Ṣadaqah: Family Charity, Deceased Loved Ones, and Islamic Guidelines

To whom should ṣadaqah nāfilah be given?

It can be given to a poor family member. If you wish to give to a sayyid, you can do that too, as they can be given ṣadaqah nāfilah. When giving ṣadaqah to someone, it is not necessary to tell them that it is charity, as they might not like this. If you prefer, you may also place the ṣadaqah nāfilah in Dawat-e-Islami's ṣadaqah box or langar-e-razawiyyah box. We remain in need of this throughout the year, and particularly in Ramadan, when millions of rupees are spent for suḥūr and ifṭār.

Keep in mind that zakat should not be placed in the boxes for ṣadaqah or langar-e-razawiyyah, otherwise your zakat money will go to waste. Give ṣadaqah nāfilah from your halal and pure earnings; giving in the way of Allah Almighty leads to more, not less. If you want, you can allocate 1% of your income for ṣadaqah nāfilah, and if Allah Almighty has given you the means, you can increase this; the more money you put in, the sweeter it will be. Islamic sisters should also allocate a portion of their allowance for ṣadaqah nāfilah. A ṣadaqah box can be placed in the home for this purpose.3

Reference:

1 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 3, p. 248

2 Al-Fatāwā al-Riḍawiyyah, vol. 10, p. 309

3 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 3, p. 401

Is it right to give ṣadaqah and then inform people about it?1

The pious predecessor’s رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰه would give ṣadaqah in secret so that nobody was aware of it. In fact, even the one who was being given the ṣadaqah would not even know who the giver was. After the passing of Imam Zain al-'Ābidīn عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, it was revealed that he took on the responsibility of covering the expenses of certain households and would have food delivered to them. Also, those people themselves did not know that it was he who was displaying such generosity towards them.2

Similarly, there are accounts mentioned in Iḥyāʾ al-'Ulūm of other saints who would secretly give zakat and other charity to the poor, and have it delivered to their homes.3 The situation today is that we do few good deeds, but we publicise them widely. It might be a small good deed, but we mention it as though it is something major. In fact, there are even some people who do not do any good deeds, but still show off as though they have.4

Reference:

1 This question was posed by the Malfuzat-e-Amir-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Department, and was answered by the Amir of Ahl al-Sunna دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُهُمُ العَالِيَه

2 Ibn al-'Asākir, vol. 41, p. 383

3 Iḥyāʾ al-'Ulūm, vol. 1, p. 290; Iḥyāʾ al-'Ulūm (translated), vol. 1, p. 656

4 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 3, p. 572

Can the meat of those goats and other animals that are sacrificed in homes today as ṣadaqah be used in the home, or must they be given to a poor person?

These are generally given as a form of ṣadaqah nāfilah for a sick child; it is something good and rewardable. If its meat is distributed among the poor, it is good, but if one gives it to well-off people or eats it himself, it is not a sin. Ṣadaqah usually refers to that which is given to the poor. However, if it is ṣadaqah wājibah, it can only be given to the poor.1-2

Question: Is there reward for delivering ṣadaqah to a needy person? 3

Answer: Yes! The beloved Prophet ﷺ said:

Indeed, Allah Almighty will grant three people entry into Paradise for a morsel of bread or a handful of dates, or something similar that a needy person benefits by: (1) the head of the home, who requests the ṣadaqah to be given, (2) the wife who prepares it, (3) and the servant who delivers this ṣadaqah to the needy person. All praise belongs to Allah Almighty, the One Who does not deprive those who serve us.4

Reference:

1 Al-Baḥr al-Rāʾiq, vol. 2, p. 427
2 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 3, p. 217
3 This question was posed by the Malfuzat-e-Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Department, and was answered by the Ameer of Ahl al-Sunnah دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُهُمُ العَالِيَه

4 Al-Muʿjam Al-Awsaṭ, vol. 4, p. 89, Hadith: 5309

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It is mentioned in another hadith, "Even if ṣadaqah passes through 70,000 hands, the last person's reward will be like the reward of the one who first gave the ṣadaqah."1-2

Can clothes and dishes be given as charity on behalf of parents and other deceased loved ones?

Clothes and dishes can be given as charity.3 However, giving these particular items as charity should not be considered farḍ or wājib.4

Can a father give ṣadaqah to his children?

A father cannot give zakat or ṣadaqat al-Fiṭr to his children.5 However, he can give them a gift.6

Reference:

1 Makārim al-Akhlāq li al-Ṭabarānī, p. 355, Hadith: 116
2 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 6, p. 388
3 Al-Fatāwā al-Riḍawiyyah, vol. 9, p. 597
4 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 8, p. 187
5 Radd Al-Mukhtār, vol. 3, p. 344
6 Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 7, p. 236

Instead of sacrificing an animal on behalf of my child ('aqīqah), can I give the value of the animal to a relief organisation?

If an allowance was made for this, then people will say give an animal or its value to a poor person in place of qurbānī; instead of performing hajj, give the money to someone; then do not build masjids and give the money to the poor, and so on. This will not happen; we must stick to the ways that the Sharia has stipulated.

A goat costs around 10,000 – 15,000 rupees today; it will not benefit the poor much. You should sell the ornaments and furniture in your house, and give the money to the poor. If you have 10 rooms in your house, work out the cost for one room and donate the amount to the needy. In any case, if you wish to sacrifice an animal for 'aqīqah, it must meet the same criteria as a qurbānī animal; only then will this recommended action be fulfilled. 'Aqīqah is mustaḥabb, so there is no sin if a person does not carry it out.¹·²

Can ṣadaqah be given on behalf of deceased individuals?

Yes, ṣadaqah can be given on behalf of the deceased, and this will be a means of transmitting reward to their souls. For example, giving ṣadaqah on behalf of your father or grandfather, or helping the poor and gifting the reward to the beloved Prophet ﷺ or to Shaykh 'Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه. Transmitting reward like this is permissible.3

Reference:

¹ Bahār-e-Sharī'at, vol. 3, pp. 355,357, selected.
² Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 7, p. 16

³ Malfoozat-e-Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, vol. 6, p. 205