Charitable People

Infaq (to spend for the sake of Allah) is one of the deeds most suggested in the Qur’an by Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Infaq is a vast concept; it involves many fards or supererogatory deeds such as zakah, sadaqah (alms), nafaqah (subsistence money), and qard al-hasan (benevolent loans). As Raghib al-Isfahani said: “Infaq can be with goods and also other things. It can be obligatory or voluntary…”  

Infaq is a good deed that Allah Almighty commands and advises insistently, like salah. Such that the following ayah conspicuously denotes how much infaq is valued in the sight of Allah: “And spend out of what We have given to you before death overtakes one of you and he says, ‘My Lord, would you not give me respite to a near term so that I should pay sadaqah (alms) and become one of the righteous?’” (Al-Munafiqun, 10)

When the angel of death comes, if we did not do enough good deeds in our lifetime severe regret will be upon us. On the other hand, if we used opportunities for infaq, then inshaAllah, we will be one of the good-doers who rejoice on that day. 

Infaq Command in the Qur’an al-Karim

In many ayahs, Allah Almighty invites us to spend our goods given by Him. One such invitation is in this ayah; it consists of advice and a warning: “Here you are, being invited to donate in the cause of Allah. Still, some of you withhold. And whoever does so, it is only to their own loss. For Allah is Self-Sufficient, whereas you stand in need (of Him). If you turn away, He will replace you with other people. And they will not be like you.” (Muhammad, 38)

This next verse also has a message that we need to contemplate: “You shall never attain righteousness unless you spend from what you love. Whatsoever you spend, Allah is fully aware of it.” (Ali ‘Imran, 92)

One of the infaq orders in the Qur’an al-Karim is in the following ayah, which is remarkable in its message and reason for revelation:

“Spend in the cause of Allah and do not let your own hands throw you into destruction (by withholding). And do good, for Allah certainly loves the good-doers.” (Al-Baqarah, 195)

Mufassir Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır (rahmatullahi alayh) tells about the reason for the verse’s revelation:

This ayah was sent down to remind us of the danger of avoiding performing jihad and sacrificing goods. As narrated in Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud: in the age of the Umayyad dynasty, an Islamic army under Abdurrahman ibn Walid was ready for jihad for Constantine, modern-day Istanbul. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (radiyallahu anh) was one of the soldiers in that army. The Rums, with their backs against the city’s walls, fought the Muslims. Then, a warrior from the Muslim army charged at the enemies in the castle without protecting himself. When some Muslims saw this situation, they cried:

“Stop, stop! La ilaha illallah, he is putting himself in danger!”

Then Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (radiyallahu anh) said:

“O Muslims! This ayah was sent down for us, the Ansar (Muslims from Madina). At that time, Allah (jalla jalaluhu) helped His messenger and bestowed triumph upon His religion, Islam. Then, we asked whether we should watch over our possessions and occupy ourselves with their care. Almighty Allah revealed the ayah,‘Spend in the cause of Allah and do not let your own hands throw you into destruction (by withholding).’ So, the real danger is watching over our possessions, being occupied with caring for them, and thus giving up performing jihad!”

And then he attended the attack against the enemy in the cause of Allah and was finally martyred and buried in Istanbul.

As you see, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari informed us about the real danger, which is giving up performing jihad for the cause of Allah and the reason for the ayah’s revelation. 

The Danger That We Put Ourselves in

We need to reflect on the word ‘danger.’ Because tahlukah, the Arabic word for ‘danger,’ comes from the root of ‘halak,’ which means destruction. We see the definition of tahlukah in the book Mufradat as “something that causes destruction.”

This ayah further states how being stingy and not donating what Allah Almighty has given us to His cause is a grave danger for us: “Those who withhold in miserliness what Allah has given them out of His grace should not take it as good for them. Instead, it is bad for them. They shall be forced, on the Day of Judgement, to put on what they withheld, as iron-collars round their necks. To Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Ali ‘Imran, 180)

The fact that in some ayahs of the Qur'an al-Karim, the order of giving comes right after the advice of faith, and sometimes right after the order of salah is evidence that clearly indicates the importance of spending in the path of Allah Almighty. The following two ayahs can be given as examples:

1. “Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and donate from what He has entrusted you with. So those of you who believe and donate will have a mighty reward.” (Al-Hadid, 7)

2. “Say to My believing servants that they should establish salah and spend, secretly and openly, out of what We have given to them before there comes a day in which there is neither a trade nor friendship.” (Ibrahim, 31)

Everything belongs to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Every treasure of the earth and heavens is only His. All goodness is in His hand of might. No matter how much He gives from His infinite wealth, it will never decrease. So, we must obey the infaq order given by Him, Who is the most generous. Otherwise, we might be the subject of this warning: “And why do you not spend in the cause of Allah while to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth?” (Al-Hadid, 10)

A Pillar to Lean on on the Toughest Day

Infaq is such a deed that, on the day where there will be no trade, kinship, or mediation except the intercession made by Allah’s permission, it will be a great welfare for those who donated abundantly during their lives, inshaAllah. The next verse states the earth-shaking truth that we need to use every infaq opportunity possible:

“O you who have believed, donate from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange [i.e., ransom] and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers - they are the wrongdoers.” (Al-Baqarah, 254)

Thus, it is as if in this ayah we are told: O believers! If you donate from what We have provided for you in the cause of Allah Almighty, these expenses will come your way as a savior on the Day of Judgement in which there is no bargaining, friendship, or intercession. Let’s remember Al-Munafiqun’s 10th ayah mentioned before:

“And spend out of what We have given to you before death overtakes one of you, and he says, ‘My Lord, would you not give me respite to a near term so that I should pay sadaqah (alms) and become one of the righteous?’”

Infaq is for the servant’s benefit because believers who die with faith in their hearts will see the benefit of their good deeds in the afterlife. This ayah should be kept in mind: “So be mindful of Allah to the best of your ability, hear and obey, and spend in charity—that will be best for you. And whoever is saved from the selfishness of their own souls, it is they who are (truly)successful.” (At-Taghabun, 16)

One of the ways of avoiding the nafs’ stinginess is generosity. When a generous servant donates for the sake of Allah Almighty, he will be donating for his own benefit.

The Importance and Merit of Infaq

Infaq and sadaqah (alms) are among the most valuable deeds in the presence of Allah (jalla jalaluhu). Therefore, our Rabb promised to reward these deeds much more. We see an amazing hadith in the books of revelation about this subject:

According to Ibnu’l-Munzir’s narration from Sufyan, when the ayah,“Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold. But whoever comes with a bad deed will be punished for only one. None will be wronged.” (Al-An’am, 160) came down, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked for enhancement of the reward of his ummah’s deeds. “O Rabb, increase it for my ummah,” he said. Therewith this verse was sent down: “Who will lend to Allah a good loan which Allah will multiply many times over?” (Al-Baqarah, 245)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) once again prayed, “O Rabb, increase it for my ummah,” and this ayah came down: “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” (Al-Baqarah, 261)

And when he made the same dua a third time, this ayah was sent down: “Say (O Prophet, that Allah says), ‘O My servants who believe! Be mindful of your Lord. Those who do good in this world will have a good reward. And Allah’s earth is spacious. Only those who endure patiently will be given their reward without limit.’” (Az-Zumar, 10)

As can be seen, as the ayahs descend, each verse contains a gladder tiding than the last. We are endlessly grateful for this divine gift.

Goods do not decrease by infaq. Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) replaces the spent property with a new one. There is even an increase in wealth or abundance. Allah has promised this in the subsequent verses:

“…And whatever you spend in charity, He will compensate (you) for it. For He is the Best Provider.’” (Saba, 39)

“Allah destroys riba (interest) and nourishes charities, and Allah does not like any sinful disbeliever.” (Al-Baqarah, 276)

In this ayah, the meaning of sadaqah contains both zakat (which is fard) and supererogatory alms. 

Salih Selçuk