اعود الله السم العلابنا الشيطان العين الرجيم بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالميننا حمده وانستعينه به ونت Erica و عليه والسلام على خير خلقه اجمعين حبيبي على العالمين نبينا محمد رب اله الأهلlaytaha الطيبين الطاهيرين المأسومين المطاهرين المكرمة قال الله العظيم في كتابه الكريم بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم خذ من اموالهم قد صدقا تطهرهم وتزاكيهم بها وصلي عليهم إن صلاة كسكن لهم والله سميع وعليم أمن بالله صدق الله العلي العظيم ورحمة الله وبركاته when the word صدقة is mentioned what is the first thing that comes to your mind indeed most people who have come to terms with this particular terminology will associate it with giving and some kind of charitable donation because of course صدقة and charity constitutes part and parcel of many people's lives either we have come across people who in some form or another have contributed towards alleviating the suffering of others towards building a hospital or a school or an orphanage or ourselves we may have taken part and contributed in one shape or form therefore when we look at this subject it is part and parcel of the lives of many people and within the Islamic teachings and the lives of the glorious معصومين the Ahl al Bayt the ship of salvation صلاة الله و سلام عليهم أجمعين may the peace and blessings be upon them all we find that the concept of charity and sadaqa was integral something that emerged and was crystallized in their conduct in their teachings in their actions this was something that the Quran itself verifies so the famous incident in the story the commander of the faithful امير المؤمنين peace and blessings be upon him his beloved righteous honorable lady of light say that peace be upon her and their sons امام الحسن and حسين in addition to lady فيضا their servant according to some narrations observed the three day fast out of the vow to get the children cured because of an illness and in those three days as the Quran in سورة الإنسان explains they donated and they gave away all their food on three consecutive days to the orphan first of all to the poor person second day to the orphan and the third day to the captive and this is for example one reference in the Holy Quran with regards to the Ahl al Bayt's attention and focus on صدقة another is the famous verse in سورة البقرة in which Allah سبحانه وتعالى describes the merit of the commander of the faithful امير المؤمنين عليب نبي طالب peace and blessings be upon him and he speaks about how امام عليه السلام gave charity at night and during the day publicly and in private where by he says that الذين ينفقون أموالهم بالليل والنهاري سرا وعلانية those who give their wealth at night during the day in private and in public and that was a matter that امام عليه السلام was indeed praised similarly we have chapter 5 verse 55 in which امام عليه السلام famously gave his ring in Salah إنما وليكم الله ورسوله والذين آمنوا الذين يقيمون الصلاة ويؤتون الزكاة وهم راكعون شولي واريلي اوثورتي is God his prophet and those whom give charity whilst they are performing the prayers and they give their charity directly whilst in the state of Rukua bowing down therefore we find that the حلالبيت have in so many narrations highlighted how صدقاء should not be detached from the personality of a believer it is so integral it is so pivotal that its separation is something which is indeed discouraged within the teachings of the religion once the prophet peace and blessings be upon him and his holy progeny was sitting with some of his companions a group of Muslims from the tribe of Mudar they entered they said to the prophet we are ready for jihad for the physical struggle in other words to fight the enemies but the clothes looked very old there was torn and therefore the prophet of Islam looked at them with compassion they looked very tired they looked hungry the prophet said they sat on the member in his masjid and recited ايوه الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله والتنظر نفسما قدمت لغت or you who believe I've got consciousness and let every soul examine what they have offered for tomorrow then he said تصدقوا قبل أن لا تصدقوا give charity before it's too late why then he says تصدقوا قبل أن يحال بينكم والصدقة before there's a barrier between you and صدقة which means death you can't really give any صدقة or donation or charitable contribution after death he said even if it's part of a date a man stood up he gave a bag full of money and the prophet of Islam was indeed pleased and said من سنة في الإسلام سنة حسنة وعمل بها كان له أجرها ومثلو أجر ومن عملة بها Whomsoever does a good deed within the religion of Islam it gets the reward of it and the reward of Whomsoever follows on if others were encouraged by the giving of this charity by this particular individual then the thawab and the reward from this encouragement until the day of judgment this person will reap notice the wonderful opportunity that exists when it comes to giving for the sake of Allah especially if it's purely as an intention for the sake of Allah and also to encourage others to do the same now of course in Islamic teachings صدقة is not necessarily just charitable donations it could be anything which is beneficial anything which is positively a contribution towards others so the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in a narration says إن على كل مسلم في كل يوم صدقة he famously said every Muslim must give صدقة every day some people might say I may not have money to give every day so the response was how about those who can't he responded back by highlighting that صدقة is not only to dig into your pockets and take out the coins and the notes the dollars and the pounds and the other currencies he famously says if you remove hardship from somebody's path or difficulty or obstacle if somebody's walking in you kind of make it easier for them their path public path that is صدقة إرشادك الرجل إلى الطريق صدقة if someone comes and asks you how do I get to somewhere and you show them the direction that is according to the prophets and the narration صدقة إيادتك المريض صدقة when you visit the ill those who are suffering from ailments or are sick this is صدقة أمرك بالمعروف صدقة to enjoin the good صدقة نهيك عن المنكر صدقة to forbid the evil is considered charity then the prophet of Islam even goes on to say ردك السلام صدقة to respond to the salam of an individual who is in self-wagib الصدقة so can you see the idea of صدقة is much broader than necessarily financial contribution every righteous deed كل معروف صدقة the smile when somebody smiles in your face according to the narration is actually صدقة and إمام السجات صلوات الله وسلامه عليه the fourth whole Imam of the Ahl al Bayt talks about seeking حلال رزق من طلب حلال فهو من الله صدقة if you and I seek legitimate wealth then according to the narration of the Imam it constitutes charity from Allah سبحانه وتعالى as well as the fact that staying away from evil deeds and appropriate words or actions such as كذب lying نميمة غيبة سلامة staying away deliberately or holding oneself also is charity notice the wonderful kind of broad description of what constitutes charity within the teachings of the religion of Islam at the same time though we find that the main focus many a times when it comes to this word is primarily on giving for the sake of Allah in other words to financially contribute and this is something that the Quran has spoken about in numerous occasions for example Allah سبحانه وتعالى ألم يعلموا أن الله هو يقبل التوبة عن عباده ويأخذوا الصدقات بيورفل واسف ويفلقت على it يقول هل أنت لا تعرف أنه هو الله himself who accepts the repentance from his servants and it is he himself who takes the صدقة that is why إمام زينا العابدين سيد الساجدين علي بن الحسين صلوات الله وسلامه عليه used to kiss the hands of the poor whom are given صدقة because he says metaphorically it is as if I am kissing the hands of God from the Quran it is as if we are giving it to Allah سبحانه وتعالى directly and it is an avenue by which the Almighty سبحانه وتعالى is helping us our situation so sometimes when we give for example towards a Majlis of عبد الله الحسين we give towards the rebuilding of a mosque or a Husainiyah we give towards an orphan we think that we are helping them but in reality that opportunity to give is from God he is sending us these people it is a Tawfiq you know some people out there Mashallah الله سبحانه وتعالى bless them they have the wealth they are able to give but they don't know whom to give how to spend it where to give and to give it in one's lifetime is much much much more rewarding and blissful when it comes to fruits and outcomes for the soul on the day of judgment or after death then to give it or to write it in the will famous story where we are told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw that the Muslims were collecting dates that belong to an individual who passed away and basically he left the third of his wealth for the poor on the needy he picked up one date and said if he had given this one date during his lifetime he would have got more reward than all this now after he passed away why? it's much harder to give during the lifetime than it is to write on the will that when I pass away the third that I'm entitled to as far as my wealth is concerned I wanted to be given for a particular cause it's much easier to put it on the will much more challenging much more difficult to give the wealth that you have whilst you're still alive because of course Shaytan tends to play in our minds and to kind of project this idea of poverty as Shaytan يعدكم الفقر as Shaytan promises you as Shaytan promises you as Shaytan promises you you know the state of poverty being poor and so it is of the utmost importance recognizing that when we give صدقاء it's like we're giving it to the Almighty سبحانه وتعالى the Prophet of Islam محمدر المصطفى صلى الله عليه وسلم in the narration states سبعة في ظل عرش الله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله there are seven who be specially protected by the shadow of God or protection of God on the day of judgment from chastisement on the day that no one said she'll attain this except God or she'll be giving this rather except Allah سبحانه وتعالى إمام عادل a leader of a community a scholar who is just شاب نشأ في عبادة الله a youth who grows and is nurtured in the worship of God ورجل تصدق بيمينه فأخفاه عن شماله a man or a woman who gives with his right but hides it from his left meaning that he does not necessarily give for ostentation for ya for showing off it is purely and sincerely to seek the pleasure of God so principally we are told within the religion of Islam yes charity is important charity is a prerequisite for spiritual advancement for the nourishment of the soul but there are certain situations and conditions which need to be adhered to and one of them is of course we should not be boastful and somehow seeking the approval and reward from others when we give for these charitable causes but rather it should be for the sake of الله سبحانه وتعالى and Allah alone that is why there is this apparently this mystical figure or perhaps more of a legendary figure by the name of Juhaa and he used to have some nice anecdotes one day he passed by a mosque that was being built and he saw the person carving out his name on the entrance of the mosque so he said to him you know what is this he says I am putting my name because I built this mosque he said whilst you added can you add my name also please and the man responded and said no that's impossible I can't add your name because you didn't pay for this mosque and then Juhaa immediately said are you just placing it there so that people recognize it's you who donated and therefore you would get the recognition if it wasn't if it was entirely for the sake of Allah you'd include other people's names no problem so that was a litmus test somehow identified the intention of this particular individual صدق is also highlighted and one of the etiquettes is to be given a certain times for example we are told first night in the grave when people are buried it's a good time to give صدق on their behalf the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says أشد من أول ليل فرحموا موتاكم بصدق that the person who is going through death will not go through more harder time than the first night in the grave therefore have mercy upon the deceased by giving them صدق of course certain times such as Friday during the day Thursday night during the month of Ramadan the day of Arafa on behalf of others on behalf of the Ahl al-Bayt especially the living the present Holy Imam the 12th Holy Imam عجر الله تعالى فرجو شريف to give صدق on their behalf importantly صلى الله عليه وسلم says that according to the narration إن العبد لا يكون بارًا بوالديه في حياتهما ثم يموتان فلا يقضي عنهما دونهما ولا يستغفر لهم فيكتبه الله عاقا سبحان الله listen to what the fifth Holy Imam is narrated to have said who of God who are kind towards their parents in their lifetime then their parents pass away but they don't give charity on their behalf by for example fulfilling their loans and dues and they don't ask forgiveness of God for them then it is written that they were disobedient to parents even the responsibility that one has upon their parents continues after death too so it doesn't stop after somebody's parents have passed away but rather it is something that is on the shoulders and on the shoulders of the sons of the daughter and it is necessary to continue on this particular remembrance especially when it comes to صدقة now some people ask what is the benefit of صدقة how do we gain some kind of reward well what does the Quran and the Ahl al Bayt say with regards to this very quickly one of them is to it will bring about spiritual cleansing as the Quran says صدقة that this صدقة take it from them it will purify them it will cleanse them and therefore it is said that the reason why it cleanses us well we say cleanse us as far as the soul is concerned the reason why it cleanses us is because it somehow breaks that idol within which is self desire or love of materialism love of this world it is giving away that which we desire the most that's why the Quran says righteousness you will never attain until you give from that which you desire the most it's that detachment of worldly matters and attachment to God is the focus of the Quran and it was the practice of the Ahl al Bayt peace be upon them now of course many instances are found within the life of the as well as of course before them the prophet peace and blessings be upon him one day peace be upon him was in Medina he saw his المقداد who was distressed when he said peace to him he responded back but he wasn't the same so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so يا علي I'm coming to your house for some food today tonight. There's no food.  When the Prophet comes, Sayyida Tunisa Fatima is informed. She goes to the area where she prepares the food. She prays to Allah for any food to be granted towards her. The narrations tell us that Allah سبحانه وتعالى سبحانه وتعالى يجب أن يرسل الناس. And it is presented towards the Prophet. Peace and blessings be upon him. And then he explains. He says this food is from paradise. But it's because of the sacrifice of Imam Ali. With regards to giving that money of his that he needed to مقداد. Such was the reward of the Almighty. As far as the Sadaqah is concerned. An individual said I was with Imam Al Baqar. In Masjid al Nabawi. And part of the ceiling that was there collapsed. But it only hit the kind of landed on the legs of a particular individual. And so it didn't fall on him. Somehow people were surprised because it was supposed to fall on him. Imam Al Salam asked that individual. Or asked people to ask that individual. What did you do? And he said I've just given Sadaqah. I had dates I gave them to the poor. Imam Baqar Al Salam says. بها دفع الله عنك. Through it Allah protected you from calamities. And this is the second advantage of giving charity. For the sake of Allah. Imam Al Sadaq. صلوات الله وسلامه عليه. And narration says. الصدق تتفع سبعين نوعا من أنواع البلاء. صدقا. Protects and kind of pushes away. 70 types of calamities. 70 types of hardships. And you know the most Sadaqah we give. إن شاء الله. There's more protection. The more Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Protects us from hardship and difficulties. إن شاء الله. We will continue with this particular topic. Because of its sensitivity and its importance in the next time. We pray to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. To bestow upon us the Tawfiq. To be able to make Sadaqah something which is second nature. A Malaka. Meaning we don't have to think about it. But it's always there in our minds. If we get the opportunity we give straight away. Without hesitation. So that our wealth is purified. So that our soul is indeed purified. And we are protected from hardship and calamities. وآخر دعوانا. And الحمد لله رب العالمين. وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيد المرسلين محمد. وعلى أهل بيته الطيبين الطاهرين.