Spending charity removes sins as water extinguishes fire ... charity extinguishes the wrath of Allah… charity shades the person on the Day of Resurrection. There are many other great virtues for spending in charity, and since the month of Ramadan is the month of generosity, we will address this topic from three different perspectives:
Generosity during Ramadan:
The month of Ramadan is the month of obedience and the performance of good deeds, and the Prophet was the best of mankind and the most obedient to his Lord, yet he used to increase his acts of worship during this blessed month. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “The Prophet was the most generous of all people, but the time he spent the most was during the month of Ramadan, and he used to increase his recitation of the Quran, prayers, mentioning Allah and I’tikaaf (i.e. residing in the mosque with the intention of worship)”.
The companions were distinctly generous during the month of Ramadan. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “There is a difference between being generous in charity and being wasteful: a generous person spends his charity in proper channels, whilst the wasteful person might spend extravagantly in places where it is not needed, and be very poorly in places where spending is direly needed.”
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The Prophet was the bravest person and the most generous.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, stated: “ TheProphet was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Jibreel met him. Jibreel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Quran, and when he met him, he would be more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (i.e. in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] Ibn Hajar said commenting on this narration: “This added generosity resulted from the virtue of the month, the one with whom he reviewed the Quran and the thing being reviewed (i.e. the Words of Allah).”
Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim counted ten levels of generosity, and they are as follows:
Sacrificing ones soul: Getting killed for the sake of Allah is the most paramount rank.
Utilizing ones position: This is the second best rank as in this case generosity makes a person favor fulfilling the needs of others over his personal interest and status.
Sacrificing comfort: A generous person exhausts himself and sacrifices his comfort and sleep for others.
Offering ones knowledge: This is one of the noblest ranks of generosity, and it is better than sacrificing ones wealth because knowledge is more honorable than wealth. Never will a stingy person be able to benefit from any knowledge if he possessed any, and it is from the wisdom of Allah that He only grants this knowledge to generous people who will be willing to offer it to others and benefit them with it. Generosity in this field is to teach the one who asks you what you know and to answer people’s queries.
Utilizing ones prestige: This is by interceding to people and facilitating their affairs with those in charge.
Sacrificing physically: Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said:“When you get up in the morning, charity is due from every one of your joints. There is charity in every ascription of glory to Allah (i.e. by uttering Subhaanallaah); there is charity in every declaration of His Greatness (i.e. by uttering Allahu Akbar); there is charity in every utterance of praise of Him (i.e. by uttering Al-Hamdulillaah); there is charity in every declaration that none is worthy of worship except Allah (i.e. by uttering Laa ilaaha Illallaah); there is charity in enjoining good; there is charity in forbidding evil. Two Rak`ah of Dhuhaa (Forenoon prayer) is equal to all this (in reward)”. [Muslim]
Sacrificing ones honor: This is by forgiving someone for badmouthing and backbiting you. This reflects ones purity in the heart and grants peace of mind and serenity.
Being patient: This is another honorable rank that benefits the person more than sacrificing his wealth. This rank grants the person support from Allah and leads to others holding him in high esteem, as only selected people are able to endure patiently when others harm them.
Being cheerful with others: Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said:“Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your Muslim brother with a cheerful face”.[Muslim] This is one of the heaviest deeds on the scale.
Not longing to possess what others have: This is the best type that reflects ones contentment with the decrees of Allah and imposes ones respect on others.
Delaying Zakah until Ramadan:
Allah Has prescribed Zakah on those whose wealth reaches a certain amount and made paying Zakah one of the pillars of Islam. When a full lunar year elapses whilst one possesses such wealth, then he is obliged to pay Zakah. In case of agriculture, it is due when plants yield fruits. It is not permissible to pay it in payments, nor is one allowed to delay Zakah until the month of Ramadan unless there is a dire need. Ibn Qudaamah and Ash-Shaafi’ee are of the opinion that: “Zakah must be paid immediately when it becomes due and one is not permitted to delay it whilst able to unless he fears a certain harm to afflict him due to paying it.”
When asked about delaying the payment of Zakah until the month of Ramadan, Shaykh Al-‘Uthaymeen said: “Zakah, like any other good deed, is preferred in virtuous times unless it becomes due, then a person must pay it immediately. If ones full lunar year elapses on the month of Rajab, for example, then he should not delay it until Ramadan and must pay it in Rajab.”
The ranks of Generosity: