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Charity & Spending (Ṣadaqa & Infāq)

Spending in God's way (infāq) and charity (ṣadaqa) are treated in detail in the Qur'an — especially 2:261-274.

Elements in the Qur'an

  • Multiplied return: "Those who spend their wealth in God's way are like a grain that grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains." (2:261)
  • How to give: without reproach or injury (2:262-264), not for show (2:264), from the good of what you earn (2:267).
  • Openly or secretly: "If you give charity openly it is good; but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you." (2:271)
  • The measure: "You will not attain piety (birr) until you spend from what you love." (3:92) Asked what to spend: "the surplus." (2:219)
  • To whom: parents, kin, orphans, the needy and the traveller (2:215).

Ṣadaqa is not zakāh

Zakāh is the defined, commanded due (see Zakāh); ṣadaqa/infāq covers every voluntary good. The Qur'an often names both with the same root (ṣ-d-q); in 9:60 and 9:103 "ṣadaqa" includes zakāh.

An honest limit

The Qur'an gives the spirit and manners of giving; the amount is mostly left to one's means ("the surplus", 2:219) — no fixed rate is imposed.

Source: Qur'anic verses (M. Okuyan meal).

Related verses