Spending 10% of Earnings for Allah's Sake

21-1-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have decided to spend ten percent of all my earnings for Fee Sabi Lillaha. Is it according to Sharia and whether I can spend this amount on my poor/needy relatives or should I spend it only for religious works?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

As a rule, paying 10% of one's income or more or less is a good deed provided that such a good deed will not prevent your family and dependents from taking their rights.

The Prophet said: “Of the Dinar you spend in the way of Allah, the Dinar you spend for the freedom of a slave, the Dinar you give away in charity to the poor, and the Dinar you spend on your wife and children, the highest in respect of reward is the one you spend on your family.” [Muslim]

The Prophet also said: “The best kind of charity is from your surplus and start your (generosity) with your dependents.” [Al-Bukhari]

At the same time, it is better to give charity to your poor relatives, whose maintenance is not enjoined on you.

The Prophet said: “An act of charity on a poor person is only (counted as) charity, while an act of charity on a relative is (counted as) an act of charity and maintaining ties with kinship.” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]

Allah knows best.