This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty said:
﴿مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ.﴾
"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] that sprouts seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:261)
In this verse, Allah Almighty has given a strong encouragement to spend in His way. Here, "Fi Sabeelillah" means every path that leads to Allah. Jihad Fi Sabeelillah, beneficial deeds for Muslims, spreading useful knowledge, and spending on the poor and needy are all considered spending in the way of Allah. And Allah increases these good deeds:
﴿مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ وَلَهُ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ﴾
"Who is it that will loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?"
Reference: (57-Al-Hadid:11)
The commentator Abu al-Saud writes: "Allah Almighty first commanded spending in His way, then warned and rebuked those who do not spend in His way due to stinginess, then described the ranks of those who spend in His way, and now in this verse, a special encouragement is given to spend in the way of Allah, that whoever spends in His way, it is as if he has loaned Him, and the return is certain."
The term "Qard Hasan" (good loan) in the verse indicates that the intention of the spender should be good, he should spend the best wealth in the way of Allah, and try to spend it in the best place.
Reference: (Reference: Taysir al-Rahman: 1538/2)
﴿لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ﴾ .
"Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it."
Reference: (3-Aal Imran:92)
﴿قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ .﴾
"Say, 'My Lord enlarges provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] – He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers.'"
Reference: (34-Saba:39)
عن حكيم بن حزام رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: اليد العليا خير من اليد السفلى، وابدأ بمن تعول، وخير الصدقة ما كان عن ظهر غنى، ومن يستعف يعفه الله، ومن يستغن يغنه الله .
Narrated by Sayyidna Hakim bin Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The upper hand (giver) is better than the lower hand (receiver), and begin spending with those whom you are responsible to maintain. The best charity is that which you give after fulfilling your own needs, and whoever tries to avoid asking or forbidden things, Allah will save him. And whoever desires self-sufficiency, Allah will grant him richness and self-sufficiency."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Zakat, Chapter: No charity except from the wealth of the rich..., Hadith: 1427.
عن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: قال الله: أنفق يا ابن آدم ينفق عليك .
Narrated by Sayyidna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty said: O son of Adam! Spend, and it will be spent on you."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Expenditures, Chapter: The virtue of spending on family, Hadith: 5352. Sahih Muslim, Book of Zakat, Chapter: Encouragement to spend and glad tidings for the spender, Hadith: 993.
عن خريم بن فاتك، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من أنفق نفقة فى سبيل الله كتبت له بسبع مائة ضعف .
Narrated by Sayyidna Khuraym bin Fatik (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever spends something in the way of Allah, it will be recorded for him seven hundred times over."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Chapters on the virtues of Jihad, Chapter: What has been mentioned about the virtue of spending in the way of Allah, Hadith: 1625 - Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as "Sahih".
عن أبى أمامة رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا ابن آدم! إنك إن تبذل الفضل خير لك وإن تمسكه شر لك ولا تلام على كفاف، وابدأ بمن تعول
Narrated by Sayyidna Abu Imamah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "O son of Adam! If you spend more than what is necessary in the way of Allah, it will be better for you; and if you withhold it, it will be bad for you. And for the necessary amount of wealth, you will not be blamed. And begin spending with those whose expenses you are responsible for."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Chapters on Asceticism, Hadith: 2343. Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as Sahih.
عن ابن مسعود رضى الله عنه قال: قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: لا حسد إلا فى اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله مالا فسلطه على هلكته فى الحق، ورجل آتاه الله حكمة، فهو يقضي بها ويعلمها
Narrated by Sayyidna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "It is only permissible to envy two types of people: one is the person whom Allah has given wealth and then given him the courage and ability to spend it in the way of truth; and the other is the person whom Allah has granted knowledge and wisdom, who judges accordingly and teaches others."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Knowledge, Chapter: Rejoicing in knowledge and wisdom, Hadith: 73. Sahih Muslim, Book of Traveler's Prayer, Chapter: The virtue of one who recites the Qur'an and teaches it, Hadith: 816.
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من يوم يصبح العباد فيه، إلا ملكان ينزلان، فيقول أحدهما: اللهم أعط منفقا خلفا، ويقول الآخر: اللهم أعط ممسكا تلفا
Narrated by Sayyidna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Every day when the servants of Allah begin the morning, two angels descend from the heavens; one says: O Allah! Reward the spender, and the other says: O Allah! Destroy the one who withholds."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Zakat, Chapter: The saying of Allah Almighty ﴿As for he who gives and fears Allah﴾, Hadith: 1442. Sahih Muslim, Book of Zakat, Chapter: About the spender and the withholder, Hadith: 1010.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him): "O Abu Dharr! I do not like that I should have gold equal to the mountain of Uhud and on the third day there should not remain with me even one Ashrafi except the dinar that is for repaying a debt."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Borrowing, Chapter: Repayment of debts, Hadith: 2388.
