The Excellence Of Giving Sadaqah - Benefits from the khutbah of Sheikh Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid (May Allah preserve him)

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Excerpts from the khutbah of Sheikh Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid (may Allah preserve him):

And from the most excellent of them (good deeds) is actually giving something that you possess, that you love and desire and you give it in the cause of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). Because those are the things that you covet, that you don’t want to give away because you believe they will expand your riches, but, you give them away for the sake of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى).

‏ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا قَالَ

                 ‏ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ، تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى ‏‏‏(‏رواه البخاري)‏‏‏‏‏

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah which Sadaqah is the one that gives the greatest amount of reward from Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “That you give in charity whilst you are in good health and you are feeling miserly and you want to covet that wealth that you possess, and you fear poverty for yourself and that you hope for riches.”  (Al-Bukhari: no. 1419)

So, when these conditions come together, this is the time that you will receive the greatest reward from giving your Sadaqah: that you are good in health, that you feel miserly, that you fear poverty and you hope for riches. In this situation when you give in the cause of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) then the reward is at its greatest.

Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

       وَلاَ تُمْهِلُ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا، وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا، وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ (‏رواه البخاري)‏‏‏‏‏‏

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-Bukharee, no. 1419)

Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan (حفظه الله) mentioned: Indeed the giving of charity from ones pure wealth and from ones halal earnings in the cause of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), is from the most excellent and the most virtuous of all the acts of worship. For indeed, just as there is ibādah of the limbs when you stand in prayer, and when you withhold from food during the month of Ramadhan (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 ones body, likewise there is worship with one’s wealth and one’s property.

For this reason Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) made the giving of charity a Pillar from the pillars of al-Islam when He obligated the Zakah. The Messenger (ﷺ) said with regards to the charity that is given generally:

                                 فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ ‏ (‏رواه مسلم) ‏‏‏

“And save yourselves from the hell fire even if it be with the piece of a date.”

Meaning: it is a small charity but if it is given correctly with a good intention and a sincere heart for the sake of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), then one gives and walks away not asking and questioning regarding it. Rather you give and then find someone else who can give too. This was way of the Prophets and the Messengers and those who are pious, Barakallahu feekum.

Sheikh al-Fawzan mentioned: You think that by giving in charity you are doing a favour to others, but, rather it is a favour to yourself in reality. So save yourselves from the hell-fire even if it be with a portion of a date stone!

Transcribed khutbah - https://abukhadeejah.com/the-amazing-reward-of-giving-sadaqah-and-being-charitable-a-noble-trait-of-the-prophet/

Listen here - https://www.salafisounds.com/the-excellence-of-giving-sadaqah-by-abu-khadeejah/