Ṣadaqah (Arabic:صدقة[ˈsˤɑdæqɑ],* "charity", "benevolence",[1] pluralṣadaqātصدقات[sˤɑdæˈqɑːt]) in the modern-day Islamic context has come to signify "voluntarycharity".[2] Unlikezakat, which is a obligatory form ofalmsgiving and one of thefive pillars of Islam,ṣadaqah is a voluntary offering whose amount and nature are determined solely by the benefactor, as emphasized in the Quran.[3]
According to theQuran, the word means a voluntary offering, whose amount is at the will of the benefactor. It is similar to zakat, or compulsory giving, one of the five pillars ofIslam.
It is also acognate of theJewish concept oftzedakah, a Hebrew word that also refers to acts of voluntary giving.[4]
Sadaqah literally means "righteousness" and refers to the voluntary giving of alms or charity.[2] In Islamic terminology,sadaqah has been defined as an act of "giving something... without seeking a substitute in return and with the intention of pleasing Allah."[5] Meanwhile, according toAr-Rageeb al-Asfahaani “Sadaqa is what the person gives from what he possesses, likeZakat, hoping to get closer to Allah."[5]
The termsadaqah stems from the Arabic root wordsidq (s-d-q,ص د ق), which means "sincerity";sadaqah is considered a sign of sincere faith.[6] The three-letter root of this word,s-d-q, also means, "to speak the truth", "to be sincere", and "to fulfill one's promise". All of these aspects of honorable behavior indicate the links between generosity and a healthy society.[7][volume needed][page needed]
Some modern researchers also etymologically link the wordsadaqa to the Hebrewצדקהtzedāḳāh ("almsgiving"). Some experts hence conclude thatsadaqa is a loanword.[8]
Sadaqah box in Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque.Tyumen, Russia. May 2023.
The wordzakah (meaning the obligatoryzakah) occurs 30 times in theQuran—27 times linked with prayer, three times not so-linked.[Quran41:7] The wordsadaqah (non-obligatory charity) and its plural (sadaqat) occur 13 times in the Qur'an.[9]
"Sadaqat" is used in the Quran to cover all kinds of charity.Zakat has been calledsadaqat because it is also a kind of compulsory charity. It is an obligatorysadaqa while ordinarysadaqa are voluntary. Thus,zakat has to be collected by themuhtasib (collector) or the government (the Islamic state) as a compulsory levy.[10][volume needed][page needed]
According to the Quran,sadaqa leads to the purification of the benefactor.[3] The Quran says thatsadaqa does not need to be in a material form[11] and can also be a "voluntary effort", or a kind word.[Quran9:79][8] This is in agreement with anarration attributed toMuhammad which says "every good deed is a form ofsadaq."[1]
Kind words and compassion are deemed better than sadaqa accompanied by insult, from the viewpoint of the Quran. It is also preferable for donations to be offered discreetly to those in need rather than being done in public to seek acknowledgment. The Quran criticizes donations aimed at appearing generous and compromising the value of sadaqa through ostentatious public behavior, which renders a normally charitable act purely self-serving. The Quran suggests that sadaqa is not meant only to support the poor but can also be donated to others who may not be visibly in need, helping those who require assistance to enhance their lives or need guidance toward new jobs and economic opportunities.[8]
Among the many verses onsadaqat, either voluntary or obligatory, are these:
And be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).[Quran2:43]
They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, Allah knoweth it well.[Quran2:215]
Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.[Quran2:263]
Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked.[Quran2:276]
Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.[Quran2:277]
So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey and spend in charity for the benefit of your own soul and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, they are the ones that achieve prosperity.[Quran64:16]
According to someahadith, "a kind word and smile" can be considered assadaqa and the best form of it is "passing on knowledge."[1] Also, Muhammad said in ahadith thatsadaqa removes seventy gates of evil.[12]
The wordsadaqa is interchangeably used withzakat andnafaqa in some contexts,[3] but whilezakat is obligatory,sadaqa usually refers to voluntary donations.[1]
Zakat is a required minimum contribution by Muslims in terms of money and property or goods that can help Muslims who need assistance, whilesadaqah can be in the form of money, deeds, property, or salutations.[13]
The termsadaqah was used in the Quran and Sunnah for bothzakat and charity. Among the differences between them is that in the case ofzakat, the amount is fixed, utilized according to that which has been stated by the Islamic Law, and paid only once a year. However charity has no fixed percentage and one is free to pay it as many times as one can afford or feel inclined to it.[14][page needed][verification needed]
^Pronunciation variations inLiterary Arabic:/sˤadaqa/, the first and the last vowels could be backed to[ɑ] and the last vowel could be turned to[ɐ]. The second vowel could also be backed to[ɑ] or fronted to[æ]. Thus[sˤɑdæqɑ,sˤɑdæqɐ,sˤɑdɑqɑ]. SeeArabic phonology.
^abcdIbrahim, Barbara (2008). Ibrahim, Barbara; Sherif, Dina H. (eds.).From Charity to Social Change: Trends in Arab Philanthropy. American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 5.ISBN9789774162077.
^abAbu-Nimer, Mohammed (2006). "Framework for Nonviolence and Peacebuilding in Islam". In Said, Abdul Aziz; Abu-Nimer, Mohammed; Sharify-Funk, Meena (eds.).Contemporary Islam: Dynamic, Not Static. Taylor & Francis. p. 145.ISBN9780415770118.
^Cornell, Vincent J. (2007).Voices of Islam: Voices of tradition.[ISBN missing]
^abcNanji, Azim."Almsgiving".Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān. Retrieved29 November 2016.
^Zulfiqar, Muhammad (2011).Zakah According To Quran & Sunnah. Darussalam Publishers.[ISBN missing]
^Maulana, Mohammad (2006).Encyclopaedia Of Quranic Studies. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.[ISBN missing]
^Nanji, Azim (2012-04-30). "Zakat: Faith and Giving in Muslim Contexts". In Palmer, Michael D.; Burgess, Stanley M. (eds.).The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Religion and Social Justice. John Wiley & Sons. p. 321.ISBN9781405195478.
^Homerin, Th. Emil (2005-11-08). "Altruism in Islam". In Neusner, Jacob; Chilton, Bruce (eds.).Altruism in World Religions. Georgetown University Press. p. 77.ISBN1589012356.
^Rasdi, Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad (2014).Rethinking the Mosque In the Modern Muslim Society. ITBM. p. 155.ISBN978-967-430-387-7.
^Higab, Mohammed (2008).Islam is the All-divine Messages in One. Vol. 1. Islamic Publications Bureau.[ISBN missing]
^Mohammad Solaiman Mandal (2009).Socioeconomic Development and Human Welfare: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Mohammad Solaiman Mandal.[ISBN missing]
^Zulfiqar, Muhammad (201).Zakah According To Quran & Sunnah.[ISBN missing]
^Zakât Foundation of America (2008).The Zakat Handbook: A Practical Guide for Muslims in the West.[ISBN missing]
^Subhash C. Inamdar (2009).Muhammad and the Rise of Islam: The Creation of Group Identity.[ISBN missing]
^abMirza Yawar Baig (2012).Leadership Lessons from the Life of Rasoolullah: Proven Techniques.[ISBN missing]
^Islamic Cultural Centre (2008).The Islamic Quarterly, Volume 29.[ISBN missing]
^Musharraf Hussain (2012).The Five Pillars of Islam: Laying the Foundations of Divine Love and Service.[ISBN missing]
^Mohammad Solaiman Mandal (2009).Socioeconomic Development and Human Welfare: An Interdisciplinary.[ISBN missing]
^abMuhammad bin Jamil Zeno (1996).Pillars of Islam and Iman, and what Every Muslim Must Know about His Religion. Darussalam.[ISBN missing]
^abcAhmed Ali Al-Kuwaity (2015).The Beauty of Charity. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.[ISBN missing]
^Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr Ibn Qayyim al-Jawzīyah; Imam Ibn Qayyim Al Jauziyah (2003).Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet. Darussalam.[ISBN missing]
^Mohamed Ariff; Shamsher Mohamad (2017).Islamic Wealth Management: Theory and Practice. Amazon.[ISBN missing]
^Abdulazeez Abdulraheem (2014).Al Asmaa Ul Husnaa: How To Live By The Names of Allah. Amazon.[ISBN missing]
^Muḥammad Zakariyyā; M. M. Qurashi; Khawaja Ihsanul Haq (2009).Volumes 1-2 of Fazail-e-sadaqaat. Zam Zam Publishers.[ISBN missing]
Debasa, Ana Maria Carballeira (2014). "Charity and Poverty". In Fitzpatrick, C.; Walker, A. (eds.).Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God. Vol. I. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. pp. 92–96.ISBN978-1610691772.
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