Ḥadīth Lesson: The Best of Sadaqah

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa RaḥmatuLlāhi wa Barakātuh. A‘ūdhu BiLlāhi Minash-shayṭāni r-rajīm. BismiLlāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm. Wa ṣ-Salātu wa s-Salāmu ‘alá Rasūlinā Muḥammadin Sayyidi l-Awwalīna wa l-Akhirīn. Madad yā RasūlAllāh, Madad yā Sādāti Aṣḥābi RasūliLlāh, Madad yā Mashāyikhinā, Dastūr Mawlana Sheikh Abdullāh al-Fā’iz ad-Dāghistāni, Sheikh Muḥammad Nāẓim al-Ḥaqqānī. Madad.

1Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The most virtuous charity is the one given in the month of Ramaḍān.” Charity, which is rewarded tenfold, can increase to seven hundredfold during Ramaḍān. Therefore, while it’s necessary to give charity at all times, dedicating zakāt for Ramaḍān is much better for a person.

2Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

A man asked the Prophet, “What’s the best charity?” “The best charity is that which is given with the tongue,” says our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. The Companions asked this, “What is the sadaqah of the tongue?” When asked, our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam said: “It is intercession.” So being an intercessor for a person, protecting him, saying, “I vouch for him. He’s a good person.” It is the charity of the tongue, says our Holy Prophet ﷺ. So saving a person from bad things, bad situations, and bad states, is like speaking nicely about that person and making others forgive him. “This way you save a prisoner.” You can also save captives by talking good of them. “You prevent bloodshed.” Again, by giving advice and talking to a person, that becomes

a charity for you. Sometimes things get worse and sometimes there are fights leading to bloodshed. Preventing it would be a charity of the tongue. “You will be a means in bringing goodness and beneficence to your Muslim brother. You will repel any evil that may happen to him,” says Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. Whatever the means is in doing goodness in return for this person, whether it is because he needs it or because he wants help or you’re making him stay away from something bad, it is all charity, these are the charity of the tongue. So, it puts people in good states. Through them evil stays away.

3Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The most virtuous act of charity is to feed a hungry creature.” The hungry one; from people, animals, all kinds of things. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla and our Holy Prophet ﷺ do not say that about mankind only. Feeding the hungry is the most virtuous charity. Whether it is a person, an animal or a thing, feeding him is the most virtuous charity. It is acceptable in the sight of Allāh ﷻ.

4Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

There are many types of charity. Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam explains them. “The most virtuous and best form of charity is to make peace between two people.” So reforming among disgruntled people and solving their problems is also a great charity.

5Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ says, “The most virtuous and best charity is to preserve the tongue.” So, it is not about oppressing people with one’s tongue, but about preserving one’s tongue and saying good.

6Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The most virtuous and best sadaqah are those given to the poor from secret pockets and by those who have little wealth.” So it is more virtuous to give sadaqah to the poor in secret. Even if a person has little wealth, the one who gives sadaqah as much as his means allow is more virtuous than the normal person giving.

7Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The most virtuous form of charity is to lend or donate a dirham or a ride on an animal.” So, giving money for the transportation of a person from one place to another or giving them an animal are among the most virtuous charities.

8Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The most virtuous person is the one who makes his best to give from his little wealth.” So he who works hard and from that gives charity is the best of people.

9Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The best kind of charity is that given when one is wealthy. Begin by first providing for those whom you are obligated to support their needs.” A wealthy person who gives charity will find goodness in it. They should start by giving to their family, then their relatives, and then to those closest to them.

10-Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The best kind of charity is that which is given when you are rich, and the upper hand (which gives) is better than the lower hand (which takes), and start with those for whom you are responsible.”

11-Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “The best charity is the loan of a milk-producing animal. It goes with good deeds and returns with good deeds.” Of course in the past, most people used to raise animals. They had different principles. For example, one lends sheep and goats. “Keep it for 1-2 months. Take its milk; and benefit from its milk.” It is also one of the best sadaqah. When it leaves, reward is written for you; and when it comes, reward is written for you.

12-Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “There is no charity that has more reward than giving water to a thirsty person.” Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam says that the greatest charity is water. It is the most virtuous for the thirsty person.

13-Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “No charity is more virtuous than the remembrance of Allāh ﷻ.” Remembering Allāh ﷻ is also charity. Making Dhikr of Allāh ﷻ is one of the greatest sadaqah.

14-Qala RasuluLlah salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ (peace be upon him ﷺ) says:

Our Holy Prophet ﷺ is saying, “No charity is more virtuous than words spoken to alleviate someone’s distress.” Our Holy Prophet ﷺ says that if a person is in trouble, is in a difficult situation when no one helps him and there is no help for him even verbally. If a person does him good and saves him, he will have committed a great charity.

Sadaqa RasuluLlah fi ma qal, aw kama qal. The Messenger of Allāh ﷻ says the truth in what he ﷺ said or as he ﷺ said.

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Ihda’ – Dedication: Ziyadatan ila sharafi’ ‘n-Nabi, sallaLlahu `alayhi wa sallam wa Alihi wa Asahabihi l-kiram, wa ila arwahi jamee’i al Anbiya’i wa l-Mursalin wa Khudama’i sharai’ihim wa ila arwahi al ‘Aimmati al arba’a, wa ila arwahi Mashayyikhina fi t-Tariqati n-Naqshbandiyyati l-Aliyyah, khassatan Imamu t-Tariqah wa Ghawthu l-Khaliqah Khwaja Bahauddin Muhammad al-Uwaisiyi l-Bukhari, Sayyidina Abdul Khaliq al Ghujduwani, Mawlana Shaykh Sharafuddin al Daghestani, Mawlana Shaykh Abdullah al Faiz al Daghestani, Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al Haqqani, wa sai’ri Sadatina wa s-Siddiqiyun, wa man nahnu fi hadratihim wa jiwarihim. To the souls of all our ancestors. For goodness to come and evil to be warded off. Li-Llahi Ta’ala, Al-Fatiha.

[(Translation) To the honor of the Prophet, Prayers and Peace be upon Him, and his family, and his companions, and the souls of all the prophets as well as of His messengers and of those who served their Sharia, and to the souls of the four Imams. And to the souls of our Mashayikh of the Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Tariqa, in particular to the soul of the Imam of the Tariqa Ghawth al-Khaliqa (the Help of Creation), Khwaja Bahauddin Muhammad al-Uwaisiyi l-Bukhari, Sayyidina Abdul Khaliq al Ghujduwani, Mawlana Shaykh Sharafuddin al Daghestani, Mawlana Shaykh Abdullah al Faiz al Daghestani, Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al Haqqani, and the rest of our masters and Siddiqiyun, and to whom we are in their presence and near them. To the souls of all our ancestors. For goodness to come and evil to be warded off. To Allah Almighty. Al Fatiha.]

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 21 July 2026/ 07 Safar 1448 Beylerbeyi Dergah, Istanbul