Greed

O generous people of pure conscience! And O charitable people!

If acts of charity are not given in the form of zakātOne of the Five Pillars of Islam; the obligatory almsgiving for the benefit of the poor and the needy., then threefold harm arises. Sometimes they may be lost without benefit. Because you do not give zakātOne of the Five Pillars of Islam; the obligatory almsgiving for the benefit of the poor and the needy. for the sake of Allah, you indirectly impose an obligation upon the poor person and place him in the chains of indebtedness. Moreover, you are deprived of his accepted supplications. And while in reality you are nothing more than a distributor who should hand over the goods of Allah to His servants, you commit ingratitude toward His bounties by considering yourself the owner of the goods.

But if you give with the intention of zakātOne of the Five Pillars of Islam; the obligatory almsgiving for the benefit of the poor and the needy., you will be rewarded because you do so in the name of Allah Almighty. In this way, you show gratitude by recognizing the bounties of Allah. Moreover, the needy person preserves his self-respect, because he is not forced to flatter you, and his supplication for you will be accepted. 

Indeed, now consider the difference in value between the following two options:

On the one hand, giving an amount equal to zakātOne of the Five Pillars of Islam; the obligatory almsgiving for the benefit of the poor and the needy., or even more, but for purposes other than zakātOne of the Five Pillars of Islam; the obligatory almsgiving for the benefit of the poor and the needy., leading to base desires such as pursuing vanity, fame, and making others dependent on oneself. And on the other hand, performing such charity under the name of zakātOne of the Five Pillars of Islam; the obligatory almsgiving for the benefit of the poor and the needy., which leads to fulfilling a religious duty, earning both thawābThe rewards granted in the Hereafter for deeds performed in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and acceptance. and ikhlāsSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status., and benefiting from the accepted supplications of the needy.

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَٓا اِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَٓا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَلٖيمُ الْحَكٖيمُGlory be to You. We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. – The Koran 2:32

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذٖى قَالَ «اَلْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِن كَالْبُنْيَانِ الْمَرْصُوصِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا» وَ قَالَ «اَلْقَنَاعَةُ كَنْزٌ لَا يَفْنى» وَعَلٰى اٰلِهٖ وَصَحْبِهٖ اَجْمَعٖينَ اٰمٖينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمٖينَO Allah, bestow Your blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, who said: ‘The believer is to another believer like a solidly constructed building, whose parts strengthen one another,’ and who also said: ‘Contentment is an inexhaustible treasure.’ And bestow Your blessings upon all his family and all his Companions. Āmīn. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.