The Best Sadaqa is during Ramadan
Explained by Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadi
The following is a summary translation taken from the Lecture
The guidance of the Salaf during Ramadan
The month of Ramadan—giving charity during this month has a high status.
It has been authenticated from the hadith of Anas—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
أفضل الصدقة صدقة رمضان
The best Sadaqa is the Sadaqa of Ramadan
Thus the Sadaqa during Ramadan has a high status. And included in this is providing food for the fasting person to break their fast with. It has been authenticated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ وَلَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْءٌ
Whoever provides food for the fasting person to break their fast with, he will have the reward of the fasting person without decreasing the reward of the fasting person at all.
It was said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، لَيْسَ كُلُّنَا يَجِدُ مَا يُفَطِّرُ الصَّائِمَ ؟
O Messenger of Allah, all of us do not find that which is sufficient to break the fast of the fasting person?
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
يُعْطِي اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ذَلِك لمَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا ولو عَلَى شَرْبَةِ مَاءٍ
Allah will give that (reward) to the person who breaks the fast of the person even if it is with a drink of water.
Thus the water which quenches the living creatures contains a tremendous blessing. Thus it is upon the slave to give this matter concern.
Abdullah ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them—would only break his fast during Ramadan with the poor. And it has been mentioned in his biography, that if his family would prevent the poor from breaking their fast with him—as they would refuse them sometimes—then he would not eat dinner. He would feel sadness—may Allah be pleased with him—thus he would not eat dinner that night. May Allah be pleased with him.
Once a beggar came to him asking for food while he was about to break his fast, so he took his portion of food enough to break his fast and left the food for the beggar. So when he returned home, his family had already eaten the food in the house. Thus he remained hungry until the following night. There was no food in his home.
As for our refrigerators, what is in our homes? A person goes to Panda; and Hyper Panda (Supermarkets in the gulf) and amasses food which he will not eat in a year. And the rest of the food will remain seven or eight months; the expiration date expires and the following Ramadan comes around so the food spoils.
Ramadan did not come for the purpose of gluttony. Ramadan did not come to overload the stomachs. It came to alleviate them so that the soul may be lightened. When the stomach is light the soul becomes light and proceeds towards worship. Look at the camel. If it is slender it is suitable for racing. This outcome comes as a result of leanness. It did not come as a result of filling the stomach; it came as a result of leanness, leanness of the stomach and minimal amount of food.
Thus as it relates to worship; if the person deceases his food and drink intake, he will be energetic towards worship.
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee
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Q. Does the printing of valid Islamic books benefit a Muslim after death, and can it be considered as knowledge by which people may benefit, as mentioned in the Hadith?
A: The printing of useful books that benefit people in their religious and worldly affairs is a good act, for which the Muslim will be rewarded during their life and it will be of ongoing benefit and reward after their death.
This is included in the general meaning of the Hadith on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
When someone dies, their works (righteous acts) come to an end, apart from three: Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity), beneficial knowledge, or a pious child who prays for them (the deceased). (Related by Imam Muslim in his “Sahih”; Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa’y and Imam Ahmad)
Everyone who participates in conveying useful knowledge will attain this great reward, whether this participation is by writing, teaching, publishing, issuing or participating in printing, each according to their effort and contribution in the work.
May Allah grant us success!
May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ > Permanent Committee Fatwas > Volume 11: Jihad – Miscellaneous Fatwas > Knowledge > Publishing Islamic books is a Sadaqah Jariyah > Fatwa no. 20062
Member Deputy Chairman Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd `Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz
It is permissible to give zakaah to a seeker of worldly knowledge who does not have enough to support him, if the knowledge that he is studying is permissible and is needed, so that he will be able to work and find a job, because getting these certificates has become a real necessity without which one cannot usually find employment.
Al-Mardaawi says in al-Insaaf (3/218): Shaykh Taqiy al-Deen favoured the view that it is permissible to take zakaah in order to buy books that he needs including books of knowledge that is indispensable for his religious and worldly affairs. End quote.
And this is the correct view.
Based on this, there is nothing wrong with your giving the zakaah of your wealth to (the needy student).