24/03/2021
449 AH) from Nisaboor say: ‘I became sick with a very dangerous illness, and a righteous neighbour of mine saw me and said: ‘Utilise the saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ : ‘Treat your sick by giving Sadaqah (charity).’ It was summer time, and I bought many watermelons, and a group of poor people and children got together and ate them, then they raised their hands to Allah Almighty and they made Dua’ for me to be cured. I swear by Allah I had not reached the morning except that I regained complete health from Allah, Tabaraka wa ta’ala.” [6]
7. Many from the Salaf saw the giving of charity as a means for their expiation. Ibraheem an-Nakha’i (from the major tabi’i) said:
كانوا يرون أن الصدقة تَدْفَع عن الرجل الظلوم
“It is seen that (the giving of) sadaqah pays for (and repels) the oppression of men.” [7]
8. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah said:
فان للصدقة تاثيرا عجيبا في دفع انواع البلاء ولو كانت من فاجر أو من ظالم بل من كافر فان الله تعالى يدفع بها عنه انواعا من البلاء وهذا امر معلوم عند الناس خاصتهم وعامتهم واهل الأرض كلهم مقرون به لانهم جربوه
“Indeed sadaqah has a great effect in repelling different types of trials and tribulations, even if the charity was given by an evil or an oppressive person, even (if it was given) by a non-Muslim! Indeed Allaah, The Most High, repels different types of trials and tribulations due to giving sadaqah. This is a matter which is well-known to the scholars and the general folk and the people on the earth can relate to it as they have experienced it.” [8]
9. Allah ﷻ Said in the Qur’an:
إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ
“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds” [Hud: 114]
As part of a lengthy hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
والصدقة تطفئ الخطيئة كما يطفئ الماء النار
“Sadaqah extinguishes (minor) sins just as water extinguishes fire…” [9]
In relation to seeking healing through charity, we also understand that the evil deeds and sins, which are removed by good deeds (i.e. giving sadaqah) can also impact positively on o