Three Great Avenues of Good

Islam is a religion of giving and mutual support, and Allah has legislated multiple types of giving to achieve social balance and draw closer to Him. Among the most important of these are: Waqf, Zakat, and Sadaqah. Many Muslims confuse these three concepts, even though each has its own specific rulings and different conditions.

What is Zakat?

Zakat linguistically: Growth, increase, and purification.

Zakat legally: A specific right in wealth that must be paid when it reaches the nisab (minimum threshold) and a full lunar year has passed, given to specific categories of recipients.

Prophetic Hadiths About Zakat

1. Hadith of the Pillars of Islam

Narrated by Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Islam is built upon five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying Zakat, performing Hajj to the House, and fasting Ramadan” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Benefit: Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is obligatory upon every Muslim who meets the conditions.

2. Hadith of Muadh ibn Jabal in Yemen

Narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): The Prophet ﷺ sent Muadh to Yemen and said: “Inform them that Allah has obligated upon them charity in their wealth, taken from their wealthy and given to their poor” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Benefit: Zakat is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor, and it is a specified obligation.

3. Hadith of Abu Hurairah About the Punishment for Withholding Zakat

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no owner of gold or silver who does not pay what is due on it, except that on the Day of Resurrection, plates of fire will be prepared for him and heated in the fire of Hell, and his side, forehead, and back will be branded with them” (Narrated by Muslim)

Benefit: Withholding Zakat is a grave sin with severe punishment on the Day of Judgment.

Characteristics of Zakat

1. Obligatory: A religious duty and pillar of Islam
2. Fixed amount: Specific percentage (2.5% for cash, 10% or 5% for crops, etc.)
3. Has conditions: Reaching nisab and completion of one lunar year
4. Specified recipients: Eight categories only (the poor, the needy, those who collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for freeing slaves, those in debt, in the way of Allah, the wayfarer)
5. Purifies wealth: It purifies and cleanses the wealth
6. Right of the poor: Not voluntary but an obligatory right

What is Sadaqah (Charity)?

Sadaqah linguistically: From truthfulness (sidq), called sadaqah because it indicates the sincerity of the giver’s faith.

Sadaqah legally: Everything given of wealth or benefit seeking Allah’s pleasure without obligation.

Prophetic Hadiths About Sadaqah

1. Hadith on the Virtue of Charity

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Charity does not decrease wealth” (Narrated by Muslim)

Benefit: Charity does not decrease wealth but increases it in blessings.

2. Hadith of Shade on the Day of Resurrection

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Seven will be shaded by Allah under His shade on a Day when there is no shade except His shade…” and he mentioned among them: “A man who gives charity and conceals it so much that his left hand does not know what his right hand spends” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Benefit: Secret charity has tremendous reward.

3. Hadith That Charity Extinguishes Sin

Narrated by Muadh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani)

Benefit: Charity erases sins and transgressions.

4. Hadith of Charity in Secret

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet ﷺ: “And charity given in secret extinguishes the Lord’s anger” (Narrated by At-Tabarani, graded good by Al-Albani)

Benefit: Secret charity extinguishes Allah’s anger.

5. Hadith on the Best Charity

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best charity is that which you give when you are healthy and miserly, hoping for wealth and fearing poverty” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Benefit: The best charity is that given while healthy and attached to one’s wealth.

Characteristics of Sadaqah

1. Voluntary: Recommended but not obligatory
2. No fixed amount: Any amount, whether small or large
3. No conditions: One can give charity of any amount at any time
4. Wide scope of recipients: Can be given to any person in need
5. Can be given to relatives: Permissible to give to parents and children
6. Multiple forms: Financial, material, physical (a smile, removing harm, etc.)
7. Secrecy is better: Secret charity is better except in certain cases

What is Waqf?

Definition

Waqf linguistically: Restraint and prevention.

Waqf legally: Restraining the principal asset and making its benefit continuous, meaning withholding the property from disposal while continuing to benefit from it.

Prophetic Hadiths About Waqf

1. Hadith of Ongoing Charity

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who prays for him” (Narrated by Muslim)

Benefit: Waqf is the clearest example of ongoing charity.

2. Hadith of Umar ibn Al-Khattab’s Waqf

Narrated by Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): Umar acquired land in Khaybar and came to the Prophet ﷺ to consult him about it. He said: O Messenger of Allah, I have acquired land in Khaybar, and I have never acquired property more precious to me than it, so what do you command me to do with it? He said: “If you wish, restrain its principal and give its produce as charity.” So Umar gave it as charity, stipulating that it should not be sold, gifted, or inherited (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Benefit: This is the foundation of waqf in Islam: restraining the principal and making the benefit continuous.

Characteristics of Waqf

1. Voluntary: Recommended but not obligatory
2. Permanent: Does not end, cannot be sold or inherited
3. Principal is restrained: The asset remains, the benefit is distributed
4. Continuous benefit: The reward continues even after death
5. Diverse forms: Money, property, land, well, mosque, school
6. Legal requirements: Needs documentation and management
7. Investment for the Hereafter: Considered the greatest investment for the afterlife

Can They Be Combined?

Yes! In fact, this is the best approach:

1. Pay your Zakat (obligatory): Purify your wealth and fulfill the religious duty
2. Give charity regularly (voluntary): Daily or weekly charity, even if small
3. Establish a Waqf (investment): Secure ongoing rewards after your death

Three Gates to Paradise

Zakat, Sadaqah, and Waqf are three great avenues of good, each with its own status and virtue. Zakat purifies your wealth and fulfills the obligation, Sadaqah erases sins and brings joy, and Waqf ensures you a reward that continues even after your death.

When you choose to place your money on a Waqf Fund you ensure transforming your donation from merely “temporary assistance” to a “sustainable asset.” We manage these funds with the highest standards of transparency to ensure that your dirham today becomes a forest of goodness tomorrow.