5 Ways to Give Charity in Ramadan

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The month of Ramadan is considered to be the holiest and the most rewarding month of the entire year. One of the best ways to rack up good deeds on your scale this month is by giving charity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said “Sadaqah (charity) extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire” (At-Tirmidhi). As the month of forgiveness dawns upon us, what better way to make the best use of it than by giving? Moreover, every good deed done during the month of Ramadan is multiplied in rewards. Let us make the most of this holy month filled with mercy and bonuses that have no ends!

With so many options out there, you might be confused about how and where to give charity. We all are in different boats sailing across this month. Some of us are financially well-off, some of us do not have much to give away, rather would have lots of time to donate, and some of us might not know what to do with all the old properties that we have got. If you are having a difficult time navigating through how you can ‘donate’, then this article will guide you through! 

1. Give what you can, even if it’s just a piece of date

Charity is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from the punishment of the hellfire. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said “Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity” (Sahih al-Bukhari). We come to know through this hadith how strong of an impact charity can have on our deeds. Unlike zakah, which is a compulsory charity of a fixed amount that every capable Muslim is ordained to give, sadaqah is a voluntary charity with no fixed amount. Every Muslim is encouraged to give what they can afford. 

Even a small deed like giving a piece of date to the person next to you will be considered charity if it is done for the sake of Allah. Let’s say you have got a dollar or few in spare, why not give the little you have got to someone in need? It might not be much to you, but it would definitely add value to your scale of deeds, perhaps even more than someone who donated thousands and millions. Keeping this in mind, even students who are usually on a budget can easily reap the rewards of giving charity. When you do something solely for the pleasure of Allah, no deed is small. It is after all the intentions that count, and the sacrifices that you make for the sake of Allah that speak volumes! 

2. Donate to genuine charity organizations 

Finding genuine charity organizations can be quite a daunting task. Especially in this time and age when fundraising has become almost exclusively digital. We find numerous organizations that claim to be legit but they turn out to be scammers. A trustable charity organization has Employee Identification Numbers (EIN), and they should be registered with the IRS. The nonprofit you donate towards should provide you tax receipts as well. Apart from this, they should be transparent about what they do with your donations.  

Many charitable organizations accept different forms of donations. So take your time and dig through what you have and see what’s good to go. You can donate some of your clothes, bags, books and even those favorite pairs of sneakers. You can even donate your unused vehicles. At Cars4Jannah, we accept your old and unused vehicles and turn them into your ticket to Jannah! And the best part is, we accept not just cars but motorbikes, RV and boats as well. We will sell your vehicle and use the proceeds for a number of causes, such as feeding the poor, sponsoring an orphan’s education and a lot more. This way, you earn rewards not only in this dunya but in the akhirah as well.

By contributing to Islamic organizations, the rewards will continue for as long as people are benefiting from their services. Hence, it is a means of sadaqah jariyah (sadaqah that will continue to be rewarded even after death). 

3. Be a Volunteer for Your Local Mosque

Ramadan is a month when masjids are usually the busiest. From iftars to lectures, there is usually a lot happening within the masjid. It is during this time that masaajid need as many helping hands as they can find. You can be one of those helping hands. Not only is it highly rewarding but is also a means to improve ties within the Islamic community. Strengthening ties within the community is a necessity in this era due to all the chaos that is happening in the Muslim ummah.

Besides, what’s a better way to give charity in Ramadan than volunteering in a masjid? Your voluntary work will earn you a place in Jannah when it is done for the sake of Allah. It is also a great way to teach your children the importance of serving the community with whatever effort you can put in. This way, you earn rewards together as a family. 

Volunteering is an umbrella term that includes so many different activities. It does not necessarily mean coordinating an entire event. You can even volunteer to bring food, beverages and snacks for iftars that are organized on a daily basis. Or you can contribute your time to make a beautiful iftar spread for the guests who come into the masjid. These are all different forms of charity when done for the sake of Allah.  

4. Feed as many as you can 

Although there has been significant development in the recent years, poverty is still a major problem that continues to affect the Muslim ummah. The month of Ramadan serves as a reminder of how blessed we are. It teaches us the pain of hunger that many people go through on a daily basis. And this in turn teaches us humility. 

One of the ways to appreciate what Ramadan is really about is to feed people. There are many families out in the cold streets with little to nothing to eat and drink. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has been reported to have said, “Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever alleviates the need of a needy person, Allah will alleviate his needs in this world and the Hereafter” (Hadith an-Nawawi). 

This Ramadan, try quenching the hunger and thirst of someone in dire need, and watch your rewards stack up!

Among the Muslims, there might be times when some of us cannot fast due to reasons like sickness, pregnancy, nursing etc. This might make some of us feel excluded as one cannot enjoy the core essence of Ramadan. However, Allah is the Most Merciful and He sees you and rewards you for all that you try and do. 

And guess what? 

You can earn the rewards of fasting the entire day by feeding those who are fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said “Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest” (Sunan Ibn Majah). 

5. Donate to Da’waah Organizations

Charity in Ramadan just like every other good deed done during Ramadan, will be multiplied. Another way to give charity is by donating to Islamic organizations. When you donate to the cause of preaching Islam, you get your own equal share of the rewards and a special place in Jannah. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said, "Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action" (Riyad as-Salihin). In fact, it is an investment in your akhirah. 

Imagine the amount of rewards that will keep heaping up on your scale every time someone benefits because of what you contributed! This one hadith alone is a clear indication of how rewarding sadaqah jariyah can be. 

At Darussalaam, which is our parent non profit organization, we strive to educate, empower and support the growing Muslim ummah with your generous donations. The money you donate will be used for various causes like helping local Muslim communities in need, sponsoring orphaned children’s education, assisting families with low income, sharing the message of Islam, conducting various programs for youth development and a lot more. By donating to Darussalaam, your rewards will continue for lifetime and beyond In Sha Allah.