-We should give charity but by following Islamic teachings.
Is it Recommended to give Half of the Property to Charity?
As we know giving charity in Islam is so important, since its develops society and improves people’s lives. so, in this article, we are going to discuss whether giving half of the property is recommended in Islam:
There are narrations about the amount of money that is given to charity, and what percentage of a person's wealth is in charity:
- based on a group of traditions; Imam Ali (a.s.)[1] and Imam Hassan (a.s.)[2] gave all and sometimes a large part of their property to charity.[3]
- another category of narrations; prohibits giving charity to more than one-third; like the:
The Prophet of God (PBUH) said to a person who intended to bequeath all his property in the way of God:
"Don't give all your property in charity."
That person asked, should I bequeath half of my property? The Prophet (PBUH) again forbade him from doing this. That person asked, should I bequeath a third? The Prophet confirmed this amount and nevertheless said:
"One-third is too much".[4]
In terms of the sum between these two categories of narrations, it can be said; Giving a lot of charity is conditional on providing for the needs of the family and putting them as a priority.[5] In other words, man can sacrifice himself, But he should not make sacrifices for the people who owe him maintenance and deprive them of their minimum customary needs without their consent.
Conclusion:
Of course, on the other hand, one should not define the life needs of dependents so widely that they stop doing any kind of charity and good deeds.
References:
[1] "Alms of Imam Ali (a.s.)", 101541.
[2] "Biography and Virtues and Qualities of Imam Hassan Mojtabi (a.s.)", 1907.
[3] Of course, it is possible that the meaning of "all property" in these hadiths, it was only all the cash and food and things like that that were at the disposal of those gentlemen, not the one that, as an example, They sold their houses and displaced their families to deserts and gave the money as charity.
[4] Ibn Abi Jumhur, Muhammad bin Zain al-Din, Awali al-Laali al-Azizia fi al-Ahadith al-Diniyah, vol. 2, p. 69, Qom,
[5] "Amount and use of charity", 4597.