By Ishola Balogun

O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day.

His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.

And whatever you spend for spendings (e.g., in Sadaqah – charity for Allah’s Cause) or whatever vow you make, be sure Allah knows it all. And for the Zalimun (wrong-doers) there are no helpers. (Quran 2 Verses 264, 270)

There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s Cause), or Ma’ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward.  (Quran 4 Verse 114)

The Arabic term “sadaqah” is one of a few words to which Islam gives a very broad meaning. It is often used interchangeably with zakah. Indeed, it is the term used to refer to zakah in the Qur’an which enumerates the classes of beneficiaries of zakah. But it is more general than zakah, because zakah denotes only that part of charitable donations which a Muslim must pay as a duty. If he refrains from paying it, he will be punished for that.  In fact the third of the pillars of Islam.

Sadaqah, on the other hand, refers to all charitable donations, whether obligatory or not. It is, however, more frequently used to refer to charitable donations which are given voluntarily. The meaning which immediately springs to mind when the term “sadaqah” is used is financial help given to a poor person, without any obligation on the part of the payer or any condition imposed on the receiver.

In an Hadith, Abu Hurairah quotes the Prophet as saying: “A charity is due for every joint in each person on every day the sun comes up; to act justly between two people is a charity to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.”

In another version, the Prophet is quoted to have mentioned another different example of actions which count as sadaqah: “To smile to your brother is a charity.” Anyone who is familiar with the Islamic philosophy can easily appreciate the great value attached to sadaqah.

This is further emphasized by the fact that Islam does not confine it to financial help. Kind actions and good turns done by one person to another are considered in the same light.

Don’t go back to sin, MMPN, UNIFEMGA urge Muslims

Muslims in the country have been urged to rededicate themselves to Allah and shun any acts capable of relapsing to their sinful ways after the holy month of Ramadan.

This is contained in Eid Fitr statements issued by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) chairman, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun and National President of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) Dr Abdulwahab Egbewole in Abuja.

MMPN said the period of Eid-ul-Fitr, “calls for sober reflection and a renewed opportunity to get closer to Allah in all ramifications.

“It is a period where every Muslim should remember Allah’s favours on them and therefore celebrate with moderation but with greater dedication to Allah”, Balogun said in the statement.

“It is also a period where all our elected leaders should use in fulfilling all their electoral promises to the citizenry as canvassed by them during their electioneering campaigns”

“While individuals too, should endeavour to always fulfil their promises not only to fellow human beings but to their Creator, Allah.

MMPN said since Islam is a religion of peace, its adherents must eschew violence, embrace peace and live in peace with other faithful of other religions.

“We therefore appeal to all our brethren to eschew violence, abhor thuggery, which destroys but embrace peace, dialogue, and diplomacy and be prayerful in resolving any crisis”, the statement stated.

In the same vein, Egbewole of UNIFEMGA urged Muslims not to go back to all acts shunned during the month of Ramadan but continue with the virtues and spirit of the month of Ramadan.

“We must remember all the lessons learnt during the month of Ramadan and make sure that we did not go back to those vices shunned during the fasting period.

On the insecurity challenges in the country, the association hailed the new moves by both the federal government and the militant group in finding amicable solution to the problem.

In the spirit of Ramadan, which just ended, UNIFEMGA appealed to all unions in the ivory tower, who are currently on strike, to call off their strike and embrace dialogue with the authorities of their various universities.

The Association also called on the Federal Government to nip in the bud the ongoing fuel scarcity in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and prevent it from spreading to other states of the federation.