Ramadan Giving

How Giving Charity Can Make Your Ramadan Extra Special

There are five core pillars of Islam: Shahadah (belief in Allah alone as the One True God), Salah (praying five times a day), Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan), Hajj (a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in a lifetime), and Zakat (the compulsory charitable donation of 2.5% of one’s wealth).

Giving charity is not only beneficial for those who receive it, but also brings countless rewards for those who give. It is a means of nourishing the soul, seeking salvation, and drawing closer to Allah. We are taught that charity can protect us from harm in this life and raise our status in the Hereafter.

Ramadan 2022

During the month of Ramadan, the rewards for good deeds are multiplied. This means that every act of charity carries even greater significance. Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to realign our values and serve those who are most in need.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha‘ban, saying:

"Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in this month shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all."

[Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

Ramadan is a time to strive for more. It is an opportunity to strengthen our faith, improve our character, increase our worship, and support those around us.

Ramadan Charity

Many people choose to give their Zakat during Ramadan because of the immense blessings and rewards associated with the month. Muslims spend much of Ramadan in prayer, reflection, and acts of generosity, including supporting those in need through projects such as a
water well charity,
which can provide ongoing rewards for you or a loved one.

The Qur’an teaches that Zakat is not only a duty upon those with wealth, but also a right of the poor. It also emphasises the sanctity of life, stating:

“Whosoever saves a life, it is as if he had saved the whole of mankind.”

(Qur’an 5:32)

While many of us fast during Ramadan out of love and obedience to Allah (swt), we do so knowing that a meal awaits us at iftar. Our hunger is temporary. For millions of people living in poverty, however, hunger is a daily reality. Even during Ramadan, many struggle to find food to break their fast.

Reward for Feeding a Fasting Person

One of the best ways to increase your rewards during Ramadan is by feeding a fasting person.

“He who breaks another’s fast earns the same reward as the one who fasted, without diminishing the latter’s reward in the slightest.”

(Hadith, Tirmidhi)

Join Al Mustafa Canada this Ramadan in the challenge to feed 100,000 people throughout the month. You can provide food for a family for the entire month for just C$90.

We aim to distribute 20,000 food parcels to impoverished communities, helping to feed 100,000 vulnerable people. Each food parcel is tailored to the local area of distribution, ensuring that it reflects local diets, customs, and available produce.

Although contents vary by location, every parcel contains nutritious essentials for the whole family, including items such as rice, oil, flour, dates, and lentils. Some regions also receive Ramadan-specific items, such as Rooh Afsa and gram flour in Pakistan.