Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
If one is not by the means to give charity, should one encourage others to do so by sharing the information about the charitable cause with them? Would there be any rewards if one does that, and is this a Prophetic practice?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah Most High guide us to the belief and way of life that is pleasing to Him. Thank you so much for this treasured question.
Encouraging others to do good, whether one is by the means to do the same or not, is reward-worthy and praiseworthy in Sacred Law, and Allah knows best.
The Quran Encourages Believers to Encourage Others
Allah Most High says: “Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share in the reward, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in the burden. And Allah is Watchful over all things.” [Quran, 2:85]
Allah Most High says: “and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.” [Quran, 107:3]
In the above Aya, Allah Most High inspires the believers to encourage others to do good actions, and the Quran is replete with similar encouragement. Furthermore, the first ayah above indicates that the one who initiates others to take up a good cause receives the like reward as the one who takes it up, and Allah knows best.
The Sunna Encourages Believers to Encourage Others
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “The one who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.” [Muslim]
Like the above hadith, the Sunna is replete with encouragement to point others toward good and thereby attain similar rewards, and Allah knows best.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.