكَ فَقَدِ استَوفَيتَ أجرَكَ، ولكنْ إذا أعطَيتَ بِيَمِينِكَ فلا تُطلِعْ علَيها شِمالَكَ؛ فإنَّ الذي تَتَصَدَّقُ لَهُ سِرّاً يَجزِيكَ عَلانِيَةً.

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 284, no. 1]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘By Allah, charity given secretly is better than charity given openly, just as, by Allah, worship performed secretly is better than worship performed openly.’

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الصَّدَقةُ واللّه‏ِ في السِّرِّ أفضَلُ مِنَ الصَّدَقةِ في العَلانِيَةِ، وكذلكَ واللّه‏ِ العِبادَةُ في السِّرِّ أفضَلُ مِنها في العَلانِيَةِ.

Reference: [al-Kafi, v. 4, p. 8, no. 2]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, ‘Verily charity given at night [i.e. secretly in the dark of the night] extinguishes the wrath of the Lord, wipes away grave sins and facilitates one’s account [on the Day of Resurrection]. Charity given during the day [in broad daylight] makes one’s wealth thrive and increases one’s lifespan.’

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّ صَدَقَةَ الليلِ تُطفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ، وتَمحُو الذَّنبَ العَظيمَ، وتُهَوِّنُ الحِسابَ، وصَدَقةَ النَّهارِ تُثمِرُ المالَ، وتَزِيدُ في العُمرِ .

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 125, no. 39]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The one who gives excessive charity is as the one who withholds it.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): المُعتَدي في الصَّدقةِ كَمانِعِها .

Reference: [Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16246]

Description: Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) said, ‘Do not give away of yourself to your brothers so much that the loss incurred by you supercedes the benefit to them.’

الإمامُ الكاظمُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): لا تَبذُلْ لإِخوانِكَ مِن نفسِكَ ما ضَرُّهُ علَيكَ أكثَرُ مِن مَنفَعَتِهِ لَهُم.

Reference: [al-Kafi, v. 4, p. 33, no. 2]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘The one who is truly poor does not roam around the streets begging, nor can he be turned away with a date or two, or a bite or two. Rather the one who is truly poor is he who restrains himself from asking people and who does not draw attention to himself – that is the one that should be given charity.

رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): ليسَ المِسكينُ بالطَّوّافِ، ولا بِالذي تَرُدُّهُ التَّمرَةُ والتَّمرَتانِ، واللُّقمَةُ واللُّقمَتانِ، ولكنَّ المِسكينَ المُتَعَفِّفُ الذي لا يَسألُ الناسَ شيئاً ولا يُفطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقُ علَيهِ.

Reference: ’[Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 16552]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) was once asked whether one should give charity to those who beg at people’s doors, or whether to withhold it from them and give it to one’s poor relatives instead, to which he replied, ‘No, rather one should send it to a [poor] relative, for that holds a greater reward.

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ لمّا سُـئلَ عنِ الصَّدَقةِ علي مَن يَسألُ علي الأبوابِ، أو يُمسِكُ ذلكَ عَنهُم ويُعطِيهِ ذَوِي قَرابَتِهِ ؟ ـ: لا، بل يَبعَثُ بها إلي مَن بينَهُ وبينَهُ قَرابَةٌ، فهذا أعظَمُ لِلأجرِ.

Reference: ’[Thawab al-A’amal, p. 171, no. 20]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said with regards to Allah’s verse in the Qur’an: “…the beggar and the deprived”, ‘The deprived is the disabled one who is deprived of the use of his hands for working in trade.

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ أيضا ـ: المَحرومُ المُحارَفُ الذي قد حُرِمَ كَدَّ يَدِهِ في الشِّراءِ والبَيعِ .

Reference: ’[al-Kafi, v. 3, p. 500, no. 12]

Description: The Prophet (S) said, ‘Give in charity without conceitedness, for verily conceitedness does away with your reward [for it].’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): تَصَدَّقُوا مِن غَيرِ مَخِيلَةٍ؛ فإنَّ المَخِيلَةَ تُبطِلُ الأجرَ.

Reference: [Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 120]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Delaying [one’s promise of] giving and reproaching someone for a gift embitters the goodness of the favor.’

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): المَطلُ والمَنُّ مُنَكِّداً الإحسانِ.

Reference: [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1595]