“And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).”
Quran 2:43

Sadaqah, i.e. charity, the spirit of giving, is an integral part of Islam. Sadaqah teaches compassion while staying away from greed and selfishness. Charity transforms lives and alleviates poverty in the community. As Muslim parents, we must teach our children kindness from sharing their toys with friends and siblings when they are young to raising them to be generous adults. Prophet (SAW) emphasized on the principle of giving repeatedly. Therefore, it is extremely important to teach the concept of sadaqah to our children. Here’s 4 ways you can get started to teach your child about sadaqa.

Teach What Charity Is

Teach your children how charity can be monetary help or non-monetary simple acts of kindness towards others. Use positive reinforcement when teaching kindness and charity. Giving promotes happiness, even in young children. Explain how you feel when you are generous, read books about giving charity and building character together. Explain how helping a family member can be sadaqa, baking and taking some cookies to the local first respondents in your area can be sadaqa. Visit a local food bank with your child and volunteer time and discuss how that is a form of charity too. Teach them the hadith –

“Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is a charity. Your guidance of a person who is lost is a charity.” (Bukhari)

Lead by example

Kids are more likely to share and be generous when they see you doing the same. Have a family sadaqa jar to save every week and let them drop off the money into charity boxes at the hospital or at the local mosque. When you are at the masjid, or every jumma, give them $1- $2 (or more)t o drop in the masjid sadaqa box. Encourage them to donate a toy or pick out some clothes to give away.

SOURCES :

Sadaqa Jar | Dua Journal

Encourage Giving from their own money

Does your child have a weekly or monthly allowance? Perhaps, they’ve saved some Eidi from last Eid. Encourage your child to give a small amount of their own money as sadaqa. Encourage them to make it a habit to give 5%-10% of their money to charity. Praise them for their kindness and remind them of the hadith –

“The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be their charity” (Tirmidhi).

Empower them In Their Ability

Encourage and empower your child’s very real ability to create a positive impact. Do they love to bake with mom? Encourage a community bake sale. How about help them partner up with a friend to set up a lemonade stand and raise money to feed hungry children? Or choosing to ‘donate’ instead of receiving birthday presents? Got multiple toys for Eid? How about they pick one to add one to an Eid toy drive?

“When a person dies his works end, except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him.” (Tirmidhi)

Last but not least, charity serves as a way to bring justice, balance, and kindness to every society and community. Therefore, it is vital that we teach and our children the importance of charity from a young age. Do you have any tips to teach children about sadaqa?

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