How beautiful
it is when you sow a seed and the plant gives you numerous fruits. This is how
the giving works in nature. In Islam, giving and charity without expecting
anything in return is really valued and graced and then the God gives the
reward to the giver in this life and in the afterlife too. Charity does not
only means donating wealth but acts of kindness and aiding others in need by
giving them food, water or helping in their tasks are also welfare works. In
Islam, there are two types of charity:
1) Sadaqa Jariya: This is about giving such an aid to
a receiver from whom receiver can benefit once or multiple times. It can be
buying or making a meal for needy or can be planting a tree, building a well
from which multiple generations can benefit. It is said that the giver receives
benefits as long as the receiver continue to use the gift. This is called the
voluntary form of charity in which one can make the Allah as well as people of
Allah happy. Sadaqa means charity and jariya means flowing which combined to be
called flowing charity.
2) Zakat:
This is about donating a part of your wealth in terms of money to charitable
causes. The receiver must be needy or poor and the giver must own enough
assets. Giver must have full ownership of the asset he/she is donating. This
bestowing is said to purify one’s wealth. Contributing money in Islamic
girls high school, boys school and college are examples of such a
charity.
