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The Quran and Hadiths on the Poor and Needy
1. The Quran
Attitude of the giver of charity
Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not follow up
their spending by stressing their benevolence and causing hurt, will find their
reward secure with their Lord. They have no cause for fear and grief.
To speak a kind word and to forgive people's faults is better than charity
followed by hurt. Allah is All-Sufficient, All-Forbearing
Believers! Do not nullify your acts of charity by stressing your benevolence
and causing hurt as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen by men and
does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. The example of his spending is that
of a rock with a thin coating of earth upon it: when a heavy rain smites it,
the earth is washed away, leaving the rock bare; such people derive no gain
from their acts of charity. Allah does not set the deniers of the Truth on the
right way. (2:262 - 264)
The needy who do not do beg
Those needy ones who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah,
and who are hindered from moving about the earth in search of their livelihood
especially deserve help. He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them
to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing, but you will know them by
their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people with importunity.
And whatever wealth you will spend on helping them, Allah will know of it. (2:273)
Economic exploitation
And do not become like the woman who, after having painstakingly spun
her yarn, caused it to disintegrate into pieces. You resort to oaths as instruments
of mutual deceit so that one people might take greater advantage than another
although Allah puts you to the test through this. Surely on the Day of Resurrection
He will make clear the truth concerning the matters over which you differed.
(16:92)
Food and the needy
Have you seen him who belies the rewards and punishments of
the Hereafter? He it is who drives away the orphan and does not urge giving
away the food of the poor. (107:1 - 3)
Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers.
Do not squander your wealth wastefully; for those who squander wastefully are
Satan's brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. (17:26 - 27)
Greed
Look, you are being called upon to expend in Allah's Way, yet
some of you are being niggardly, whereas the one who is niggardly is, in fact,
being niggardly only to himself. Allah is Self-Sufficient: it is you who are
the needy. If you turn away, Allah will replace you by another people, and they
will not be like you. (47:38)
Moderation in giving
Do not keep your hand fastened to your neck nor outspread it, altogether
widespread, for you will be left sitting rebuked, destitute. (17:29)
(In reference to the slaves of Allah) "who, when they spend, are neither
extravagant nor miserly but keep the golden mean between the two (extremes)
(25:67)
Righteousness
You shall not attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love
(in the way of Allah). Allah knows whatever you spend. (3:92)
Sadaqa
(O Prophet!) Tell those of My servants who believe that they should
establish Prayer and spend out of what We have provided them with, both secretly
and openly, before there arrives the Day when there will be no bargaining, nor
any mutual befriending. (14:31)
Stinginess
Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful, who are niggardly
and bid others to be niggardly and conceal the bounty which Allah has bestowed
upon them. We have kept in readiness a humiliating chastisement for such deniers
(of Allah's bounty) (part of 4:36 and all of 4:37)
Zakat-what you owe from your money
The people who where given the Book before this did not divide into
sects until after the clear statement (of the Right Way) had come to them, and
the only Command they were given was to worship Allah, making their religion
sincerely His, turning all their attention towards Him, and to establish the
Salat and to pay the Zakat: for this alone is the most true and right religion.
(98:4 - 5)
Establish Prayer and dispense the Purifying Alms (Zakat) and bow in
worship with those who bow (2:43)
The believers, both men and women, are allies of one another. They enjoin
good, forbid evil, establish Prayer, pay Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger.
Surely Allah will show mercy to them. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise (9:71)
The alms (Zakat in this specific verseÕs case) are meant only for the
poor and the needy and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are
to be reconciled; and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with
debt, and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer. This is
an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (9:60)
2. The Hadiths
Begging
Narrated Hakim bin Hizam that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
be upon him) said: The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who
gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first
to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by
a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever
abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and
save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient. (Bukhari)
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: He who makes a habit of asking
from others reaches out for a brand of Fire, so let him refrain or continue,
as he desires. (Muslim)
Clothing
Ibn Abbas related that the Prophet said: Any Muslim who gives a Muslim
a garment to wear will be in Allah's safekeeping as long as a shred of it remains
on him. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
Debt: Relieving the person in debt
Abu Qatadah related that the Prophet said: If anyone would like Allah
to save him from the hardships of the Day of Resurrection, he should give more
time to his debtor who is short of money, or remit his debt altogether. (Muslim)
Food and the needy
Safwan ibn Salim related that the Prophet said: Anyone who looks after
and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for AllahÕs
cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
Anas related that the Prophet said: If any Muslim plants something or
sows seed from which a man, a bird or an animal eats, it counts as a charity
for him. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Relatives who are needy
Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet said: The best charity is that
which is practiced by a wealthy person. And start giving first to your dependents.
(Bukhari)
Salman ibn Amer reported that the Prophet said: To give something to
a poor man brings one reward, while giving the same to a needy relation brings
two: one for charity and the other for respecting the family ties. (Ahmad, Ibn
Majah, Nasai, Tirmidhi)
Stinginess
Jabir reported that the Prophet said: Avoid doing injustice to others,
for on the Day of Judgment, it will turn into manifold darkness, and safeguard
yourself against miserliness, for it ruined those who were before you. It incited
them to murder and treating the unlawful as lawful. (Muslim)
Zakat-what you owe from your money
Abbas related that a man asked the Prophet, Tell me what should I do
to be admitted to Paradise and he (the Prophet) answered: Worship Allah associating
nothing with Him, observe Salat, pay Zakat and strengthen the ties of kinship.
(Bukhari, Muslim)
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: When someone is made rich
but he does not pay Zakat for his wealth, then on the Day of Judgment his money
will be turned into a poisonous snake with two black spots on its head. It will
coil around his neck and bite his cheeks and say: 'I am your wealth, I am your
treasure'. Then the Prophet recited verse 3:180 of the Quran. (Bukhari)
Source: SoundVision.com
Date/Time Last Modified: 9/21/2006 2:03:47 PM
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