Virtue of Charity

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.), has said, ’Charity dispels wicked forms of death.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Benevolence and charity remove poverty, increase longevity of life and dispel seventy kinds of wicked forms of death.” Another Hadith has said that it ‘dispels wicked forms of death from our Shi`a.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘I like performing Hajj more than setting free a slave, another slave and another slave . . .’ He went on to say up to ten slaves, and then up to seventy slaves. He then said, ‘If I support a Muslim family, satisfy their hunger, provide them clothes, and protect their dignity among people, it is more beloved to me than performing a Hajj and a Hajj and a Hajj . . .’ He went on to say up to seventy Hajj.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.), has said, ‘One who is certain of (good) consequences, he strives to make it a good gift.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Cure your illnesses by giving charity, repel misfortunes with prayer, and allow means of sustenance to descend upon you by giving charity. Charity finds its way through the beards of seven hundred Satans. No other thing is heavier upon Satan than when you give charity to a believing person. It finds its place in the hand of the Lord, the Most Blessed, the Most High, before finding its place in the hand of a servant (of Allah).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The land on the Day of Judgment is all fire except the shadow of a believing person. His charity provides him shadow.’”

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Giving charity by one’s own hand repels seventy kinds of misfortune, which finds its way out through the beards of seven hundred Satans who all try to stop him from giving charity.’”

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), narrate this Hadith. ‘It is in the will of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, which is addressed to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). “As far as charity is concerned, strive to do your best until it is said that you have exceeded the limit, but in fact you have not exceeded.” He (the Messenger of Allah) has explained.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is preferable for a person suffering from illness to give charity with his own hand to one who asks for charity, then ask him to pray for him.”

“I informed abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about the passing away of my two sons and that only one small son is living. The Imam said, ‘You should give charity for his safety.’ When I was about to leave, he said, ‘Ask your son to give charity with his own hands; it can be a piece, a handful or even something very small. Anything whereby one can seek the pleasure of Allah with true intention, even though very small, is a great thing. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, “Whoever does a good deed, even if it is as small as the size of an atom, he will find its result; so also is the case of one who does a bad deed. (99:7-8) ”He has also said, “They have not yet entered al-‘Aqabah (mountain-pass). What do you think al-‘Aqabah is? Al-‘Aqabah is the setting free of a slave or providing food during a famine for a relative’s orphan or to a destitute person. (90:11-16)” He has also said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, knows that everyone is unable to set a slave free. Thus, in the giving of charity, He has considered feeding an orphan or a destitute person the same as setting free a slave.’”

“This is a narration of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) has said, ‘You must give charity even if it is one Sa‘ (a certain unit of measurement) of dates or less, or a handful or less or one piece of date or less, and if one does not find even this much, he should speak a soothing word. One of you may come in the presence of Allah who may ask, “Did I not do for you (all the things you have)? Did I not give you eyes and ears; did I not give you property and children?” He will say, “Yes, You gave me all such things.” Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, will say, “Look what you have sent for yourself?”’ He then said, ‘This person then looks around to his front, back, right and left and does not find anything to protect him from the fire.’”