Virtues and Benefits in Being Charitable in Ramadhaan

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Chapter 37: The Virtue of Giving in Charity and Reciting the Quraan in Ramadhaan

Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (d.795) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] says in his book Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif (Pg. 125-134)

It is narrated in Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that he said, “The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] used to be the most kindest and generous of people, and he was especially kind and generous in Ramadhaan when Jibreel would meet with him at night and they would study the Quraan together. And the kindness and generosity of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was like the wind when it was sent with good.”

Imaam Ahmad has a similar narration which adds the wording, “He would never ask for anything except it was given to him…”

In another narration reported by at-Tirmidhee on the authority of Sa’d bin Abee Waqaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Verily Allaah is Generous and He Loves generosity, He is Kind and He Loves Kindness.”

In a well-known narration of Fudaylbin ‘Ayyaad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] who said, “Verily Allaah, the Most High, says every night, ‘I am Generous and from Me comes Generosity. I am Kind and from me comes Kindness.’ For by Allaah, the Glorified, He is the Most Generous from those who have generosity and His Generosity multiplies is even more increased in the month of Ramadhaan. In this month He Comes Down as He says;

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)…” [al-Baqarah 2:186]

Based on this, we know that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was the most generous person from the children of Aadam, without doubt, just like he is the best from the children of Aadam and he is the most knowledge from children of Aadam, he was the bravest and was the most perfect in all praiseworthy characteristics. His [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] generosity was combined with his level of knowledge and wealth, making him [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] humbled in front of Allaah, the Most High, spreading His Religion and benefitting His Slaves in the best and most various ways he could.

He [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] fulfilled the needs of people and he bore with their difficulties, and none of these praiseworthy characteristics were new to him, he had these even before Prophethood.

For this reason, his wife Khadeejah [May Allaah be Pleased with her] said to him as soon as revelation began, “By Allaah! Allaah will never disgrace you. You seal the ties of kinship, you honour your guest, you feed the poor, you donate to the destitute and you support the truth.” After the advent of Prophethood, we saw his praiseworthy characteristics grow even further.

In al-Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Anas bin Maalik [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said, “The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was the best of people, the bravest of people and he was the most generous of people.”

Anas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] also said, “If a man gives up all his desires and cravings from the Dunyaa, then he will enter the evening with Islaam being even more beloved to him than the whole Dunyaa and what it contains.”

It is also narrated that Safwaan bin Ummayyah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] used to give me things and at that time I used to hate him immensely and continued to give me things until he became the most beloved of people to me.”

Ibn Shihaab [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “He [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] gave a hundred sheep on the day of Hunayn, then he continued to give until it reached hundreds and hundreds.”

These are a few examples of the generosity of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], all of it was for the sake of Allaah. He would seek His Pleasure and he would give his wealth away freely to the poor or those who are in need or for the sake of Allaah or in ways which could strengthen in Islaam. 

This is the month in which Allaah and His Messenger were even more generous and from this there are many benefits.

This month is blessed and is better than other months in terms of gaining reward, so for example at-Tirmidhee reported Anas bin Maalik [May Allaah be Pleased with him] saying, “The best time to give Sadaqah is in Ramadhaan.”

Also, giving in Sadaqah and being generous in this month means we help and assist those who are fasting by day and standing by night, those who remember Allaah and in helping in all the acts of obedience that people indulge in during this month. By helping and assisting in this, it is a good chance for us to gain from this reward as well.

Also from the benefits of being generous in this month is that Ramadhaan is the month of Mercy and Forgiveness from Allaah. In this month He Frees people from the fire, especially on the Night of Power and Allaah, the Most High, is the Most Merciful upon His Slaves as the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Verily, Allaah is Most Merciful upon his Slave in having Mercy.” So being generous in this month especially is a means for Allaah, the Most High, being Generous to us, Giving to us from His Bounties and Blessings, as we have acted in the same way towards others.

Also from the benefits of being generous in this month is that fasting and charity are causes of expiation of sins. They dispel sins like fire removes dirt from metal. So if we are fasting and generous and added to this we stand during the night, then this will help us to be diverted from punishment.

Also from the benefits of being generous during this month is that the charity one give compensates for any shortcoming he/she may have during his fasting and it eradicates any sin that he may have gained during his fasting. None of those who fast have fasted perfectly, therefore some of the scholars disliked for a man to say statements like ‘I have fasted the whole of Ramadhaan’ or ‘I stood for the whole of Ramadhaan’ so giving in charity makes up for the shortcomings in our acts of worship during this month. Furthermore, it is Waajib for us to give in Zakaat al-Fitr at the end of the month for this very reason.

From the benefits of being generous in Ramadhaan is that the fasting person gives up food and drink for the sake of increasing his level of Taqwaa and this is even more enhanced when he gives up following his desires for the sake of Allaah. So by giving his away food to others who are fasting, despite the food being important to him, it increases his level of love for those whom he prefers over himself. This is also a way for one to give thanks to Allaah for the favours He has given, from the foods and drinks that He has Provided them with, so then he gives it away for His Sake, seeking his reward and appreciating the favour that He has Given him.

Some of the Salaf were asked, ‘Why is fasting prescribed?’ and they would respond to this by saying, ‘So that the rich person may taste the feeling of feeding the poor and that they don’t become forgotten.’  And this is true as it is from some of the wisdom's of fasting this month. As we have previously stated, if one isn’t effected by his fasting then he has not truly rectified himself, so from the acts of the Salaf is that they would feed poor people during the time of Iftaar. 

Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] wouldn’t break his fast unless he has the poor sitting with him and if he didn’t find poor people to eat with, he would prevent his family from eating dinner for that night.

There are other benefits for being generous, Imaam ash-Shafi’ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] would say, ‘The fasting person seeks to improve himself whilst fasting the month of Ramadhaan, following the practice of the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon him]. He would seek to attend to the needs of the Muslims and seek to better their situation, helping them to perform and facilitate their fasting and praying.’ Qaadi Aboo Ya’laa [May Allaah have Mercy on him] and others said something similar to this.