Infaq goes beyond sadaqah — it encompasses everything the believer can spend in Allah's way: money, property, labor, time, knowledge. This sermon explores infaq's place in the Quran, its reward multiplying up to seven hundredfold, the meaning of "from what you love," and the kinds of infaq in modern life.
The Quran's Definition of Infaq
Allah gives one of the most beautiful definitions of infaq in Surah Ali 'Imran:
— Ali 'Imran 3:92You shall not attain birr (true righteousness) until you spend of what you love. Whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it.
"Spend of what you love." This is an important nuance: infaq comes from what you love, what you value, what is hard to share. Giving away your old clothes is a kind of sadaqah; but giving the new clothes you were about to buy to meet another's need — that is infaq.
After this verse was revealed, the Companions began to give away the things they loved most. Abu Talha gave his most beloved date orchard, Bayruha, in Allah's way on the strength of this verse — Sahih al-Bukhari, Zakat, no. 1461.
The Reward of Infaq — Seven Hundredfold
In Surat al-Baqarah Allah declares an unequaled accounting for infaq:
— Al-Baqarah 2:261The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed that grows seven ears; in every ear are a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.
One seed → seven ears → each ear a hundred grains → in total 700 grains. One lira given as infaq is weighed in the Hereafter like 700 lira. It may multiply even more: "Allah multiplies for whom He wills."
This accounting does not work mathematically in this world; but it works with Allah. When the modern believer asks "Will this giving harm me?", this verse is the answer: giving does no harm; it multiplies in the Hereafter.
The Thousand-and-One Forms of Infaq
Infaq is not only giving money. The Prophet (peace be upon him) names a thousand-and-one kinds of sadaqah:
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Adab, no. 6022Every Muslim has a sadaqah upon him. They said: "What if he has nothing?" He said: "Let him do his best, benefit himself, and give." They said: "What if he cannot?" He said: "Let him help the needy." They said: "What if he cannot?" He said: "Let him enjoin good." They said: "What if he cannot?" He said: "Let him restrain himself from evil — that too is sadaqah for him."
Modern forms of infaq:
- Wealth infaq: sadaqah, zakat, waqf donations, sponsoring an orphan.
- Labor infaq: helping at the mosque's cleaning, volunteering in a social project.
- Knowledge infaq: if you know something, teaching it to another. The Prophet's saying that "teaching a single verse is better than a caravan of camels" — Ibn Majah, Muqaddimah, no. 229.
- Time infaq: giving an hour to an elderly relative, visiting the sick, sitting with your child at study time.
- A smile: "Your smile at your brother is sadaqah for you" — al-Tirmidhi, Birr, no. 1956.
The Three Conditions of Infaq
In Surat al-Baqarah Allah names three qualities that shape the scale of infaq's value:
1. With sincerity and ikhlas: giving from the heart, not unwillingly.
2. Without reminding of the favor: "Do not nullify your sadaqahs by reminders of your generosity or by injury" (Al-Baqarah 2:264).
3. To the truly needy: giving sadaqah to those who really need it, not to those who want display.
— Al-Baqarah 2:264O you who believe! Do not nullify your sadaqahs by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah or the Last Day.
The grace of infaq is as important as its quantity. Classical Islam teaches "while giving, do not look at the receiver's face; turn your gaze away, that they be not embarrassed."
Infaq in Times of Scarcity
Some ask: "My own situation is not good — why should I give to others?" The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) anticipated this state:
— Abu Dawud, Zakat, no. 1677The most virtuous of sadaqahs is the sadaqah of one of little wealth.
"The sadaqah of one of little wealth." A wealthy person giving 1,000 lira and a poor person giving 10 lira — the value of the 10 lira is greater with Allah. Because the poor person's giving that 10 lira means cutting from their own need. This leads to the high station Allah honors.
The Prophet's (peace be upon him) wife Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) died having given her entire wealth to the cause of Islam. The Mother of the Believers 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) is known to have once borrowed from a Jewish person to meet the Prophet's need. Whatever our circumstances, there is a way for infaq.
An Infaq Plan for the Modern Believer
Practical suggestions:
1. Monthly automatic sadaqah: automatically routing 2.5% of your salary (the zakat rate) to a charitable institution. AI can remind you; you don't forget.
2. A devotional hatim: dedicating the reward of a Quran completion you finish to your parents or deceased relatives. This is spiritual infaq.
3. Orphan sponsorship: sponsoring an orphan for 100-200 lira monthly. Modern charities facilitate this system.
4. Book donations: giving away a book after you've read it to a school, library, or younger sibling. Knowledge infaq.
5. Time donations: dedicating 1-2 hours a week to volunteer work — mosque cleaning, distributing aid, teaching children.
Practical Infaq With VAAZ
The VAAZ app's 99 Names collection features Names like Al-Jawwad (the Generous), Ar-Razzaq (the Provider), and Al-Wahhab (the Bestower) — a daily reminder of Allah's generosity. The du'a archive categorizes du'as recited while giving sadaqah.
For the details of zakat and sadaqah, see A Sermon on Zakat and Sadaqah; for the bond between shukr and infaq, see A Sermon on Shukr.
Infaq is the art of giving what you love. Giving does not lessen wealth; it multiplies it. This investment, which grows up to 700-fold with Allah, cannot be compared with any other profitable enterprise of this world. The only question is: what will you give today?
References
- The Qur'an, Ali 'Imran 3:92, Diyanet translation.
- The Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:261, Diyanet translation.
- The Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:264, Diyanet translation.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab az-Zakat, Hadith No. 1461.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab, Hadith No. 6022.
- Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Muqaddimah, Hadith No. 229.
- al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr, Hadith No. 1956.
- Abu Dawud, Kitab az-Zakat, Hadith No. 1677.