The importance of the roof in Islam

A. S. M. Babar Ali

Charity, that is, charity, is one of the laws of the Most Merciful Allah Almighty towards the servant. Through it, the worldly and otherworldly welfare of human life is achieved.
Charity is the act of giving something to the poor and needy in various ways by a wealthy and capable person. Charity can be of two types. Compulsory and voluntary.
Zakat and Fitra are compulsory charity. In addition, other donations are included in the category of voluntary charity. Although both types of charity are rewarding, there are some differences. Not giving compulsory charity is a sin. For example, if a person does not pay a certain amount of Zakat from the wealth held at the end of the year, the entire wealth becomes invalid. Then consuming that wealth is also illegal or a sin. Again, if a fasting person does not pay the specified amount of Fitra after fasting Ramadan, then his fast is incomplete. Failure to give such charity is a sin. And giving charity gets rid of sins. More reward is earned.
But giving voluntary charity has more reward, although there is a sin in not giving charity despite having more wealth. That is, overall it can be said that the priority is more in the case of obligatory charity and the priority is to gain reward in the case of voluntary charity. This article mainly discusses voluntary charity.
The meaning of the word charity is very broad. It can be of various types. Any benefit, whether worldly or hereafter, is considered charity. Good deeds, good advice, good words – these are included in the category of charity. In this context, it is mentioned in the Hadith that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Every person has a duty of charity, that is, charity. Resolving a dispute between two people is a charity. Helping a passenger in a vehicle or carrying his luggage is a charity. Good speech, every step for prayer, removing harmful objects from the path – these are also included in charity.’ [Bukhari] Regarding charity, the Quran says, ‘Qul inna Rabbi yab chutur rizka liman mashayu min ‘ibadihi wa yaqdirullahu. wama anfaktum min shayyin fahua yukhlifuhu wahua khairur raziqin.’ That is, ‘O Prophet! Tell them, my Lord gives sustenance to whom He wills of His servants in abundance. And He gives it in short supply to whom He wills. Whatever you spend, He gives it in place of it.’ That is, it can be understood that the wealth accumulated through charity, that is, giving charity, never decreases; rather, it increases. Regarding the time of giving charity, it is said in Surah Al-Munafequn, “One who gives charity is one who is worthy of it….and one who gives charity is one who is worthy of it.” That is, ‘And spend from what We have given you. This spending should be done before death comes to any of you. Why don’t you say when death comes to you, “O my Lord! Why don’t you give me time? If I had time, I would have given charity and been counted among the righteous.” That is, it is commanded to be engaged in the work of charity at all times of life until death.
Who should be given charity? In this regard, it is stated in the 215th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah of the Quran, ‘Whatever you spend, give it to parents, relatives, the needy orphans, the traveler and the beggar.’ In various places in the Quran, it is stated that the first to receive charity is the needy relatives, then the needy neighbors and the last to the needy distant people.
Giving charity does not decrease wealth; rather, it increases it. In this regard, it is stated in the 245th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah of the Quran, ‘Manjallazi Yukridullah Kardan Hasanan fa yudayifahu lahu adyafan kathiraan wallahu yaqbid wa yabsitu wa ilayhi turjaun.’ That is, who among you will lend Allah a good loan? So that Allah will multiply it for him many times. It is Allah’s to restrict and expand, and to Him you will return.’
In this context, it has been said that the example of a person who spends his wealth in the way of Allah (any charity is part of Allah’s spending), his spending is like a grain of wheat that is sown and grows seven ears, each ear having seven hundred grains. Thus Allah expands the deeds of whomever He wills. He is the Expander and the Knower of all things. For those of you who believe and spend, there is a great reward.’
Charity, that is, the object of charity or wealth, must be earned in a righteous way. Charity earned in an unrighteous way is never valid No. Such charity is rather unworthy. Moreover, it is not flawed; good charity should be given. In this regard, Surah Al-Baqarah verse 267 says, ‘O you who believe! Give of the good things that you earn and of what We produce for you from the earth. Do not desire to give evil things.
Secret charity is certainly better than open charity. The reason for this is that sometimes giving open charity can reveal ego. Again, the recipient of the charity can be mentally embarrassed. Therefore, the Quran encourages both open and secret charity or charity, saying, ‘Allajinna yunfecuna amwahum billaili wannahari sirran wa alania tan falakum azruhum indarabbihim walakhaufun alayhim walahum yahzanun.’ [Surah Al-Baqarah: verse 247]
That is, “Those who spend their wealth by night and day secretly and openly, their reward is with their Lord, and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
Although the above verse mentions both open and secret charity, most verses of the Quran mention secret charity.