The minimum amount of Sadaqah
8-2-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
1) Sadaqah is not an obligation but is there any minimum amount to be given? For example, if I am paying 2 per cent of my salary each month as Sadaqah, do you think that is enough? 2) An amazing thing has been happening to me for two years. I always try to recite the supplications before I sleep. But if I don't do it, or if I wake up during the night and I sleep again without repeating the supplications, there is always someone (a girl I loved) appearing in my dreams which usually become nightmares and this makes me depressed the following morning. I am still suffering from it although I am very far from her (I am in France and she is in Tunisia). Please help me.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
1) Giving charity other than the Zakah is not obligatory, though its reward is great. There is a Hadith in this regard that reads, "Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. He mentioned among them the person who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given." [Reported by Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Know that there is no minimum amount for a charity. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Save yourself from the Fire even by giving half of a date-fruit in charity." [Reported by Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim] This Hadith proves that the almsgiver, even though he gives very little, protects himself from the Fire.
2) Keeping on reciting the supplication before sleeping is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). So, whoever recites them with consciousness and believes in their meaning Allah will protect him from misfortune. If you dislike a dream you should do the following: (a) Seek refuge with Allah from Satan and from the bad dream as well. (b) Spit thrice to your left hand side. (c) Change the position of sleeping from the side you were sleeping on to the other side. (d) Do not inform anyone about such dreams.
As for your love of this girl, the best solution is to marry her, since the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "We do not perceive any better solution for people who love each other than marriage."
However, before marriage you are not allowed to have any relation with her. The above ruling is applicable only if the girl is religious, chaste, and has noble qualities; otherwise, turn away from her, since there is no good in a wife who disobeys Allah.
Allah knows best.