Sadaqa (alms): Difference between revisions

'''Ṣadaqa''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|الصَدَقَة}}) or '''alms''' refers to money or property donated to poor people for the sake of [[God]]. According to Islamic doctrines, it is not permissible to acquire money or property by every means, as it is not permissible to spend money in every way. One of the most recommended ways to spend one's money is to give it as sadaqa or alms. According to [[verse]]s of the [[Qur'an]], there are two sorts of sadaqa: [[wajib|obligatory]] and recommended ([[mustahabb]]). Quranic verses have also specified ways in which sadaqas should be spent. According to [[hadiths]], giving one's money as sadaqa does not lead to a decrease in one's possessions; rather it leads to its increase.

Sadaqa is the money spent for the sake of God, such as [[zakat]], however, the term "sadaqa" is used for the money spent as a mustahabb action, whereas zakat is used for the money given as an obligatory duty. Giving one's money for the sake of God is called "taṣadduq" (Arabic: {{iarabic|التصدق}}) and the money spent in this way is called "sadaqa".

According to the [[Qur'an]] (9:104), God Himself receives the alms: {{centered pull quote|"know they not that Allah does accept repentance from his votaries and receives their sadaqas (alms), and that Allah is verily he, the oft-returning, most merciful?"}}

According to ''[[Tafsir Nimuna]]'', "this verse shows the significance of sadaqa. It encourages all Muslims to give sadaqa and tells them to respect people to whom they give their sadaqas and zakat, since they are received by God. According to a hadith from [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]], 'Sadaqa goes to the hand of the person in need only after it goes to the hand of God'."

There are two types of sadaqa:

* ''Obligatory:'' in this type of sadaqa, the person has the religious obligation to give a specific portion of his or her possessions to specific people under certain conditions. [[Zakat]], [[khums]] and [[Fitriyya]] are instances of such a sadaqa.

* ''Recommended:'' this sort of sadaqa has no specified amount; it is recommended to give any amount of one's money to any person in need for the sake of God.

As implied by [[hadith]]s and the [[Qur'an]], certain conditions need to be met in order for the sadaqa to be valid:

* Sadaqa had better be secret.

* It should not be accompanied by reproaching the person who is given the sadaqa.

* The person who gives sadaqa should never take him or herself to be a real owner; rather they should take themselves to be intermediaries between God and His people.

==Who is Eligible for Sadaqa==

According to the [[Qur'an]], there are eight classes of people who are eligible for sadaqa:

God has forbidden giving the sadaqa in the following two ways:

* Giving it out of pretentiousness; such a sadaqa is invalid.

* Giving the sadaqa, followed by reproaching the person to whom it is given or telling them that one is generous. Such a sadaqa will not be rewarded by God.

These two sorts of sadaqa are invalid because they are not given for the sake of God, or if they were given for His sake, one's intention failed to remain purely for God.

On the other hand, there are two ways of giving sadaqa that are praised and adored by God:

* Secret sadaqa: if one gives the sadaqa secretly, then he or she will be immune to pretentiousness and the needy person will not feel humiliated. Since Islam always emphasizes on pure intentions for God, an action that is more purely done for the sake of God is more virtuous. This is why God preferred a secret sadaqa to a disclosed one:  

* Disclosed sadaqa: this is praised because it is a public encouragement of others to give sadaqa, as it is a relief for the poor and the needy in that they see that there are people in the community who are thoughtful about their conditions; it helps them overcome their despair.

One should be moderate in the amount of sadaqa; on the one hand, one should not be mean, and on the other hand, one should not give too much so that he or she falls into financial trouble. The minimal amount of sadaqa depends on one's financial ability. According to some [[hadith]]s, even a cup of water counts as sadaqa.

There are many hadiths concerning the virtues of, and blessings followed by, sadaqa; including:  

:::Sadaqa protects one from 70 sorts of catastrophes as well as terrible death. For a person who gives sadaqa will never undergo a terrible death.

According to the [[Qur'an]], giving sadaqa for the sake of God is a beneficial transaction with God, since many divine rewards are given to people who give sadaqa; it guarantees their going to the Heaven, protects them from the fears of the [[Dooms Day]], and saves them from divine tortures.

:::Whenever you go through a night to the morning, give a sadaqa to remove the bad lucks of that day from you, and whenever you go through a day to the night, give a sadaqa to remove the back luck of that night from you.

:::I sought the way to cross the Sirat Bridge and I found it in sadaqa.

* The material for writing this article is  mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/صدقه صدقه] in Farsi WikiShia.