Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Mufti. Is it permissible for us to give sadaqah to the rich?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Sadaqah is one of the good deeds which carries great virtue and rewards for the doers. Allah SWT say:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”
Surah al-Baqarah (261)
As much as zakah which said as the obligatory sadaqah has its own asnaf (the recipients of zakah), same goes to sadaqah which is Sunnah where it also has its own recipients. This is in accordance with the saying of Allah SWT in the Quran:
وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
“…but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds [thereby]. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted,”
Surah al-Baqarah (271)
Nevertheless, in Fiqh perspective, there is a discussion on the ruling of sadaqah to the rich. Among them is the saying of Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah:
تحل صدقة التطوع للأغنياء بلا خلاف ، فيجوز دفعها إليهم ويثاب دافعها عليها ولكن المحتاج أفضل قال أصحابنا ويستحب للغني التنزه عنها ويكره التعرض لأخذها
It is halal (permissible) to give sadaqah which is Sunnah to the rich without khilaf (on its permissibility according to the scholars). Hence, it is permissible to give (sadaqah) to the rich and those who do it will be rewarded. However, (the sadaqah given) to those in need is prioritized (afdhal). Our ashab (companions) said: “And it is Sunnah for the rich to cleanse themselves (from taking it) and it is makruh to have effort in gaining it.”
Refer: Al-Majmu’ Syarah Al-Muhazzab, Al-Nawawi (6/39)
Closing
To conclude, we would like to state here that the ruling of sadaqah to the rich is permissible. This is due to Islamic legal maxim which states that the original rule of something is its permissibility. Nevertheless, the priority of sadaqah is upon those in need.
We also add, the permissibility of giving sadaqah to the rich is for the purpose of giving them lessons and awareness on the importance of sadaqah, then they become inspired in increasing their own sadaqah through the blessings Allah SWT has granted them with in term of sustenance. This is based on a lengthy hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RS where the Prophet PBUH said:
قَالَ رَجُلٌ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ. فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ. فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدَىْ زَانِيَةٍ، فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ. فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدَىْ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، عَلَى سَارِقٍ وَعَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ. فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ، وَأَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تَسْتَعِفَّ عَنْ زِنَاهَا، وَأَمَّا الْغَنِيُّ فَلَعَلَّهُ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ
A man said that he would give something in charity. He went out with his object of charity and unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. I will give alms again." And so he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to an adulteress last night. The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms again." So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich person. (The people) next morning said that he had given his alms to a wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I had given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then someone came and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief, might make him abstain from stealing, and that given to the adulteress might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and spend his wealth which Allah has given him, in Allah's cause
Sahih al-Bukhari (1421)
Lastly, may Allah SWT give us correct understanding in religion. Ameen.