Alms is a tax which a person sets apart from his wealth just as being a right of Allah-May His Glory be exalted- . In this respect it expresses being devoted to Allah.

 The word tasadduk which means giving alms is also from the same root and literally has the meaning of to seek for faithfulness.

 In its wider sense every kindness; something given and spent for the Sake of Allah is defined as “sadaka” .

 The plural of the word sadaka is “sadakat” -loyalty-

 As a concept “ sadaka” comprises many obligatory and supererogatory worship, help and kindness. Just as giving alm of a believer is described as sadaka also his smiling to a Muslim brother is accepted as sadaka.

 Alm-sadaka- as worship

 Giving alms is of two kinds, one is obligatory and the other is supererogatory. The obligatory part is defined as “zekat” . This is an alms prescribed by Islam, one fortieth of one's income.

 This obligatory alms-zekat- is given from agricultural products, gold, silver and money, from sheep or goat, goods of trade and metals. Those who have a specific amount of wealth - people who are assumed as rich in Islam- give a portion from their wealth to the people defined in the Noble Quran.

 As Quran states the worship of giving alm as “zekat”, in some verses it is mentioned as “sadaka”

 “And among them are men who slander thee in the matter of (the distribution of) the alms. If they are given part thereof they are pleased but if not behold! they are indignant!” (1)

 In some verses the Noble Quran mentions the word “sadaka” as the help of Muslims to their relatives, orphans and poor.

 “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin for orphans for the needy for the wayfarer for those who ask and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth the Allah-fearing.” (2)

---------------------------------

(1) Chapter Tevbe, 9/58.

(2) Chapter Bakara, 2/177.

 According to the unanimity of all savants the word “sadaka” mentioned in the following verses, has the meaning of “zekat”:

 “Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (1)

 Alm of “fıtr” is known as an alm of one's body and it is given to people who deserves “zekat” and in the month of Ramadan. Giving of fıtr is assumed as a due-one degree below from obligatory religious duties-.

 While performing the worship of pilgrimage, people who cut their hair - which is a cause for taking off the pilgrim's grab- before its time, either kills a sheep or goat as sacrifice, or fast or gives an amount of alms.

 “And complete the Hajj or `Umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (from completing it) send an offering for sacrifice such as ye may find and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (necessitating shaving) (he should) in compensation either fast or feed the poor or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again) if anyone wishes to continue the 'Umra on to the Hajj he must make an offering such as he can afford it he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah and know that Allah is strict in punishment.” (2)

 The Noble Quran considers more superior a beautiful word, forgiving than alms which is rubbed in. Whether this alms is given as zekat or as help there will be no difference.

 “King words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants and he is Most Forbearing.” (3)

 Allah doesn't give abundance to usury which is a wrong profit and He destroys it but on the contrary He increases the alms and charity and blesses them with increase. Then believers shouldn't consume the wealth of each other with the ways of wrong profit like usury and avoid thinking to increase it with interest. Wealth becomes clean by giving of alms and it is blessed with increase.

 “Allah will deprive usury of all blessing but will give increase for deeds of charity: for He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked.” (4)

 Alms which are described as obligatory or due, namely zekat are given in certain quantities to people who are in need and are mentioned in the 60 th verse of Chapter Tevbe. Believers also continue to give alms to poor people relative to their needs. The amount of those alms is determined by the generosity of Muslims.

-----------------------------------

(1) Chapter Tevbe, 9/60.

(2) Capter Bakara, 2/196.

(3) Chapter Bakara, 2/263.

(4) Chapter Bakara, 2/276.

 “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin for orphans for the needy for the wayfarer for those who ask and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth the Allah-fearing.” (1)

 Continuous Alms

 Continuous alms - sadaka-i jariye- that is defined in some hadiths, is the charity of which merit continue after the death of the Muslim who gave it.

 “When a person dies, his pious deeds come to an end. But three things are the exception of this: continuous alms - sadaka-i jariye, a knowledge that people make use of it, and a pious child who prays to him”. (2)

 Those who establish foundations which are useful to others, who produce useful knowledge, who do charity and benevolence contunie to acquire merits as long as the others profit by them. Again the ones who open a good road, who start a good practice, continue to acquire merit as people go on doing this deed. On the contrary the people who open a bad road become sinful during the time that people do that bad habit. (3)

 The goods which are devoted for The Sake of Allah as pious foundation are also an example of continuous alms.

 The Ethical Dimension of The worship of giving alms

 In return of the favors that Allah gives a person, giving alms for each favor is an expression of gratitude. Man should be thankful for each joint of him and for each day and should give alms for this.

 In this respect it is not necessary for alms to be in kind of good or money. People may do charity -s adaka- without wealth.

 To decide justly between two people is accepted as –alms- sadaka . To help someone to ride on his saddle beat or carriage is alms. Saying a beautiful word is also alms. To clean the ways, removing the things that are harmful to people is an alms. Going to the Mosque to perform worship with assembly, doing kindness to people is alms. Showing to a person his way is an alm. To please others, saying soft words, being cheerful, to plant trees and similar good behavior are all alms. (3)

-----------------------------

(1) Chapter Bakara, 2/177.

(2) Mukaddime, Darekutni.

(3) Muslim.

 The most virtuous of all charity is the one that a person does for his own family. After that the spending in the way of Allah-May His Glory be exalted- comes.

 Alms should be given from the much loved goods to be accepted and Allah would be pleased about such a deed.

 “By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give of a truth Allah knoweth it well .” (1)

 The three characteristics of the alms given from one's wealth:

•  The person that alms is given should be a poor one

•  Alms should be given as a good to the person in need

•  It should be given for The Sake Of Allah

 Also sadaka-alms- is the general name of all help and kindness. Some of them are obligatory and some of them are supererogatory. Being in charge of one's family, spending for them is obligatory alms. But his help to poor other then zekat , his charity in the form of continuous alms and similar alms are accepted as a supererogatory worship. The ones who do that goodness acquire abundant merit.

 Under the conditions of today, in the societies consisted of people who are fond of wealth, in a time when material gain becomes sacred, when the feelings of goodness started to disappear and when others are not taken into account, the command of Islam about alms and its advice of doing kindness become much more important. (2)

 As giving of alms is an effort to pass the trial about wealth by following the command of the Noble Quran, it is also a way of social solidarity, helping and giving present in a Muslim society. The excessive fondness of man towards wealth is diminished by this way. People who share the facility in their hand with others both are relaxed in themselves and also their ties of fraternity with others are strengthened. If we consider that many fight and wars are originated from the greed of having more wealth, we can understand the importance of giving of alms to peace better. When people give alms as Islam commands and advices, there will be no people in need, the greed for goods of people diminishes, solidarity is provided and the basis of peace is founded.

---------------------------------------

(1) Chapter Al-i Imran Sûra, 3/92.

•  The Basic concepts of Islam , H. K. Ece.