418. Which Kind Of Sadaqah/Charity Is Best?

By Asma bint Shameem 

Generally speaking, sadaqah means ANY voluntary act of ibaadah that you may do. 

And specifically speaking, it means money that you spent in the path of Allaah voluntarily. 

So sadaqah can be in the form of money, clothes, food, your time, your duaa, learning and teaching someone, even a smile is sadaqah or charity. 

As for the best form of sadaqah:

There isn’t “specific kind” of charity that’s more beloved to Allaah. 

It all depends on the situation and the sincerity of the person giving the charity. 

Generally speaking, charity given to relatives is better than charity to non relatives. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“Charity given to a poor person is charity, but charity given to a relative is two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship.” 

(al-Nasaa’i, al-Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani)

And charity given to Muslims is preferable and better than that given to nonMuslims. 

A charity that’s continuous and ongoing, that is sadaqah jaariyyah is generally better than individual charity because it’s satisfying the needs of *many* Muslims, as compared to the needs of one. 

But in some cases, charity given to an *individual* for an immediate cause might be better. 

Also generally speaking, providing  water to people is better than providing anything else.

Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah reported: 

I said, 

“O Messenger of Allaah, my mother has died. Shall I give charity on her behalf?” 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said, “Yes.” 

I said, 

“Which charity is best?” The Prophet said, “A drink of water.” 

(al-Nasaa’i  3664; Hasan by al-Albaani)

Mostly charity given *quietly* and *secretly* is better. 

But sometimes charity given in front of people is better because it might encourage others to give. 

Sometimes giving charity and paying off someone’s debt is better than spending your money in some other form of charity. 

Charity given in a person’s lifetime is better than charity given after his death. 

And charity given when one is poor is better than charity when one has a lot of wealth. 

A man asked the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam:

“O Messenger of Allaah, which charity brings a greater reward?” 

He said, 

“If you give in charity when you are healthy and miserly, fearing poverty and hoping for richness. 

Do not delay until you are at the point of death and you say, ‘Give this to So and so, give this to So and so,’ …” 

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

So, when all these conditions are present, this is the time that you will receive the greatest reward for giving Sadaqah for the sake of Allaah. 

-that you are good in health, 

-that you feel miserly, 

-that you fear poverty and yet you hope for riches.

Then the Prophet sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

So do not delay until you are at the point of death and then you say: 

“Give this to so-and-so and give that to so-and-so,” when at that point [your wealth and property] already belongs to so-and-so!” 

(Al-Bukhaari, no. 1419)

 Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala says:

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 

“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqun.”

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Those who *spend* [in Allaah’s Cause – deeds of charity, alms, etc.] in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” 

[Surah Aal-Im’raan:133]

Sheikh Salih al-Fawzaan said:

“Indeed the giving of charity from ones pure wealth and from ones halaal earnings in the cause of Allaah  Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala is from the most excellent and the most virtuous of all the acts of worship. 

For indeed, just as there is ibaadah of the limbs when you stand in prayer, and when you withhold from food during the month of Ramadhaan (and you help someone off the bus, or you help someone into the house, or you help that old lady or that old man carry their groceries into their house), then these are acts of worship with one’s body; *likewise there is worship with one’s wealth and one’s property.”* 

That’s why Abu’l-Dardaa’ radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“The likeness of the one who frees slaves and gives in charity when he is dying is that of a person who gives his food away after he has eaten his fill.” 

So which charity is “*better*” depends on multiple things. 

*Bottom line:*

We should give in the path of Allaah, as much as we can, WHENEVER we can, HOWEVER we can, in the BEST way we can and in the most SINCERE way we can. 

And make duaa that Allaah accepts. 

And Allaah knows best