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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As salaam wa alaikum

I heard from someone that we should have to pay 5% monthly other than zakah. Please explain me in details about what are the other things we have to pay to needy people and who are the eligible for the same? 

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Answer:

Charity other than zakah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …..I heard from someone that we should have to pay 5% monthly other than zakah. Please explain me in details about what are the other things we have to pay to needy

people and who are the eligible for the same? 

Allah Subhanah has Declared that every believer (man, woman, or child) who has been blessed with abundance above the prescribed ‘nisaab’ must fulfill the obligatory duty of ‘zakah’ from their excess wealth.

Other than the obligatory ‘zakah’ dues, Allah and His Messenger (saws) time and time again exhorted and encouraged the believers to spend in the Cause of Allah from the sustenance provided unto them by their Lord from their voluntary charity or ‘sadaqah’…..

Allah says in the Glorious Quran, Chapter 63, Surah Munafiqoon, verse 10:

Spend (in the Cause of Allah) from the provisions that We have given you, before death should come to any of you and then he should say, "O my Lord, why did You not reprieve me awhile that I should have given in charity and become of the righteous." But Allah does not at all reprieve a person when his term comes to an end, and Allah is well aware of what you all do.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran, Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah, verse 261:

The charity of those who expend their wealth in the Way of Allah may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces seven ears and each ear yields a hundred grains. Likewise Allah develops manifold the charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran, Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah, verse 254:

Believers, spend of the wealth We have bestowed upon you (in Allah's way), before the Day comes when there shall be no buying and no selling; when neither friendship nor intercession will be of any avail.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran, Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah, verse 274:

274 Those who spend (in charity) of their goods by night and by day in secret and in public have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 2 Surah Baqarah verse 195:

195 And spend of your substance in the Cause of Allah and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction but do good; for Allah loves those who do good.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 34 Surah Saba verse 39:

39 Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the sustenance to such of His servants as He Pleases: and nothing do ye spend in the least (in Allah’s Cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those Who grant sustenance.

Your Statement: …..I heard from someone that we should have to pay 5% monthly other than

zakah.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 2 Surah Baqarah verse 219:

219 ….. They ask thee (O Prophet (saws)) how much they are to spend. Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider.

After the fulfillment of one’s ‘zakah’ or obligatory charity, there is absolutely no minimum or maximum percentage of one’s wealth which one is required to spend in ‘sadaqah’ or voluntary charity……One may spend whatever is beyond one’s needs or whatever one pleases and wishes for the Sake, Pleasure, and Good-Will of their Lord Most Gracious Alone, convinced with the fact that they will find their reward in the Presence of their Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme for their good deeds.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 34 Surah Saba verse 39:

39 Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the sustenance to such of His servants as He Pleases: and nothing do ye spend in the least (in Allah’s Cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those Who grant sustenance.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 57 Surah Hadid verse 7:

7 Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For those of you who believe and spend (in charity) for them is a Great Reward.

Respected brother, we absolutely assure you in the Blessed Name of the Lord, that there is nothing in the Quran or the Sunnah which requires one to spend only or as much as 5% monthly in ‘sadaqah’ or voluntary charity……one may spend whatever is beyond one’s needs in ‘sadaqah’ or as much as is easy and convenient for them.

Your Question: ….Please explain me in details about what are the other things we have to pay to needy people and who are the eligible for the same? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:

60 Charity (zakah dues) are for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage, and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Unlike the obligatory ‘zakah’ where one is required to spend only on the above listed eight categories, one is at absolute liberty to spend of one’s ‘sadaqah’ or voluntary charity on anyone and anything in the Cause and for the Sake and Pleasure of their Lord Most Gracious……

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 2 Surah Baqarah verse 215:

215 They ask thee on whom they should spend (in charity). Say: ‘Whatever ye spend that is good is for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good Allah knows it well.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran 2 Surah Baqarah verse 177:

177 It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan