Women and the Special Ruling of Zakat and Charity in Islam
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the believing women: “O women! Give charity, even if it is from your jewelry, because most of the people of Hell will be from among you.” (Mishkat-ul-Masabih 160, Tirmidhi)
Explanation: The Prophet (peace be upon him) would sometimes address women collectively and advised them to give charity. He explained that charity is a means of protection from Hell. Since women can also fall into major sins, they were encouraged to protect themselves through charity. If they do not have separate wealth, they may give from their jewelry. In Islamic terminology, “charity” refers both to obligatory Zakat and voluntary charity.
How women should give Zakat: When one lunar year passes over silver or equivalent wealth, 2.5% (one fortieth) must be given as Zakat. This is a very small obligation, but its benefit is immense. Allah is free of need, and this obligation is for the benefit of humans themselves. Zakat does not decrease wealth; rather, it brings blessing and increase, as mentioned in Hadith.
Some women say they only have jewelry and nothing else. In that case, they can either give Zakat from it or their husbands may assist them. If Zakat is not given, jewelry can be sold to fulfill the obligation. Even if it seems wealth will decrease, the reward of protection from Hell and entry into Paradise is far greater.
Warning for not giving Zakat on jewelry: A woman once came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with her daughter wearing heavy gold bangles. The Prophet asked if she paid Zakat on them. When she replied no, he said: “Would you like Allah to make you wear bangles of fire on the Day of Judgment?” Hearing this, she immediately removed them and gave them in charity. (Mishkat, Tirmidhi)
Explanation: The Companions were extremely conscious of the Hereafter. This woman, upon hearing the warning, gave her jewelry in charity without hesitation, preferring safety from punishment over worldly possession.
Virtue of voluntary charity: The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised: “Spend in charity and do not count it carefully, otherwise Allah will also give you by counting, and His blessings may be withheld.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Meaning: Keep giving charity regularly, do not hoard wealth unnecessarily, and do not hesitate in helping the poor. Even small charity is valuable. Charity is not about wealth but about sincerity and love for the Hereafter.
Charity on Eid occasions: During Eid, the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged women to give charity. The women of the Companions removed their rings, earrings, and necklaces and gave them in charity. (Bukhari)
Explanation: This shows their deep love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and strong faith in the reward of the Hereafter. They preferred spiritual reward over worldly ornaments.
Reward of spending on one’s children: Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) whether she would get reward for spending on the children of her deceased husband. He replied: “Yes, you will be rewarded for whatever you spend on them.” (Bukhari)
Explanation: In Islam, spending on one’s family, children, parents, and relatives with lawful earnings is also an act of worship and carries great reward.
Charity in Islam and the Special Status of Women in Giving Sadaqah and Zakat
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that a poor woman came to her with two daughters. She asked for help, but Hazrat Aisha had nothing except one date. She gave it to her. The woman split the date into two parts and gave one piece to each daughter, while she herself did not eat anything. Soon after, the Prophet (peace be upon him) came and Hazrat Aisha narrated the incident. He said: “Whoever is tested with the care of daughters and treats them well, those daughters will become a shield for him from the Fire of Hell.” (Mishkat 431, Bukhari & Muslim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said that even a charity equal to a single date given from lawful earnings is accepted by Allah with great honor, and Allah increases it until it becomes like a mountain. (Bukhari & Muslim)
Allah accepts even small charity and increases it greatly. So one should never hesitate in giving charity, because it benefits both the giver and the needy.
The virtue of raising daughters: The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings that whoever takes care of daughters and treats them kindly will be protected from Hell. He also said that the best charity is spending on a daughter who has returned due to divorce or widowhood and has no one else to support her. Whoever raises three daughters or sisters, teaches them good manners, and treats them with mercy until they become self-sufficient, Paradise becomes obligatory for him. The same reward applies for two daughters, and even for one daughter the same virtue is mentioned in narrations.
Spending on relatives: Helping close relatives carries double reward—one for charity and one for maintaining family ties. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that charity given to a poor person is one charity, but charity given to a relative is both charity and maintaining kinship.
It is also important to note that when giving to relatives, it is better not to announce it as charity, but rather as a gift or help, so that their dignity is preserved.
Hazrat Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) used to earn through handicrafts and spend all of it in charity. She was extremely generous and preferred the Hereafter over worldly wealth. She also used to care for orphans and widows and would distribute her wealth among the needy.
She once received an annual allowance from the treasury, but she immediately distributed it among the poor. Even when she was given money for her personal needs, she gave it away. She prepared her own funeral cloth but instructed that one of the shrouds should be given in charity.
Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that no woman was more truthful, pious, generous, and God-fearing than Hazrat Zainab. She was extremely devoted in worship and very active in charity.
These examples show the high rank of women in Islam who combine worship with generosity. They remind us to spend in charity regularly, even if it is small, and to support orphans, widows, and relatives with sincerity.
When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three things: ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge from which people continue to benefit, and righteous children who make supplication for him.
Reported by Abu Huraira (RA): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said that when a person dies, all his deeds end, but the benefit of three things continues.
Sadaqah Jariyah means a charity whose benefit does not end but continues for a long time, and the reward keeps reaching the giver. For example, contributing to the construction of a religious school, donating books of Hadith, Fiqh and Tafsir to a Darul Uloom, digging a well, building a guest house for travelers, or doing any such work from which people keep benefiting. As long as people benefit from it, reward continues to be written in the record of deeds and ranks are raised. A person should try to do such deeds during his lifetime.
Beneficial knowledge includes teaching someone the Qur’an, making someone a scholar, teaching prayer, or writing and spreading religious books. This is also Sadaqah Jariyah.
Righteous children who pray for their parents also benefit them after death. Raising and nurturing children is itself an action of the parents, and when the children grow up and become capable of making supplication, their prayers are also counted as a continuation of the parents’ good deeds. If parents teach their children religious knowledge and train them in good deeds, then whatever good deeds the children perform, the parents also receive a share in the reward because they were the cause of it.
Regarding neighbors, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that no woman should consider any gift she gives to her neighbor insignificant, even if it is the hoof of a goat.
Islam places great emphasis on the rights of neighbors. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Angel Jibreel kept emphasizing the rights of neighbors so much that he thought neighbors might even be given inheritance rights.
Another narration states that the best companion is the one who behaves best towards his companions, and the best neighbor is the one who behaves best towards his neighbors.
This shows that a person’s goodness is judged by his behavior with companions and neighbors. Today, good manners and harmony in relationships have become rare among relatives and siblings, which is a serious weakness in faith. A believer should even try to bring happiness to enemies.
It is also understood that women sometimes tend to create disputes more than maintaining good relations. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged giving and receiving gifts among each other, as gifts remove hatred and resentment.
A gift should never be considered insignificant. Even a small thing should be accepted happily. One should thank the giver, pray for them, and consider the intention of spreading love and goodwill.
Regarding neighbors, if a person has two neighbors, the one whose door is closer has more right to receive a gift first.
This shows that Islam teaches wisdom and proper understanding in doing good deeds, and knowledge is necessary for performing good actions correctly.
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