What is Sadaqah?
Sadaqah (صدقة) means voluntary charity in Islam — any act of giving that is done for the sake of Allah, beyond the obligatory Zakat. The word comes from the root Sidq (truth), as it reflects the sincerity of a believer's faith.
Sadaqah vs Zakat — What is the Difference?
- Zakat is obligatory — a fixed percentage on specific wealth above the Nisab, calculated annually. Use our Zakat Calculator.
- Sadaqah is voluntary — any amount, at any time, in any form. No minimum, no maximum.
Types of Sadaqah
- Financial Sadaqah — donating money to the poor, building wells, funding education
- Sadaqah Jariyah — ongoing charity whose rewards continue after death: planting a tree, building a masjid, teaching someone the Quran
- Non-Financial Sadaqah — the Prophet ﷺ said: "A smile in the face of your brother is Sadaqah." (Tirmidhi)
- Knowledge Sadaqah — sharing beneficial knowledge is one of the most rewarding forms
- Removing harm from the path — removing a stone, thorn, or obstacle from a walkway
The Rewards of Sadaqah
The Prophet ﷺ said: Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire. (Tirmidhi). Allah says in the Quran: Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah are like a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains. (2:261) — a 700-fold multiplication.
When to Give Sadaqah
- During Ramadan — rewards are multiplied many times over
- During the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
- On Fridays
- When making dua — sadaqah before dua is a cause for acceptance
- In times of difficulty — it removes hardship
Track your giving: Open the Sadaqah Tracker →