Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) has said that “Some people used to give so much sadaqah that nothing would remain with them even for eating and they would be compelled to look for sadaqah from others. It was for this reason that the verse was revealed:’ And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say that which is superfluous.’” (Al-Baqarah: 219).

Superfluous (afw) is what they can spare, that is, what is in excess of their requirements. The jurists say that giving all of one’s property in sadaqah is permissible provided the donor is fit, earning, and steadfast, not in debt, nor has dependents for whom adequate support from him is obligatory. If he does not fulfill these conditions, then this action is undesirable (makruh).

Jabir bin Abdullah (ra) narrated that while he was with the Messenger of Allah (saw) a man came with what was like an egg of gold. He said:” O Messenger of Allah! I obtained this from buried treasure, so take it. It is sadaqah, I do not possess anything other than it.” The Messenger of Allah (saw) turned away from him and the man then approached him from the direction of his left side. The Messenger of Allah (saw) then turned away from him again and approached him from behind. Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) took it and threw it at him. If it had hit him, it would have injured him. Then he said:” One of you comes with all his property to make sadaqah, then after (giving all he had) he sits (by the road) begging from the people. Sadaqah is given by the one who is rich.” (Fiqhus-sunnah). Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “The best sadaqah is that which leaves a competence.” (Abu Dawud)

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:” The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient.” (Bukhari). Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) heard Allah’s Messenger (saw), while he was on the pulpit, speaking about charity, to abstain from asking others for financial help and begging from others, saying:” The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is that of the giver and the lower hand is that of the beggar.” (Bukhari)

A man came to Allah’s Messenger (saw) asking him about Islam, and Allah’s Messenger (saw) said:” You have to offer five compulsory prayers in a day and a night (24 hours).” The man asked:” Is there any compulsory prayer for me?” Allah’s Messenger (saw) said:” No unless you like to offer supererogatory (nawafil).” Allah’s Messenger (saw) then added:” You have to observe fasts during the month of Ramadhan.” The man said:” Am I too fast any other day?” Allah’s Messenger (saw) said:” No unless you wish to observe the optional fast voluntarily.” Then Allah’s Messenger (saw) told him about the compulsory zakah. The man asked:” Do I have to give anything besides?” Allah’s Messenger (saw) said:” No unless you wish to give in charity voluntarily.” So, the man departed saying:” By Allah, I will neither do more nor less than that.” Allah’s Messenger (saw) said:” If he has said the truth he will be successful.” (Bukhari)

Uqbah (ra) offered the Asr prayer behind Prophet Muhammad (saw) at Madinah. When he had finished the prayer with taslim, he got up hurriedly and went out by crossing the rows of the people to one of the dwellings of his wives. The people got scared by his speed. Prophet Muhammad (saw) came back and found the people surprised at his haste and said to them:” I remembered a piece of gold lying in my house and I did not like it to divert my attention from Allah’s worship, so I have ordered it to be distributed (in charity).” (Bukhari)

While Adi bin Hatim (ra) was sitting with Allah’s Messenger (saw) two persons came to him; one of them complained about his poverty and the other complained about the prevalence of robberies. Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, as regards stealing and robberies, that there will shortly come a time when a caravan will go to Makkah from Madinah without any guard. And regarding poverty, the Hours will not be established till one of you wanders about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it. And no doubt each one of you will stand in front of Allah and there will be neither a curtain nor an interpreter between him and Allah, and Allah will ask him:” Did not I give you wealth?” He will reply in the affirmative. Allah will further ask:” Did not I send a Messenger to you?” And again that person will reply in the affirmative. Then he will look to his right and he will see nothing but Hell-Fire, and then he will look to his left and will see nothing but Hell-Fire. And so, “Any (each one) of you should save himself from the fire even by giving half of a date-fruit, then (you can do it through saying) a good pleasant word to your brethren.” (Bukhari)

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:” Every Muslim has to give charity.” The people asked:” O Allah’s Messenger! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said:” He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity from what he earns.” The People further asked:” If he cannot find even that?” He replied:” He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked:” If he cannot do that?” He replied:” Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Bukhari)

Therefore, whenever Allah’s Messenger (saw) ordered the companions to give in charity, they used to go to the market and “work as porters and get a mudd, a special measure of grain, and give it in charity.” (Bukhari)

(Ends)

by Mohammad H. R. Talukdar