Charity Strongly Recommended

The charity about which the reports from the Holy Prophet (AS), are unanimously narrated, and which place much emphasis on it as a very virtuous deed, reports say that charity is medicine for illness and protection from mishaps, it increases one's wealth and that it reaches the hands of the Lord before reaching those of His servant and that it leaves blessings behind and through it debts are paid; evil death, sickness, burns, drowning, leprosy, insanity, and up to seventy forms of evil are repelled from one by charity. It is recommended to give charity early for it repels the evil of that day, and at the beginning of night to have protection from evils in that night.

Rule (1220) According to the well-known view charity is also a form of contract, thus, there is a financial favor to someone to seek nearness thereby to ALLAH, if such favor takes place in the form of transferring property it requires offer and acceptance. If it is in the form of waiving a liability, only offer is enough, like saying," I waived your debts," if it is like donation it is enough to allow using and so on, each case is dealt with accordingly.

Rule (1221) According to the well known view taking possession is a condition in it in all cases, but apparently, it is only necessary when the case requires it, i. e., possession is necessary when it is a gift or endowment but if it is in the form of waiving or spending, possession is not necessary.

Rule (1222) In charity it is necessary for one's intention and motives behind it seeking thereby nearness to ALLAH, thus, if one gives a gift, or waives a certain thing or endows without the intention of seeking thereby nearness to ALLAH, it is one of the above said contracts but not a charity.

Rule (1223) The charity of a Hashimite, member of the tribe of the Holy Prophet is lawful for Hashimites and non-Hashimites, in the case of Zakat of property and Zakat of breaking the fast of Ramadan. The charity of non-Hashimites if it is Zakat of property , it is unlawful for Hashimites, but in the case of Zakat for breaking the fast it requires some thought.

Paying Zakat by non-Hashimites to Hashimites, if the charity is other than the two above-mentioned forms of Zakat it is lawful, regardless, it is an obligatory charity like redemption, payment for one's unjust deeds, expiation, redemption for the fasting missed in time or desirable charity, except if it is the little amount given to the needy to protect oneself from evil which may cause a kind of insult to the recipient, the lawfulness of this latter form is objectionable.

Rule (1224) According to a sound view it is not lawful to demand the return of the charity if it is a gift already in the possession of the recipient even if he is a non-relative.

Rule (1225) It is lawful to present an optional charity to a rich, a non-Shia and a tax paying non-Muslim.

Rule (1226) In the case of the optional charity, giving it in private is more virtuous unless giving publicly is intended to clear up false accusations or to encourage others for doing likewise., etc., or such like reasons on the other hand in the case of obligatory charity according to some reports it is better to give it in public; it also is said that giving in private is better according to a more clear reason; the rules are different because of different cases which require publicity or privacy.