Conditions of Sadaqah: How to Give Sadaqah Correctly and Earn Reward

Sadaqah is considered the best way for an individual to ward off calamities and attract blessings and sustenance. Islam commanded Sadaqah for the poor and needy, considering it one of the most beautiful and greatest acts of devotion to Allah, as it brings righteousness to people and supports the poor who cannot afford their daily sustenance. How beautiful and great it is to extinguish sins and misdeeds with Sadaqah given to someone in need, supporting them in their life, thereby earning immense reward.

This article will explore the virtues of Sadaqah and its most prominent types, along with the conditions for Sadaqah and the donated wealth to ensure receiving reward from Allah.

Sadaqah: Its Benefits and Virtues

Sadaqah is anything spent on others, whether money, clothing, or food, for the sake of Allah and seeking His pleasure. An individual offers Sadaqah from their possessions with a pure, sincere intention for Allah. It is considered a humanitarian act that brings a believer closer to their Lord and leads them to Paradise.

Benefits and Virtues of Sadaqah

Here are the benefits and virtues of Sadaqah in this world and the hereafter:

• It brings blessings and sustenance to the donor's wealth.
• It wards off evil and calamities from the donor, making their life happy and full of security.
• It brings comfort and relief to the heart.
• It multiplies rewards with Allah.
• It purifies the soul from stinginess and avarice, fostering generosity and benevolence.
• It contributes to achieving social solidarity and alleviating poverty, thereby creating balance between social classes.
• It increases love and affection and strengthens relationships in society.
• It averts Allah's wrath, replacing it with satisfaction and blessings, thus expiating sins and increasing good deeds.

Types of Sadaqah

There are several types of Sadaqah in Islam. Here are its most prominent forms:

• Sadaqah with money: This involves giving money to the poor and needy to help them manage their affairs and financial situations, or by donating to charitable organizations that distribute to those in need.
• Sadaqah with food: This involves giving food and drink to the needy and poor. Whoever feeds a poor person receives a great reward and earns Paradise, as evidenced by Allah's saying: "And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], 'We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or [even] gratitude.'"
• Sadaqah with knowledge: This involves educating others and helping them increase their knowledge, such as teaching illiterates and so on.
• Sadaqah with effort: This involves donating through physical labor to help others or assisting with personal skills, such as helping build hospitals, schools, or mosques, which carry great reward with Allah.
• Sadaqah for sponsoring an orphan: This is considered one of the most beautiful types of Sadaqah because it helps an orphaned child build a stable life, compensating for some of the loss they experienced.

• In-kind Sadaqah: This involves donating specific tools, clothes, or useful items.

   

Conditions of Sadaqah

There are a set of conditions that must be met for Sadaqah to be valid and to bring great reward to its giver:

• Sincere intention for the sake of Allah: The donor's intention must be truthful, stemming from the heart, seeking Allah's pleasure and gaining it.
• Lawful wealth: Sadaqah must be spent from lawful wealth, not from unlawfully acquired money.
• Respect and courtesy: Sadaqah must be given respectfully, with politeness and heartfelt words.
• Kind words: Good and kind words must be spoken when giving Sadaqah.
• Avoid showing off or boasting when giving Sadaqah, as this nullifies its reward.
• Give Sadaqah to the poor, not to those who are well-off and capable of acquiring their basic needs.
• It must be given secretly, not openly, to preserve the dignity of the recipient.

Conditions of the Donor

For Sadaqah to be valid, the donor must meet the following conditions:

• Must be an adult and sane.
• Must be among the pious.
• Must possess high morals.
• Should not complain excessively.

Conditions of the Donated Wealth

Here are the conditions for the donated wealth to make Sadaqah valid:

• The wealth must be from a lawful and unquestionable source.
• The wealth must be fully owned by the donor.

• The donated wealth must be free from debts; priority is given to debt repayment.

   

Importance of Sadaqah in Society

The importance of Sadaqah in society lies in several points:

• Strengthens bonds of love, empathy, and mercy among community members.
• Purifies hearts from hatred and resentment and increases love for the poor.
• Purifies from stinginess and avarice, increasing generosity and benevolence.
• Achieves social solidarity and increases harmony in society.
• Reforms society and reduces manifestations of theft, crime, and fraud resulting from poverty.
• Creates a noticeable balance between social classes, reducing disparities and achieving social cohesion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What nullifies Sadaqah?

Among the prominent nullifiers of Sadaqah are showing off and causing harm when giving it, insulting the recipient with words or actions, giving it publicly for boasting, and donating wealth from an illegal source.

Who are not eligible to receive Sadaqah?

Sadaqah is not permissible for the well-off and the rich because they are capable of securing their daily sustenance. Sadaqah is also not permissible for parents and children on whom spending is obligatory.

What are the types of Sadaqah and their conditions?

Sadaqah has two types: ongoing (Jariyah) Sadaqah and voluntary (Nafl) Sadaqah. Both types require the intention to be purely for the sake of Allah, free from showing off or boasting, and the wealth must be lawful and given to its rightful recipients.

What is the best Sadaqah in the sight of Allah?

Ongoing (Jariyah) Sadaqah is considered the best Sadaqah in the sight of Allah because its benefit continues even after the donor's death. Examples include digging wells, building mosques, and establishing hospitals.