1. What criterion does the Qur’an set in regard to spending in the way of Allah?
Islam encourages generosity and discourages miserliness. One needs to strike a balance in spending. Neither become too generous to the extent of becoming a destitute nor be miserly!
2. What is the counsel of the Prophet concerning ‘sadaqah’?
The Prophet urged Muslims to adopt moderation in spending money in meeting one’s own needs, and those of one’s dependants. Muslims are enjoined to spend from ‘whatever one can spare’.
3. What is the best Sadaqah according to a Hadith?
“The best Sadaqah is what comes out of sufficient resources and, in making it, you begin with your dependants”. The best sadaqah, therefore, is that which starts from one’s own home.
4. The hand of Allah is full. Comment.
Allah gives abundantly to those who spend in His Cause. There is no limit in Allah bestowing His Blessings upon His servants.
5. What evils come out of miserliness?
* Murder
* Greed and jealousy
* Treating unlawful as lawful
6. A Hadith mentions the story of the owner of an orchard. What economic policy had he adopted? What was its reward? What lesson should we learn from it?
* Assessing the profit from the harvest
* Giving away one-third of the harvest as charity
* Keeping one-third of the harvest for personal and family use
* Reinvest the remaining one-third
The reward was that he got exclusive heavenly blessings in the form of water which is a vital resource for irrigation.
The moral of the story: ‘enjoy the fruits of the hard work and also don’t deprive the poor of their share. Use resources wisely and keep the future in focus.’
7. What parable does the Qur’an use to illustrate the reward of those who spend in the way of Allah?
The parable of those who spend in the way of Allah is that of a grain out which grow seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains.
8. Write a short note on the Prophet’s generosity.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all. He never denied anyone anything.
Once he said, “If Mount of Uhud be changed for me into gold, I would never have it that three days should pass and the money still be lying with me.”
At the beginning of his illness, before his death, the Prophet had in his house seven dinars; he ordered his relatives to give away even that money to the poor.
