The Virtues of Sadaqah in the Quran and Hadith

Sadaqah holds a great position in Islam. It's a key to entering Paradise and warding off calamities. Allah (SWT) has promised abundant sustenance to those who spend their wealth in His cause for those deserving. Because of Sadaqah's importance and great standing, many Hadith and Quranic verses have come down, announcing its virtues and multiplied reward.

Therefore, in today's article, we've presented some verses and Hadith that mention the virtue of Sadaqah, along with the most important types of Sadaqah through which one can draw closer to Allah Almighty and gain His pleasure.

Sadaqah in the Quran

Sadaqah is what's given to the poor and needy, as one can, to help them secure their life's necessities. It can be in the form of clothing, food, or money, and it's a humanitarian act that brings its giver immense reward and merit. Sadaqah isn't limited to material things; a kind word is Sadaqah, advice to one who needs it is Sadaqah, and every act that brings good to others is Sadaqah. Allah doesn't waste the reward of anyone who does good to their Muslim brother. Sadaqah is one of the most beautiful ways to draw closer to Allah Almighty. It's not an obligatory act of worship but a highly recommended deed encouraged by Islam, carrying immense reward.

The Deceased Wishes to Return to Life to Give Sadaqah

It's mentioned in the Holy Quran that the deceased wishes to return to life to give Sadaqah and perform good deeds, due to the immense reward of Sadaqah. It elevates the believer's rank in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty says:

وَأَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ (Al-Munafiqun: 10) "And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, 'My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity (Sadaqah) and be among the righteous.'"

The reasons behind this wish are as follows:

• Sadaqah paves the way to entering Paradise.
• Sadaqah atones for sins and transgressions.
• Sadaqah extinguishes Allah's wrath.
• Sadaqah has immense and multiplied reward.

Hidden Sadaqah (Secret Charity)

Hidden Sadaqah refers to charity given secretly to the poor and needy, without anyone else knowing. This type of Sadaqah has immense virtue and reward. It brings a Muslim closer to their Lord and earns them a multiplied reward because it is free from ostentation (riyaa') and purely for the sake of the Great Creator. The proof of this is the saying of Allah Almighty:

إِنْ تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِنْ تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنْكُمْ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (Al-Baqarah: 271) "If you disclose your Sadaqah, it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you [some of] your evil deeds. And Allah is acquainted with what you do."

It is also narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Seven types of people Allah will shade in His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His... and he mentioned among them: A person who gave Sadaqah and concealed it to such an extent that his left hand did not know what his right hand spent.”

Multiplied Rewards for Sadaqah

Sadaqah carries great reward, but this reward is multiplied in the following situations:

• When Sadaqah is given with sincere intention purely for the sake of Allah.
• When Sadaqah is given in secret.
• When Sadaqah is given promptly upon acquiring wealth.
• When Sadaqah is ongoing (Sadaqah Jariyah) and its benefit continues.
• When Sadaqah is given in the month of Ramadan.
• When Sadaqah is given on Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree).
• When Sadaqah is given to orphans.
• When Sadaqah is given during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

The Virtue of Sadaqah for Orphans

Giving Sadaqah to an orphan is considered one of the best and most rewarding types of Sadaqah in the sight of Allah. It is a righteous deed and an ongoing Sadaqah that benefits the orphan and helps them secure a dignified life. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said regarding this: "Whoever takes care of three orphans is like one who spends his night in prayer and fasts his day."

Therefore, here is the virtue of Sadaqah for orphans:

• One of the reasons for entering Paradise.
• It wards off calamities and replaces them with good and safety.
• It spreads mercy, kindness, and affection.
• It purifies wealth.
• It atones for sins and erases transgressions.
• It helps the orphan and assists them in building a dignified life.
• It brings joy and happiness to the orphan's heart.

Blessings in Sustenance

Sadaqah given purely for the sake of Allah is the best way to increase blessings in sustenance and make it grow. Wealth is not diminished by Sadaqah; every amount given as Sadaqah will return multiplied to the giver. Allah will open the most beautiful doors of goodness and sustenance for the one who gives Sadaqah. Allah Almighty says:

وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ (Saba': 39) "But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."

Hadith on the Virtue of Sadaqah

Sadaqah holds great virtue and immense reward from Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged Muslims to give Sadaqah to the poor and needy with a sincere intention purely for Allah's sake, which brings great good and reward to the giver.

Several Hadith have been narrated concerning Sadaqah and its virtues, among the most prominent are:

• "Beware of injustice, for injustice will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. And beware of stinginess, for stinginess destroyed those who were before you; it led them to shed their blood and make lawful what was forbidden to them."
• "Wealth is not diminished by Sadaqah."
• "Every joint of a person's body is subject to a Sadaqah every day the sun rises: doing justice between two people is Sadaqah; helping a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or helping him with his belongings, is Sadaqah; a good word is Sadaqah; every step you take towards prayer is Sadaqah; and removing a harmful thing from the path is Sadaqah." (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
• "Every person will be in the shade of their Sadaqah until the people are judged."
• On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever gives Sadaqah equal to a date from good earnings – and Allah only accepts that which is good – Allah accepts it with His right hand, then He nurtures it for its owner as one of you nurtures his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.”

Types of Sadaqah

There are many types of Sadaqah, all of which carry great reward and merit if given purely for the sake of Allah. Among the most prominent are:

• Sadaqah of money.
• Sadaqah of feeding the hungry.
• Sponsoring an orphan, which is one of the greatest types of Sadaqah.
• Sponsoring a student of knowledge.
• Providing water or digging wells.
• Planting trees, which is an ongoing Sadaqah and plays a significant role in improving the environment.
• Building or renovating mosques or schools.
• Non-material Sadaqah, such as a kind word or sincere advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times is Sadaqah mentioned in the Quran?

The word "Sadaqah" and its derivatives are mentioned 12 times in the Quran.

Is there a Quranic verse that indicates helping the poor?

Several verses indicate helping the poor, such as Allah Almighty's saying: وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ * لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ (Al-Ma'arij: 24-25) "And those in whose wealth there is a recognized right * for the supplicant and the deprived."

And His saying: إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (Al-Baqarah: 271) “If you disclose your Sadaqah, it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you [some of] your evil deeds. And Allah is acquainted with what you do.”

What does Allah say to the one who gives Sadaqah?

Allah has promised those who spend their wealth for the poor and needy a multiplied reward. The proof of this is His saying: إِنَّ الْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَالْمُصَّدِّقَاتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ (Al-Hadid: 18) “Indeed, the men who give Sadaqah and the women who give Sadaqah and [who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.”

What is meant by Sadaqah in the Holy Quran?

Sadaqah is anything spent in the cause of Allah for the poor and needy with a sincere intention purely for the sake of Allah.