What is the rewards for charity in islam?
Allah the Almighty opens several doors from unexpected places for those who help the needy. Even though it may seem like charity decreases the amount of wealth, it actually does not decrease but adds blessings and abundance to it. It is like trimming branches of a tree, which makes it strong and fruitful. Qays b. Sal’ (r.a.) narrates:
“My brothers complained about me to the Prophet (pbuh) that I was throwing my wealth. I told the Messenger of Allah (pbuh):
“O Messenger of Allah! I take my share of dates and then give it to the people as charity and for the sake of Allah.” The Prophet (pbuh) touched my chest and said three times:
“Give in charity, so Allah will give you.” After this incident, whenever I attended an expedition, I had a ride, while others were walking. I was also the wealthiest among them.” (Haythamī, III, 128)
In another hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) said “There are three characteristics that I can swear by them” and then he counted them as follows:
“Servants’ wealth does not decrease by giving in charity. Allah increases the honor of those who are patient against the injustices they faced. Allah opens the door of poverty for those who open the door of begging.” (Tirmidhī, Zuhd, 17)
Giving in charity not because of hypocrisy or to show-off but for the sake of Allah strengthens human beings spiritually and physically. In this respect, the Prophet (pbuh) talked about the creation of the earth and how mountains were fixed on the earth to make it stronger. Angels were astonished by the strength of the mountains and they asked Allah the Almighty whether there was anything stronger than the mountains. Allah the Almighty said that he created iron, fire stronger than iron, then water stronger, and finally the wind as the strongest of them all. He then said that he created human beings stronger than all of them and added:
“If a human being gives charity with his/her right hand and does this so secretly that his left hand does not know about it, he then becomes stronger than all of them.” (Tirmidhī, Tafsir, 113-17)
Allah the Almighty created humans as the most honorable creation. Humans’ degrees and honor are ranged among them according to their sincerity while giving charity. Those who give their charity secretly and modestly are the greatest of them and have the highest rank.
Those who get strength through charity will also be protected and helped by the Lord the Almighty. It is certain that those who give charity for the sake of Allah will receive various blessings from Allah the Almighty and will never be deprived. The Prophet (pbuh) tells the following exemplary story about the blessings of charity:
“While a person was in the wilderness he heard a voice from the cloud commanding it thus: Irrigate the garden of so and so. After that the clouds slinked aside and poured water on a stony ground. It filled a channel amongst the channels of that land and that person followed that water and he found a person standing in the garden busy in changing the course of water with the help of a hatchet. He said to him:
“Servant of Allah, what is your name?” He said:
“So and so.” And it was that very name which he had heard from the clouds. And he said to him:
“Servant of Allah, why do you ask me my name?” He said:
“I heard a voice from the clouds pouring the rain, saying: Water the garden of so and so like your name. What have you done for the favor shown to you by Allah in this matter? He said:
“Now as you state so. I calculate the yield I get from my garden. And I give one-third as charity out of it and I and my children eat one-third of it and one-third I keep it as seed.” (Muslim, Zuhd, 45)
This fortunate man received unique blessings from Allah the Almighty in such an arid place like the desert just because of his generosity. Thus, he could water his garden and get bountiful yields.
Human beings cannot stay away from sins and mistakes. And it is a fact that these sins and mistakes may attract Allah’s anger. Charity and almsgiving, on the other hand, attract the Divine mercy and put out Allah’s anger. They cause the punishment determined for stinginess to be forgiven and make the residents of heaven pray for that servant. For the reason that, the blessings of these prayers attains the happiness of leaving this world in faith. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said that:
“Charity extinguishes the Lord’s anger and eliminates an awful death.” (Tirmidhī, Zakat, 28)
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), on the one hand, encouraged charity, and on the other hand prohibited begging strongly and stated its material and spiritual harms. This is why he advised his ummah to be dignified and patient.
Source: An Excellent Exemplar, Osman Nuri Topbaş, Erkam Publications
