Give Of Your Spirit, Not From Your Trash

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Your Garbage is (Not) Someone Else's Treasure.

I know, I know. It’s an adage many of us have grown up with—reminiscent of yard sales, warm summer days, neighborly chitchat, and lemonade stands. But over the course of time, I've realized what a person is willing to put out on display and publicly acknowledge as their own in their little yard sale is generally a far cry from what people will anonymously slide into a garbage bag and donate to a local cause. As someone who has helped collect and sort donated items in the past, and know many who do this on a regular basis, I’ve come across my fair share of surprises —the amazingly generous, the bad, and the ugly. The question becomes, given the importance of charity amongst Muslims and the status of sadaqa, why are these “questionable” items as common an issue as they are, and why has it become acceptable “collateral damage” that is expected when collecting for any cause?

The Importance of Giving

It’s no secret that the virtues of giving sadaqa are great and heavily emphasized in Islam. We are encouraged as Muslims to give for Allah’s sake whenever we are able, and by the Grace of Allah (swt), both the giver and receiver benefit from charity. In Surat Al-Baqara, Allah (swt) tells us:

'The likeness of those who spend their money for Allah's sake, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (increases the reward) for whom He wills, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower' (2: 261) .

Subhanallah at Allah's mercy! Many of us have been blessed alhamdulillah with more than we need, so charity is an opportunity to atone on some small level and turn some of our wastefulness into an opportunity to help others or simply as a show of gratitude for the many blessings Allah has given us.

A Few Rules for Giving.

Please forgive me if I seem to be stating the obvious. However, by virtue of the sheer volume of items received that end up making their way to the curb despite numerous attempts at educating the donating population, I can only assume that our approach to giving needs to be reflected upon. Some things are charity worthy, some things are kitchen rag worthy, and some things belong on the curb with last week’s trash. Here are a few ways to make the most of your donations and make sure they benefit someone in need:

1. Purify your intention. When giving charity, we must purify our intentions and remind ourselves that what we are doing is for the sake of gaining Allah's pleasure and reward and not anything else — not worldly benefits, not bettering our reputation, and not cleaning out our homes.

2. Give the best of what you have. As Muslims we should be giving charity from the best possessions that we have and that which we love most. The Ansaar of Medina gave half of what they owned to the refugees who fled Mecca. They saw them as their brothers and sisters in Islam, and gave from what they themselves would use, eat, and wear, even if they had very little to give. The sad reality is that this is actually the opposite of what most people do today. Allah (swt) says:

'By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely as a charity) from that which you love; and whatever you spend Allah knows it well.' (3: 92).

As Muslims, we should not prescribe to the “beggars can’t be choosers” mentality. Fashion aside, if you wouldn’t wear it yourself or give it to a friend, don’t donate it. If an item has become useless or unsightly to you, it will likely fare the same in someone else’s hands. If it has a small defect, like a tear, but is otherwise perfectly useful, please mend it before you donate it.

Because people are in need does not mean it is incumbent on us to make them look the part. Our brothers and sisters in humanity have dignity and many lived lives mirroring your own before misfortune struck. Everything that is ours is from Allah (swt). It just so happens at this very moment in time, Allah (swt) has blessed you with an excess of sustenance — some of which may actually be the rizq of someone else, and Allah (swt) is now entrusting you to give it to them. The question is whether you will do your part and be the vehicle that will relieve a burden and bring a smile to someone less fortunate.

3. Be generous with your time as well as your money. Sometimes generosity takes a little work. It may require you to wash the clothes you want to donate or to buy boxes to properly pack the items. Every effort, every step you take is full of opportunities for reward.

And with every step you take to usefully share your goods, the less time volunteers will have to spend sorting through donations and determining proper disposal of items that serve no purpose. “Free” donations often times end up costing more than the goods are worth, and that cost goes up when shipping is involved. Please don’t squander an opportunity to do khayr and be mindful of the time of organizers and volunteers.

InshaAllah we should strive to make the most of our charity and avoid anything that may detract from the blessings that come with these opportunities. As Allah (swt) indicated in the Qur’an:

‘O you who believe, cancel not your charities by reminders of your generosity, or by harm' (2: 264).

4. Please follow instructions:

a. Items and clothes should be USEABLE. Electrical devices should work and toys should have all their necessary pieces. Clothes should be free of stains and tears and freshly washed. In addition, please do not send used undergarments. Regardless of how clean you think they are, for hygienic purposes, no wants to handle or wear someone else’s underclothing.

b. If a box has been in storage, please sort through it before donating. Bugs, mouse droppings (and worse) may find their way into the box during their long hiatus in storage. Likewise, used diapers and sanitary napkins, I’m sure accidentally, have been found in various donation bags and boxes as well. Volunteers who find such things may end up throwing away the whole bag or box, regardless of how useful the items inside may be.

c. Donate what is asked for. If clothes are asked for, please do not donate household items, and vice versa. If you’re unsure, an answer is generally an email or phone call away.

d. Pack items properly. If boxes are requested, please do not drop off items in plastic bags. Fragile items, such as plates and cups, should be properly wrapped and boxed. Items that aren’t will need to be repacked properly in order to ensure it arrives to its destination in usable condition.

e. Donate in the time frame listed. Please do not drop off or send items AFTER the donation drive is done. The organization responsible for collecting does not have the space to store your items once a drive is over. They make accommodations only for the designated time period.

Alhamdulillah for the blessings Allah (swt) has given us, and for being able to do our small part in alleviating the burden of fellow human beings. Let’s make the most of this glorious opportunity to multiply our hasanaat and engage in charity that will warm the hearts of others and increase the mawadda and rahma between us insha Allah. Whatever we spend on with regard to our worldly pleasures will vanish upon our death. But whatever we spend in the way of charity will remain with us long after we are gone inshaAllah. Let’s make it count.