The meaning
What is sadaqah?
Any good given freely for the sake of Allah, from money to a smile. Here is what the word covers.
What sadaqah means
Sadaqah is any good given freely for Allah’s sake, beyond what is owed: every act of kindness counts (Sahih al-Bukhari 6021).
If you would like to give, sadaqah through DonateOpenly shows where each pound goes.
Sadaqah is more than money
Remembering Allah
Each SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu akbar is sadaqah (Sahih Muslim 1006).
Your own family
Spending on your family, hoping for Allah’s reward, is sadaqah (Sahih al-Bukhari 55).
What you plant
Whatever a bird, a person or an animal eats from it is sadaqah (Sahih al-Bukhari 2320).
Sadaqah jariyah, the gift that carries on
Deeds end at death except three, the first being ongoing charity (Sahih Muslim 1631), such as a well or a school.
Giving sadaqah well
Quietly
Among the seven Allah will shade is one who gives so secretly the left hand does not know (Sahih al-Bukhari 1423).
From what you can spare
The best is given while you still have enough, starting with those you support (Sahih al-Bukhari 1426).
Without reminders
Reminding someone of a gift, or hurting them, undoes it (Quran 2:264).
Sadaqah or zakat?
Zakat is owed; sadaqah is free. Compare the two.