What is Charity (Zakat) In Islam

Giving money to the poor is an emblem of Islam and a sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). He was never asked for anything, except that he gave it, and he would give without fearing poverty. People said that he was more generous than the “sent wind” that brings the rain clouds.

Every wealthy adult Muslim must give 2.5% of his or her wealth in charity every year. Allah says: "O you who believe! Spend out of what We have given you" (2:254). This is the least charity a Muslim must give every year.

To benefit from the charity you give it is important to keep certain things in mind that will lead to good in this world the next.
Giving in secret

Allah says, "If you give charity openly then what a good thing it is; and if you give to beggars hidingly it is better for you than every thing, and He will remove some of your sins. And Allah is Aware of what you do." (Qur'an 2:271).

For a Muslim, charity is given to stave off miserliness and to draw nearer to Allah, if instead the donor seeks fame, then the act of charity becomes worthless.

Giving in secret is often better for the donor since it protects against insincerity, and it is better for the recipient as it maintains his dignity.
Giving openly

Sometimes it is better to give charity publicly, so that others will also do the same. However, you must be on guard against any hypocritical notions.

Another danger of this is offending the dignity of the poor person. It may be hurtful to him to be seen to be needy.

Scholars say that if someone is asking for charity publicly, there is no need to worry about offending him by also giving publicly.

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The Three Categories of Fasting (Roza)

Imam Ghazzali Rehmatullahi alaih has divided fasting into three categories :

1.)  In the first group is the fast of those who merely abstain from food, drink and sensual activities from before true dawn (Fajar al-Sadiq) until after sunset, as is the case with the common people.

2.)  In the second group is the fast of special people who protect their ears, eyes, tongue, hands, feet and other limbs from sin. This can be achieved by the following six things :  

2.1 The person should protect his eyes from seeing all that is contemptible and undesirable as well as from anything that would distract him from the rememberance of Allah. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said :

    " An evil gaze is a poisonous arrow from the poisonous arrow's of the devil. Thus he who abstains from an evil gaze due to the fear of Allah Almighty, will be granted Faith (Iman) by Allah Almighty, whose sweetness will be felt in every part of the heart. " 

2.2 The tongue should be protected from uttering worthless abusive talk, lies, back-biting, etc. During the time of the Beloved Prophet  Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam two women were observing fast. At the latter part of the day they were much troubled by hunger and thirst which threatened their lives. A message was sent to the Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam to seek permission for them to break their fast. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam sent a cup and asked them to spew out whatever they had eaten into it. When the first woman spewed, it contained half blood and half flesh. The second woman too spewed the same. On seeing the astonishment of the people, the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said that although these two women fasted, they merely abstained from things which are made lawful by Allah Almighty but perpetrated that which was forbidden by Allah. They sat together and were back-biting about people. Back-biting about a person is like eating his flesh.

2.3  Ears should be protected from hearing every sound which is forbidden to hear. If back-biting takes place in any gathering one should walk out of it. It is reported in a Hadith that the one who back-bites and the one who listens to it are both sinners. One should save oneself from hearing this type of evil and listen to that which is good according to Shariah.

2.4  At the time of Iftaar do not over eat which would make a person indolent.

2.5  After Iftaar let your heart remain between fear and hope. We are not certain whether our fast has been accepted although we should not despair of the Mercy of Allah Almighty.

2.6  Refrain from walking to any place or gathering in which anything un-Islamic is said or done; e.g. cinema, dance hall, gambling places, etc.

3.)   In the third category is the fast of those very special and selected persons who, in addition to, abstaining from the above keep their hearts aloof from all wordly thought's. They spend every moment of it in total meditation of Allah Almighty and do not think of anything besides Him. They spend every moment of the day and the night in the remembrance and contemplation of Allah Almighty. This type of fast is observed by the Prophet's of Allah, the Faithful servants of Allah and those who have obtained nearness to Him.

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Fruits of Ramadan - Its Merits and benefits

1) Month of Mercy
Ramadan is for the Muslims a very great favour from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. The reality of this favour can only be felt in our lives and heart if we appreciate it, otherwise this blessed month of Ramadan will come and go without gaining anything.
2) Fasting
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu anhu reports that Beloved Nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said, "The dua of a fasting person is not rejected until he breaks his fast." Beloved Nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said, "Whoever eats during one day of Ramadan without a valid excuse, shall never be able to recoup that day even by fasting for the rest of his life."


3) Sehri
Ibne Umar Radi Allahu anhu) relates that Beloved Nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said, "Verily Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and his angels send mercy upon those who partake of Sehri."


Fourth Pearl - The Qur’ân
There is a very great link between Ramadan and the Quran. Ramadan is the month of the Quran. Therefore read as much Quran as possible. Hadhrat Abdullah Ibne Umar Radi Allahu anhu narrated that Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "The hearts become rusted as iron rusts with water." When someone asked, "What could cleanse the hearts again?" Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Frequent remembrance of death and recitation of the Quran." The month of Ramadan and the Quran is with us. Let us use it to cleanse our hearts of rust.

Fifth Pearl - Tarâwîh Salâh


Nabi Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said that Allâh Subhanahu wa Ta'ala made fasting fardh for the day and Tarawîh sunnat for the night. Let us realize that through our fasting we kill the desires of our Nafs (carnal self) and through our Tarawîh we can reach Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. What a blessing!

6) Itikâf

Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said, "Whoever performs Itikâf for the final ten days of Ramadan, for him is the reward of two Haj and two Umrahs .

7) Laylatul Qadr

Amongst the nights of Ramadan, Laylatul Qadr is one of the most blessed. The Quran describes it as being greater in spiritual virtue than a thousand months,. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallâhu Alayhi Wasallam said "Whoever stands in worship on the night of Qadr with complete faith and with sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven.

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