On Increasing Acts of Generosity During Ramadan

Shehu Uthman Dan Fuduye’ said in his Ihya: “From the
path of the sunna of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, during Ramadan is it
being highly recommended to increase in good deeds
(ziyaadatu 'l-khayr).

It is related in the Saheeh of al-Bukhari on the
authority of Ibn 'Abbas: "The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace was the most
generous of all the people, and he used to reach the
peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Jibril
convened with him to rehearse the Qur’an. Jibril used
to meet him night of Ramadan to review the Qur'an with
him. Allah's Apostle was the most generous person,
even more generous than the strong wind (in readiness
and haste to do charitable deeds)".

Ibn Hajr said: “The meaning of Ibn Abass words ‘the
most generous of people’ is that he, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace was more generous then than
any other human. Generosity means munificence and is
among the praiseworthy characteristics.

It has related by Imam at-Tirmidhi on the authority of
Sa`d that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and grant him peace said:“Verily Allah is Munificent
and He loves munificence.”

In the above tradition one may imagine that the
generosity of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace was specific for Ramadan,
however munificence was his character by nature
however he would increase in generosity and
openhandedness during the month of Ramadan more so
than in any other time.

There are also two other prophetic traditions that
explain the meaning of the generosity of the Messenger
of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Anas ibn Malik related the first, but there is some
question about its chain of authority: “I am the most
generous of the children of Adam. And the most
generous of them after me is a man who learned some
knowledge and disseminates it and a man who is
generous with his life in the Way of Allah.”

Anas ibn Malik also related the second tradition, and
its chain is sound: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace was the most courageous
of men and the most generous of men.”

The above description of the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace being: “even more generous
than the strong wind”, means that his action, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace during Ramadan was
persistent, continuous without end.

In this tradition are several principles. Among these
principles is that the merits of time is obtained
through increase in acts of worship.

Among these is that persistence in recitation of the
Qur’an necessitates increase in good. This is true
based upon his words: “and he used to reach the peak
in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Jibril
convened with him to rehearse the Qur’an”.

Among these is it being highly recommended to increase
in acts of worship in the final years of one’s life.

Among these is that the nights of Ramadan are superior
to its days. Among these is the fact that even though
the Qur’an would be revealed throughout the year,
Jibril, upon him be peace would review what had been
revealed throughout the year during the month of
Ramadan, then Allah would establish His judgments in
certain verses and abrogate certain verses.

Among these principles is that acts of worship should
always be accompanied with acts of generosity in
charity in order for them to be accepted by Allah
ta`ala.

The key element about the above mentioned tradition by
the Shehu is to establish that Ramadan is the time
that the servants of Allah ta`ala increase in acts of
generosity and munificence.

This brings us now to the questioned Sister Amina of
Hartford, Connecticut raised regarding the secrets of
giving alms (sadaqa) in the manner that the Shehu had
delineated to us.

The following was related by Shaykh Adam Abdullahi
al-Ilorin in his book Qaala as-Shaykh (‘The Shehu
says’):

“Whoever gives alms on Sunday when the sun rises
(tuluu` as-shams) will find his supplications answered
and will attain merit with Allah ta`ala.

Whoever gives alms on Monday during the forenoon
(duhaa) Allah will accept all of his actions and take
care of all his needs.

Whoever gives alms on Tuesday during midday
(nisf’n-nahaar) his enemies will not be able to
approach him with injustice or wrong.

Whoever gives alms on Wednesday during the time of
dhuhr he will not be harmed in his worldly affairs by
magic, thievery or the evil glance.

Whoever gives alms on Thursday between the times of
dhuhr and asr Allah will send down upon him miraculous
signs of actions, belief, baraka, and love.

Whoever gives alms on Fridays after the asr prayer
Allah will forgive him of his sins and accept his
supplications.

Whoever gives alms on Saturday at the setting of the
sun (ghuruub as-shams) Allah will give him this world
and the Hereafter and enter him in Paradise without
reckoning.”

I say, that even if you have no money or material
possessions to give away in charity, you can still
give charity by making supplications for believers you
know and dont know at these mentioned times, because
it has been related in many traditions that
supplication for the believers is a form of charity.

Success is with Allah