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Fatwa CenterCharity in Accordance with One’s Means
Question
As salam aleykumI currently donate 5 euros every Friday and would like to increase it to 10 euros, but I’m unsure if I can maintain this long term. Should I increase now and trust Allah’s provision, or wait until I’m more financially stable? If I later reduce back to 5 euros due to difficulty, is that permissible or a spiritual step back? How does Islam balance tawakkul and financial wisdom?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is His slave and Messenger.
Know that Allah has guaranteed the provision of His servants from the outset, whether they are believers or disbelievers. Also know that charity is a cause for an increase in provision and for an increase in blessing within it. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {And whatever you spend of anything, He will replace it, and He is the Best of Providers.} [Quran 34:39]
Furthermore, whoever places his reliance upon Allah, He will suffice him. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He is sufficient for him.} [Quran 65:3], meaning: He is enough for him.
Balance lies in a person beginning with himself, so that he is independent of people, and does not fall short in fulfilling the obligatory maintenance upon himself or upon those whose maintenance is his responsibility.
As for what exceeds that, if a person spends it in charity out of reliance upon Allah and trust in His promise to multiply it, then he has invested it with the Generous and the Rich. The more he gives, the more Allah multiplies his provision for him and increases him in reward. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan, so that He may multiply it for him, and for him is a noble reward?} [Quran 57:11]
There is no harm in a person increasing his charitable spending so long as he is able, and in intending to continue that level of spending so long as his obligations do not increase or his income does not decrease. This is not considered turning back; rather, he is rewarded for this good intention even if his obligations later increase and he is compelled to reduce the amount of his charity as a result. Indeed, Allah records for him the reward of that intention.
Human beings, by their nature, do not remain in a single state: at times a person gives one hundred, at times ten, at times three, and at other times he may refrain from giving charity for a period until Allah provides him with surplus beyond his needs. In all of this, he remains upon goodness, so long as he ensures that his own sustenance is from lawful and wholesome means, and then gives in charity—voluntarily, for the sake of Allah—whatever he is able to give.
Allah knows best.
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