The Best of Donations is The One Made in Ramadan

Many verses in the Holy Qur’an, and sayings of our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged one to donate his money for the sake of Allah and to spread his money in ways of goodness. For this is the pathway to very high ranks in Islam and in the next life.

Learning from our best role model, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was known for his immense generosity and kindness, and open-handedness for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta^ala especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.

This is due to many reasons: Firstly because the month of Ramadan is the month of goodness when the bounties and endowments from Allah upon His worshipping slaves are far more than any other month and secondly because donations in the month of Ramadan are more reward-able.

As the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam said: “The best of donations is the one made in Ramadan“. This is so because Ramadan is the month of cooperation, forgiveness, mercy, helping the needy, and is a month of safety from Hellfire. The Prophet peace be upon him helped others whenever he could.

It is narrated through the route of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah raise his rank) that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said reminding and encouraging the one obligated to pay Zakat to pay it: <<Every Morning, when the slaves of Allah are wide awake, two angels descend to earth. The first angel would say:

اللهمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا

“O Allah grant the one who pays the due Zakat for your sake a substitute for his payment”. And the other would say:

اللهمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا

“O Allah inflict the one who withholds paying the due Zakat for your sake with a loss in his money”>>.

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam said what means: <<Allah will grant seven types of believers the comfort of being under the shade of the ^Arsh on the Day of Judgement, a day where no other shade is available but the shade of the ^Arsh>>.

Amongst those types are the ones who donate in sincerity and do so secretly. He donates seeking Allah’s reward and acceptance only without informing anyone and does not do so to be praised by people.

And the scholars of Islam said: “Allah the Exalted blesses the money of the one who donates the Sadaqah (permissible donation) from halal lawful sources for the sake of Allah, seeking His reward“.

They also said: “The money from which donations are made, although may seem to be lessening, yet the promised reward that is prepared for the donator in the next life will substitute that loss”.

Respected Brothers in Islam; Since Zakat is among the five greatest matters of Islam, and since the one who withholds it commits a major sin, we wish to remind you to disburse the Fitr Zakat to one of the 8 types of people mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

Know that it is not permissible nor is it valid to pay the due Zakat money to other than these 8 types. In addition, Zakat money cannot be given to one’s dependents such as one’s mother, father, wife or non-pubescent children.

It is a must to pay the Fitr Zakah money per every Muslim alive part of Ramadan and part of Shawwal. The due Zakah per person is about five Australian dollars for the year 2015 therefore if you pay 5 Australian dollars or more per person, you should regard any additional amount above the actual true value of that Zakah as a general donation.

And Allah knows best.