Charity and Beyond

Blessed is Islam and the broadness it embraces us with. From the many reflections is the concept of
charity. A limited view has some questioning why charity exists in Islam. The internet provokes
questions like, “If God is so merciful then why does poverty exist?”. And this is where philanthropy
steps up and charity takes a back seat. Yes, there is a fundamental difference between the two words.
Islam promotes charity and not philanthropy. How?

In Sahih Bukhari, it was narrated that Abu Hurayra ‫ رضي هللا عنه‬said: Whilst we were sitting with the
Prophet ‫صلي هللا عليه وسلم‬, a man came to him and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I am doomed!” He
said, “What happened?” He said, “I had intercourse with my wife when I was fasting (in Ramadaan(.”
The Messenger of Allaah ‫ صلي هللا عليه وسلم‬said, “Are you able to free a slave?” He said, “No.” He said,
“Are you able to fast for two consecutive months?” He said, “No.” He said, “Can you feed sixty poor
persons?” He said, “No.” Then the Prophet ‫ صلي هللا عليه وسلم‬remained silent for a while, and whilst we
were like that, a large vessel of dates was brought to the Prophet ‫صلي هللا عليه وسلم‬, and he said, “Where
is the one who was asking?” He said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take these and give them in charity.”
The man said, “Is there anyone more poor than me, O Messenger of Allaah? For there is no household
between the two harrahs (lava fields – i.e., in Madeenah) that is poorer than my household.” The
Messenger of Allaah ‫ صلي هللا عليه وسلم‬smiled until his eyeteeth could be seen, then he said, “Feed it to
your family.” 

This hadith clarifies that charity is not limited to uplifting the welfare of another individual but rather
serves as a means of salvation for the one giving it. Philanthropy, on the other hand, is limited to
promoting the welfare of others in an attempt to create a better world. Such is the broadness of
worship in Islam where acts of charity are not limited to financials only. The following hadith further
illustrates that charity in Islam is not meant to solely make us feel better by uplifting others but is
rather a means of contributing and increasing in the sight of Allaah subHanahu wa t’aala.

In Tirmidhi we read the hadith narrated by Abu Dharr ‫ رضي هللا عنه‬where her heard the blessed Prophet
Muhammad ‫ صلي هللا عليه وسلم‬say, "Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding
good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you.
Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone
from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your
brother is charity for you."

Giving charity (with the intention for Allaah subHanahu wa t’aala to accept) becomes the source of
righteousness for us and those whom we give charity to. Donating to people in distress helps us feel
their challenges, humbles us, and open doors of sustenance for us.

We seek comfort in being from the People of Jannah, a people who Allaah subHanahu wa t’aala
eloquently identifies in Surah Al-Zariyat, “Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs.
Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used
to sleep but little of the night. And in the hours before dawn, they used to ask for forgiveness. And
from their properties was the right of the petitioner and deprived.