Don't Delay Charity

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Charity plays a pivotal role in this life and the hereafter for us. So don't delay giving in charity.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity." [Tirmidhi]

Allah Almighty says.

وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١١

And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous." (10) But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (11)

[Qur'an Al-Munafiqun 63:10]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, once had several coins that he asked his wife to distribute in charity. But due to the Prophet's illness at the time, she did not have an opportunity to give out the coins. When the Prophet learned of this, he asked for the coins, placed them in his hand, and then said: "What would God's Prophet think if he were to meet God, who is Great and Glorious, while (still) possessing these?" [Tirmidhi]

Stinginess and tight-fisted are bad manners and are not the characteristic of manner of a true believer.

Allah Almighty says.

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّـهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٨٠

And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted. (180)

[Qu'ran AleImran 3:180]

If a generous character is supported by a deep understanding in religious knowledge, thus the owner has joined between two characters; knowledgeable, and generous, that will be the highest position ever possessed by the slave of Allah.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The world is only for four persons: A slave whom Allah provides with wealth and knowledge, so he has Taqwa of his Lord with it, nurtures the ties of kinship with it, and he knows that Allah has a right in it. So this is the most virtuous rank.” [Tirmidhi]

The one who gives charity will be peaceful and happy in his heart.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The similitude of a miser and a charitable person is like that of two men who are wearing an armor of steel. Their hands are forced towards their upper chests and collar bones. Each time the charitable person gives in charity, his armor opens up from him to such an extent that it even spreads out his nails and wipes out his footsteps. As for the miser, each time he intends to give in charity, the armor becomes tighter and every link of the armour remains firmly in its place.” Abu Hurayra, said: “I saw ”Rasulullah Sallallohu alaihi wasallam demonstrating with his fingers like this: he tried to broaden the neck of his upper garment and it did not expand.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people then asked: "(But what) if someone has nothing to give, what should he do?" The Prophet replied: "He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns)." The people further asked: "If he cannot find even that?" He replied: "He should help the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked: "If he cannot do (even) that?" The Prophet said finally: "Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds, and that will be regarded as charitable deeds." [Bukhari]

May Allah purify our hearts from greed and miserliness and help us spend everything for what pleases Him. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaamh