Special Command of Zakat and Charity for Women
Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of Abdullah bin Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, addressed women and advised: O women! Give charity, even if from your jewelry. Because on the Day of Judgment, most of the people of Hell will be you.
_Mishkat 160, narrated from Tirmidhi_
*Explanation:* The Noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, would sometimes address women collectively. On one occasion he gave this instruction.
He commanded women to give charity and also explained its benefit: Charity plays a major role in saving one from Hell.
Women also commit major sins and remain involved in serious wrongs. So he told them a way to save themselves from Hell: give charity. If you have no separate wealth, give from your jewelry.
In the Quran and Hadith, the word “Sadaqah” is used for both obligatory Zakat and voluntary charity. This Hadith can refer to both obligatory Sadaqah, meaning Zakat, and voluntary Sadaqah, meaning general charity.
*How Should Women Pay Zakat?*
After a full lunar year passes on silver or its equivalent value, pay 2.5% as Zakat, meaning one-fortieth portion.
See how little Allah has made obligatory. And it is for your own benefit. Allah does not need it. He is free of all needs. He gave everything to everyone.
You will receive the reward of your wealth in the Hereafter. In this world too, paying Zakat protects wealth and increases it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, swore: Charity never decreases wealth.
Many women ask: We have nothing besides jewelry. If we give from it, everything will finish. First, you can take from your husband and pay. When he provides all your needs, why wouldn’t he give 2.5% yearly to save you from Hell? If he does not give, then sell the jewelry.
We just learned from Hadith that charity does not decrease wealth. If you pay Zakat, Allah will give you more wealth and more jewelry. But you must turn toward Allah.
Suppose your jewelry finishes while paying Zakat. What harm is there? Being saved from Hell’s punishment and receiving Paradise’s blessings — is that a small benefit?
*Warning for Not Paying Zakat on Jewelry*
Amr bin Shuayb narrated from his father and grandfather: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. With her was a daughter wearing two thick gold bangles.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked the woman: Do you pay Zakat on this jewelry? She said: No. He said: Would you like that on the Day of Judgment Allah makes you wear two bangles of fire because of them?
Hearing this, the woman removed both bangles from the girl’s hands, presented them before the Prophet, and said: These are for Allah and His Messenger. I do not keep them. You may spend them wherever you wish.
*Explanation:* The Companions, men and women, were very concerned about the Hereafter and greatly feared its punishment.
See how one female Companion, after hearing about Hell, gave both bangles in charity and handed them to the Prophet to spend in Allah’s path as he wished.
Though she could have avoided punishment by paying past Zakat and arranging to pay it going forward. But she did not want to keep the bangles. Perhaps negligence would happen again. So she did not keep anything that might lead to accountability.
Glory be to Allah. How religious and Hereafter-focused the male and female Companions were. May Allah be pleased with them all.
*Virtue of Voluntary Charity*
Asma, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, addressed me and said: Keep spending in Allah’s path. Do not count and hoard, otherwise Allah will also give you by counting. Do not withhold wealth, otherwise Allah will withhold His blessings from you. Spend as much as possible on those in need.
_Mishkat 164, narrated from Bukhari and Muslim_
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, drew Asma’s attention to spending in Allah’s cause and caring for the poor, orphans, needy, and widows. He gave four instructions:
1. Keep spending.
2. Do not count and store. Do not get caught up in hoarding. Scholars also say: Do not count when giving to a needy person, otherwise Allah will also give you by counting. If you have much, its blessing will be removed.
3. Do not hoard wealth, otherwise Allah will not bless you from His unseen treasures.
4. Spend whatever little you can in the path of truth. “Whatever little you can” is very broad. Every poor person can act on it. Spending in Allah’s path relates to love of the Hereafter, not to being wealthy. A poor person can also spend according to his means.
*Giving Jewelry as Charity on Eid*
Abdur Rahman bin Abis narrated: Someone asked Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: Were you present with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on Eid? He replied: Yes, I was present with him on Eid. He led the Eid prayer, then delivered the sermon. Then he went to the women, advised them, reminded them of the Hereafter, and ordered them to give charity.
Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, was with him on that occasion. He spread his cloth, and women kept removing their jewelry and throwing it into his cloth. Among that jewelry were large rings. After that, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, took Bilal and returned to his home.
_Bukhari Sharif, 1/133_
In another narration from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: I saw that at the Prophet’s encouragement, women started giving charity and kept removing earrings and necklaces and giving them.
This shows that those women who loved the Prophet presented large rings, earrings, and necklaces before him. The Prophet collected this charity to spend on the needy.
It shows that compared to the Prophet’s love and the reward after death, jewelry had no value to them. Because their faith was certain.
In desire for Paradise’s jewelry, they gave their jewelry in Allah’s path without hesitation. In this temporary world, they preferred to keep their ears, necks, and hands without ornaments. May Allah grant us such feelings too. Ameen.
*Reward for Spending on Your Children*
Umme Salma, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Will I get reward if I spend on the children of my former husband Abu Salma, may Allah be pleased with him? They are my children. Do I get reward for spending on my own children?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Keep spending on them. You will get reward for spending on them.
_Mishkat 170, narrated from Bukhari_
The point is Allah is very Merciful. When a Muslim man or woman spends lawful wealth on themselves, or on children, or on parents, or on other relatives, or on the needy, there is great reward in that spending.
Allahu Akbar! Spend on your own and still earn reward. How great is Allah’s favor.
