Muslims willingly give Sadaqah—gifts of kindness to someone in need—throughout the year as a way to strengthen their spiritual bonds and remove sins. Performed once or ongoing, in large and smaller amounts, Sadaqah increases an individual’s good deeds and brings blessings to the giver.
Giving Sadaqah for Ramadan is especially meaningful as it’s a time to grow spiritually and make deeper connections within the Muslim community. Ramadan 2023, which follows the lunar calendar, is expected to begin in the United States the evening of Wednesday, March 22 and continue through Friday, April 21, followed by the celebratory three days of Eid al-Fitr. An estimated 3.45 million Muslims observe Ramadan in the U.S., and more than 2 billion worldwide.
Many Ways to Give Sadaqah for Ramadan
For Sadaqah, what matters most is the voluntary charitable act is towards someone who is in need. Muslims can choose to give in person, send gifts, or even forward money online to charities or causes that are significant to them, a relative, or a friend. The gesture can be simple but significant such as buying a warm drink for someone on a chilly day, or an ongoing deed such as monthly donations to an organization that provides jobs or skills training.
Some individuals prefer to give Sadaqah with acts of kindness rather than with a physical or monetary gift. Smiling at others, or sharing knowledge with a friend or relative is giving Sadaqah at its simplest. Other ways to give Sadaqah include spending time with family, speaking honestly and calmly, and performing Dhikr of Allah.
Here are some ways to give Sadaqah at Ramadan and other times of the year:
- Buy a meal for a homeless individual.
- Volunteer weekly or monthly at an organization that needs your skills or presence.
- Clear sidewalks of branches or objects that could cause tripping.
- Shelve books at your library or read to the kids.
- Offer to water plants for your neighbor.
- Help a niece or nephew with their homework.
- Find an organization overseas that needs donations to help with the water supply.
- Provide meals for a neighbor.
- Teach a teenager a new skill like how to drive, basic car maintenance, or money management.
- Visit the sick.
Sadaqah Jariyah Keeps Giving
Some Muslims choose to set up a repeating donation or give time to an ongoing cause, like digging water wells, volunteering, or planting fruit trees. These are Sadaqah Jariyah which bring blessings to the receiver and giver. Giving ongoing donations to charities that support local hospitals or schools or people in other countries are also Sadaqah Jariyah. Donating to an organization that helps individuals start businesses or one that invests in farm animals is also valued.
The Timing of Your Giving
During Ramadan is a particularly good time to donate as the reward for every good deed is said to be multiplied by 70. The last ten days and nights hold even more significance as they mean even greater rewards and blessings and forgiving of sins.
Sending Sadaqah to Family and Friends Around the World
Sadaqah can be given to those close by or to people farther away. Don’t let distance deter you. It’s easy to send money to family or friends for Eid Al-Fitr so it arrives in time. Western Union’s options include going online, using the app, or sending money to the nearest location so your loved ones can receive it. To learn more, start at the Western Union page, use the drop-down fields to indicate the country and amount. Follow instructions to ensure the Sadaqah gets there quickly and reliably for Ramadan 2023.
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Ramadan Kareem! Wishing you a peaceful Ramadan.
