Intentions of the Zakah
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1 I am purifying my wealth from the suspicious gains due to idle talk, swearing, lying, and negligence
It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah ( May Allah be pleased with him ) said:
"The Prophet ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) came to us when we were in the marketplace and said: 'O Tujjar (traders), your selling involves (false) oaths and lies, so mix some charity with it.'"
[ Sunan an-Nasa'I ]
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2 I will find peace of mind, and my heart will be tranquil
Narrated Abu Huraira ( May Allah be pleased with him ): The Prophet ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said,
"The example of a miser and an almsgiver is like the example of two persons wearing iron cloaks." Allah's Messenger ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) also said, "The example of an almsgiver and a miser is like the example of two persons who have two iron cloaks on them from their breasts to their collar bones, and when the almsgiver wants to give in charity, the cloak becomes capacious till it covers his whole body to such an extent that it hides his fingertips and covers his footprints (obliterates his tracks). (1) And when the miser wants to spend, it (the iron cloak) sticks and every ring gets stuck to its place and he tries to widen it, but it does not become wide.
[ al-Bukhari ]
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3 the Angels will invite me to enter the Paradise from the gate of charity on the last day.
Abu Hurairah ( May Allah be pleased with him ) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said,
"He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Jannah: 'O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you' … The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity." ..."
[ Al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
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4 The money I spend in charity will benefit me when no money will benefit me; that is when it will be my heirs money
Ibn Mas'ud ( May Allah be pleased with him ) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) asked,
"Who of you loves the wealth of his heir more than his own wealth?" The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah! There is none of us but loves his own wealth more." He ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said, "His wealth is that which he has sent forward, but that which he retains belongs to his heir."
[ Al-Bukhari ].
Abu Maisarah narrated from 'Aishah that they had slaughtered a sheep, so the Prophet ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said:
"What remains of it?" She said: "Nothing remains of it except its shoulder." He said: "All of it remains except its shoulder."
[ Jami` at-Tirmidhi ]
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5 Allah will bless my wealth. The more I spend in charity, the more Allah will bless me and my properties.
Abu Huraira ( May Allah be pleased with him ) reported Allah's Messenger ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) as saying:
Charity does not decrease wealth.
[ Muslim ]
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6 I hope two Angels will supplicate Allah for my sake.
Abu Hurairah ( May Allah be pleased with him ) reported: The Prophet ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said,
"Two angels descend every morning, and one says: 'O Allah, give him who spends something, in place of what he spends.' The other one says: 'O Allah, give destruction to him who withholds".
[ Al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
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7 I am doing my best to reach the highest rank of righteousness.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Never will you attain the good [reward]1 until you spend [in the way of Allāh] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it. }
Quran ( 3 : 92 )
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8 I am warding off different types of trials by spending in charity.
Al-Harith Al-Ash'ari ( May Allah be pleased with him ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said:
"Indeed Allah commanded Yahya bin Zakariyya with five commandments to abide by, and to command the Children of Isra'il to abide by them. But he was slow in doing so. So 'Eisa said: 'Indeed Allah commanded you with five commandments to abide by and to command the Children of Isra'il to abide by.... And He commands you to give charity. The parable of that, is a man captured by his enemies, tying his hands to his neck, and they come to him to beat his neck. Then he said: "I can ransom myself from you with a little or a lot" so he ransoms himself from them..."
Jami` [ at-Tirmidhi ]
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9 Charity is a cure to the diseases that I suffer, whether they are physical diseases such as headaches and others, or spiritual diseases such as envy and others
Allah be pleased with him ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said:
" … cure your patient people with spending in charity ..."
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10 I will be in the shade created by Allah on the last day when people will find no shade to protect them from the heat.
Abu Hurairah ( May Allah be pleased with him ) narrated that The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said:
"Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His ...." He mentioned the rest of the hadith, which says, "and a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given." (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity).
[ Agreed upon ].
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ So fear Allāh as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allāh]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful. }
Quran ( 64 : 16 )
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11 I will be in the shade created by Allah on the last day when people will find no shade to protect them from the heat.
Abu Hurairah ( May Allah be pleased with him ) narrated that The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said:
"Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His ...." He mentioned the rest of the hadith, which says, "and a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given." (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity).
[ Agreed upon ].
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12 I will be shaded in the shade of my charity on the last day.
'Uqbah Ibn 'Amir ( May Allah be pleased with him ) narrated, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) say,
"Everybody will be shaded by his Sadaqah (on the Day of Judgment) until it has been judged between the people."
[ Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim. ]
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13 Allah will erase my sins.
Ka'b bin Ujrah ( May Allah be pleased with him ) narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said to me: " O Ka'ab bin Ujrah! Salat is clear proof, and Sawm (fasting) is an impregnable shield, and Sadaqah (charity) extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire ...'"
[ Jami` at-Tirmidhi ]
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14 I avoid the anger of my Lord.
The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said:
"Indeed charity extinguishes the Lord's anger"
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15 I am protecting myself from the Hellfire.
'Adi bin Hatim ( May Allah be pleased with him ) reported: The Messenger of Allah ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said,
"Protect yourself from Hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity."
[ Al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
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16 Allah will give me many times than I have spent for his sake.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allāh who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned. }
Quran ( 2 : 245 )
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17 I am purifying myself
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ But the righteous one will avoid it [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself }
Quran ( 92 : 17 - 18 )
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Take, [O Muḥammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allāh's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing. }
Quran ( 9 : 103 )
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18 Spending in charity is a means to be saved from the Hellfire.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing. None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one Who had denied and turned away. But the righteous one will avoid it [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself }
Quran ( 92 : 14 - 18 )
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19 Spending in charity makes it easy for me to follow the path leading to the Paradise and to increase in doing righteous deeds.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ As for he who gives and fears Allāh And believes in the best [reward], We will ease him toward ease. }
Quran ( 92 : 5- 7 )
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20 Worshiping Allah with the requirements of his names Ash-Shakoor [most] Appreciative and Al-Haleem the Forbearing.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ If you loan Allāh a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allāh is [most] Appreciative and Forbearing, }
Quran ( 64 : 17 )
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21 I will attain the reward and have my wealth blessed by the Generous Lord.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward? }
Quran ( 57 : 11 )
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22 I am paying the due right of the poor.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived. }
Quran ( 51 : 19 )
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23 I will be with the truthful.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allāh and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allāh. It is those who are the truthful. }
Quran ( 49 : 15 )
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24 I will be free from stinginess, and Allah will not replace me with other people whom he loves.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allāh - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allāh is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. }
Quran ( 47 : 38 )
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25 I will be honored with spending for the sake of Allah who will take it and increase it.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Do they not know that it is Allāh who accepts repentance from His servants and receives charities and that it is Allāh who is the Accepting of Repentance,1 the Merciful? }
Quran ( 9 : 104 )
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26 Paying the Zakah is a means of purification and the increase of wealth.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Take, [O Muḥammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allāh's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing. }
Quran ( 9 : 103 )
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27 I am following the path of the successful.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ But the Messenger and those who believed with him fought with their wealth and their lives. Those will have [all that is] good and it is those who are the successful. }
Quran ( 9 : 88 )
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28 I will be of the truthful and I will avoid the path of the hypocrites.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And among them are those who made a covenant with Allāh, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."}
Quran ( 9 : 75 )
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29 I will be of the successful.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the cause of Allāh with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allāh. And it is those who are the attainers [of success]. }
Quran ( 9 : 20 )
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30 I fulfill the covenant of Allah so that he supports me.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And Allāh had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders. And Allāh said, "I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakāh and believe in My messengers and support them and loan Allāh a goodly loan,1 I will surely remove from you your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever of you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way." }
Quran ( 5 : 12 )
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31 Allah will gather me among the pious and allow me to reach their ranks
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allāh], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn. }
Quran ( 3 : 17 )
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32 Allah will give me the good rewards.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew. }
Quran ( 2 : 280 )
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33 Allah will increase the charity.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Allāh destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allāh does not like every sinning disbeliever. }
Quran ( 2 : 276 )
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34 Allah will remove fear, anxiety and sorrow
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Those who spend their wealth [in Allāh's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. }
Quran ( 2 : 274 )
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35 I will have my misdeeds removed
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds [thereby]. And Allāh, of what you do, is [fully] Aware. }
Quran ( 2 : 271 )
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36 I am seeking steadfastness on the straight path through spending for the sake of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And the example of those who spend their wealth seeking means to the approval of Allāh and assuring [reward for] themselves is like a garden on high ground which is hit by a downpour - so it yields its fruits in double. And [even] if it is not hit by a downpour, then a drizzle [is sufficient]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing. }
Quran ( 2 : 265 )
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37 Allah multiplies the reward for me in this life and in the Hereafter.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing. }
Quran ( 2 : 261 )
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38 I hope Allah will protect and increase my wealth.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And establish prayer and give zakāh, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allāh. Indeed Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing. }
Quran ( 2 : 110 )
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39 I am applying the commandment of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy. }
Quran ( 24 : 56 )
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40 I pay the Zakah to purify myself from the filth of sins.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Allāh intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification. }
Quran ( 33 : 33 )
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41 I will receive multiplied rewards if I spend sincerely for the sake of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And whatever you give for interest [i.e., advantage] to increase within the wealth of people1 will not increase with Allāh. But what you give in zakāh,2 desiring the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh - those are the multipliers. }
Quran ( 30 : 39 )
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42 I pay the Zakah to attain the mercy of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy. }
Quran ( 24 : 56 )
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43 I will be distinguished by the characteristics of the real men.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allāh and performance of prayer and giving of zakāh. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about - }
Quran ( 24 : 37 )
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44 I will be distinguished by the characteristics of the believers.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly intent And they who turn away from ill speech And they who are observant of zakāh … Those are the inheritors Who will inherit al-Firdaus.1 They will abide therein eternally. }
Quran ( 23 : 1- 11 )
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45 Paying the Zakah is a means to attain empowerment.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ [And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakāh and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allāh belongs the outcome of [all] matters. }
Quran ( 22 : 41 )
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46 Paying the Zakah is a mark of the way of the leaders guiding to the way of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakāh; and they were worshippers of Us. }
Quran ( 21 : 73 )
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47 I will be blessed in myself and wherever I am as the Prophet Ishmael was.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakāh as long as I remain alive }
Quran ( 19 : 31 )
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48 Paying the Zakah leads me to the satisfaction of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakāh and was to his Lord pleasing [i.e., accepted by Him]. }
Quran ( 19 : 55 )
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49 Allah honors those who spend in charity and those who maintain the mosques.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ The mosques of Allāh are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakāh and do not fear except Allāh, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided. }
Quran ( 9 : 18 )
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50 I pay the Zakah to attain the honor of being an ally to the believers and I hope to be an ally of Allah.
Allah said ( interpretation of the meaning ) :
{ Your ally is none but Allāh and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakāh, and they bow [in worship]. }
Quran ( 5 : 55 )