Fatwa ID: 08165

 

Answered by: Moulana Sakib Shadman

Question:

Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuhu.

Is there such a thing as giving too much in charity?

I know we are supposed to take a middle route. Charity does not decrease wealth, and Allah gives back anything that you give. But at the same time, it is good to have savings for emergency situations, and it is good to invest and take care of your wealth and help it grow.

I want to give a large amount. I am happy to do this because I know Allah will give it me back and my wealth is on loan from Him anyway. Is it okay for me to donate a large amount to charity, even if it will make a dent in the amount I’m saving up for a house deposit? I am a female.

Also, my parents would be annoyed if they found out because they think I give too much.

Please can you advise?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Islam is a balanced religion, and our Deen encourages us to be moderate in our spending. This is referenced in the following Quranic verse:

{ وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا }

And do not keep your hand tied to your neck, nor extend it to the full extent, lest you should be sitting reproached, empty-handed.
[Surah Al-Isrāʾ: 29]

Hence, one should neither be too spendthrift nor too miserly. The following Hadith also encourages moderation in all our affairs:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the (Hell) Fire).” They said, “Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?” He said, “No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise).”

Thus adopting a middle course in all our actions is the key to attaining Paradise. The Sahabah (RA) were indeed very generous in giving charity. However, as Muslims, we should heed the advice of our beloved Messenger of Allah (SAW):

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: “The best of charity is that which is given when you are wealthy/self-sufficient (from the money left over after one’s expenses), and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible.”

While we should also be generous in donating our money, we should manage our wealth and budget wisely. This is from the Sunnah of Rasulullah SAW and it is known as Tadbeer (planning and organizing the matters of our livelihood).

Part of our wealth shall be utilized for spending on ourselves and our dependents.

Another part of our wealth should be set aside for our future planning and investments.

Another portion should be set aside for emergency funds.

Finally, we should set aside some wealth which we shall spend for the sake of earning the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.

One should dedicate as much of their wealth to spending for the sake of Allah Ta’ala whilst not neglecting their own needs. This is further emphasized in the following Quranic verse:

{ ۞ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَاۤ أَكۡبَرُ مِن نَّفۡعِهِمَاۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَۖ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَۗ }

[Surah Al-Baqarah: 219]
And they ask you what they should spend. Say, The excess [beyond needs].

In conclusion, there is reward for spending on yourself and fulfilling the rights of your dependents. One should not donate so much charity that they overburden themselves. While it is true that Allah Ta’ala will replace your charity with more wealth, again, moderation in all matters will draw the most Barakah (blessings) in your wealth and your life. Thus, please do continue to be generous and charitable, but also listen to your parents as they are advising you to be sensible and balanced in that regard.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by: Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لَنْ يُنَجِّيَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَلاَ أَنَا، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِي اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ، سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، وَاغْدُوا وَرُوحُوا، وَشَىْءٌ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ‏.‏ وَالْقَصْدَ الْقَصْدَ تَبْلُغُوا ‏”‏‏.‏

 

Sahih al-Bukhari 6463

Chapter 18: The adoption of a middle course, and the regularity of deeds, Book 81: To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6463

 

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

 

Sunan an-Nasa’i 2534

Chapter 53: Giving Charity When You Are Self-Sufficient, Book 23: The Book of Zakah

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

https://sunnah.com/nasai:2534

 

الحديث السبعون عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيِّ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ، لَا عَقْلَ كَالتَّدْبِيرِ، وَلَا وَرَعَ كَالْكَفِّ، وَلَا حَسَبَ كَحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ» . رواه البيهقي في ” شعب الإيمان “.

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ص142 – كتاب بهجة قلوب الأبرار وقرة عيون الأخيار ط الوزارة – حديث لا عقل كالتدبير ولا ورع كالكف ولا حسب كحسن الخلق – المكتبة الشامل

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