07Giving and Zakat

After returning from Umrah my heart was full of tranquillity and contentment, but the journey was not over. The road to Allah does not pass only through prayer, fasting and remembrance, but also through giving and helping others.

I realised giving is an inseparable part of faith, and that zakat is one of the most important ways a Muslim achieves spiritual and material balance.

﴿ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا ﴾

“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to grow.” (9:103)

I thought deeply about the meaning of zakat and giving, and how I could help improve people’s lives. Zakat is not only an obligation to be discharged, but a purification of the soul from love of wealth and selfishness, a tool for social balance, and help for those in need.

The wealth I own is not mine alone; it is a trust from Allah, and those in need have a right in it.

One night, reviewing my finances, I felt a strong desire to give more. I did not want to pay zakat merely as a duty; I wanted giving to become part of my daily life.

So I reviewed my accounts and set aside a fixed share of my monthly income to support charities, families in need and humanitarian projects.

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Zakat · Sadaqah · Time and volunteering · A kind word and a smile · Figure 15

I did not stop at financial giving; giving has many doors, among them time and effort. I joined volunteer programmes helping the poor and needy directly, and found in them a chance to renew my connection with people and community and to gain more spiritual balance.

One day, working with a local charity, I felt an inner happiness I had never known; I saw smiles on the faces of those we helped and felt Allah blessing the effort and the giving.

I realised that giving does not only improve others’ lives but refines and purifies my own soul.

The more I gave, the more blessed my life felt, and I saw what I spent for Allah’s sake return to me in many forms, in my provision and my peace of mind; Allah blesses a person’s wealth and effort when he gives generously with a sincere intention, and giving brings him nearer to Allah and fills his heart with love and mercy.

One evening I sat with my children and talked to them about giving and zakat in Islam, and about my experience in charity work and its effect on my life.

I wanted to teach them that money is not the goal of life but a means to do good and build a cohesive society, and to plant in their hearts a love of giving and kindness to people.

﴿ مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ﴾

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven ears; in each ear is a hundred grains.” (2:261)

For me giving was not only a social act but a road to inner peace; the more I gave, the more strength Allah granted me to face life’s challenges.

I realised giving is a way of life, not only a financial obligation, and that together with zakat it opens the doors of mercy and blessing, and that Allah rewards His servant for his giving many times over.