The Spiritual Significance of Charity During Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan is highly regarded by Muslims, and it has great value in Islam. It is a month where acts of virtue are encouraged, particularly giving charity to the poor.

During this month, we should feel the pain of those in need and increase our virtuous deeds. Thus, Muslims should seize the opportunity during this month to assist their brothers and sisters in the refugee camps and contribute to improving their lives.

Ramadan, the month of giving

Ramadan is the month of giving generously and limitlessly to those who are living less privileged conditions than us. Indeed, an integral part of the month of Ramadan is offering charity to the needy people in our communities and outside of them. 

Alongside the acts of rituals that we are supposed to perform during this blessed month, such as fasting, praying, and reading Qur’an, it is incumbent upon every Muslim to help the needy by giving them charity. 

Thus, giving charity to the people who are most in need for it is a highly rewarded act of warship, particularly during Ramadan. 

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah (SWT) says: “Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allah and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve,” (Surat al-Baqarah 2:262).

Charity in Ramadan: A time for increased worship and good deeds

Ramadan is a time for strengthening the spiritual bonds with Allah (SWT). It is also a great time for increasing devout practices which are multiplied in reward.

Most importantly, it is a time of fasting and performing other acts of worship integrated in the pillars of Islam. These acts include: 

• Giving the shahadah 

It means witnessing the Islamic faith enter the religion of Islam. Giving the shahadah entails witnessing that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Muslims give the shahadah multiple times throughout the day during Ramadan.

• Performing prayer 

During Ramadan, Muslims perform all daily prayers throughout the day. Also, they perform the congregational prayer of taraweeh, which is prayed in sets of 2 rak’ats each. The shortest of the Taraweeh prayer is two rakyat and the longest is 20 rak’ats.

• Paying zakat al-Fitr

During this blessed month, Muslims are obliged to pay zakat al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan or after the prayer of Eid. This zakat purifies the wealth that Muslims accumulate throughout a lunar year.

The importance of zakat: How giving charity during Ramadan purifies the soul?

Giving zakat during Ramadan purifies not only purifies wealth but also helps to grow it and bless it, as well as paving the way for more bounties to enter Muslims’ life and gain them many rewards.

In addition, by giving charity to the poor, Muslims can feel the pain inflicted on the poor and the needy as a result of the lack of financial means to get their necessities and basic needs. 

Moreover, zakat allows Muslims to help their brothers and sisters in need while reaping the rewards and blessings at the same time.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reportedly said:

“Ramadan is an Honorable and blessed month, and the rewards for generosity are multiplied in it,”(al-Tirmidhi).

This saying of the Prophet (PBUH) shows that the values of charity increase enormously during the virtuous season of Ramadan. 

Ramadan and Charity: Fulfilling the needs of those less privileged

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims should be generous with those less privileged in their communities and beyond them. Such an act of worship is obliged upon all eligible Muslims. 

In addition, Muslims are encouraged to give different charitable donations to help those who are less fortunate, such as:

Iftar donations

The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person,” (al-Tirmidhi).

Clothes donations 

There are many unfortunate people who even lack the most basic human needs, such as clothes. Therefore, donating clothes during this month is a crucial means of charity.

Giving Sadaqah to others

Giving Sadaqah could have versatile ways, including not only money, food, or clothes, but even it could be as simple as a smile. 

Ramadan and Beyond: Committing good deeds and charitable acts year-round

Committing good deeds and acts of charity should not be confined only to the month of Ramadan. Charity should be given throughout the year to the less fortunate.

Most importantly, charity should be given to those most in need for it in the refugee camps, whether during Ramadan or an after it. 

Refugees living in poor, impoverished conditions should be helped all year-long since their suffering is continuous. 

The rewards of charity in Ramadan: Why good deeds are rewarded more during the holy month

The rewards of good deeds are multiplied in Ramadan more than in the other months. This is because this blessed month is a month of great value in Islam, and this month is one of the most beloved by Allah (SWT). 

In that sense, the acts of virtue and obedience are immensely multiplied in rewards, especially fasting.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet  (PBUH) said, “Every (good) deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied ten times to seven hundred times in reward. Allah, the Exalted, has said: ‘With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me (My sake) and I will reward it,” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

Therefore, you should remember your brothers and sisters in those camps all the time and not only during the holy month of Ramadan. 

Join our efforts at Bonyan organization to help our brothers and sisters in the refugee communities. Send your donations now and save a life!

Resources 

• Multiplication of reward of good deeds when doer is fasting.
• The Reward of Fasting in Islam.
• Ramadan Donation: Significance, Zakat Al Fitr And Sadaqah.

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