The Importance of Understanding the Value of Sadaqah: Lessons from Imam al-Ghazali

In the works of Imam al-Ghazali, particularly in Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences), the act of giving sadaqah (charity) is not merely about transferring wealth from one hand to another. It is an act deeply tied to the purification of the soul, the cultivation of humility, and the recognition that all wealth is ultimately a trust from Allah.

Beyond the Material Transaction

Imam al-Ghazali reminds us that ṣadaqah should never be reduced to a mechanical act of giving. Its true value lies in the intention (niyyah) and the spiritual transformation it brings. A coin given with pride or expectation of praise carries less weight than a single date offered with sincerity, humility, and love for Allah.

The Qur’an itself stresses that Allah looks not at the amount, but at the quality of the heart from which it flows:

“Allah accepts only from the righteous.” (Qur’an 5:27)

For Imam al-Ghazali, this means charity is not a mere social duty, it is a reflection of the heart’s orientation toward God.

Purification of the Soul

According to Imam al-Ghazali, human beings are naturally inclined toward attachment to wealth. Wealth gives us security, power, and comfort, yet it also risks breeding arrogance and selfishness. Sadaqah breaks this attachment by reminding us that wealth is temporary and not truly ours.

The Qur’an makes this clear:

“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah’s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them.” (Qur’an 9:103)

When we give, we are not depleting ourselves but purifying ourselves. Imam al-Ghazali explains that just as fire purifies gold from impurities, sadaqah purifies the soul from greed and arrogance. It trains us to rely on Allah rather than material possessions.

Charity as a Test of Sincerity

One of Imam al-Ghazali’s most powerful insights is that sadaqah exposes the sincerity of our faith. It is easy to speak of trust in Allah, but when the heart hesitates to part with wealth, the true state of the soul is revealed.

He warns against giving charity for show (riya’), which corrupts the act and turns it into a form of hidden idolatry. The Qur’an cautions:

“O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders [of your generosity] or injury, like the one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people…” (Qur’an 2:264)

The highest form of charity, Imam al-Ghazali says, is when the left hand does not know what the right hand has given, meaning it is done in secrecy, purely for Allah.

The Social Media Trap: When Charity Becomes a Performance

In Imam al-Ghazali’s time, riya’ (showing off) was already a spiritual disease. Today, with social media, this danger has multiplied. Many people record, photograph, or broadcast their acts of charity online. While some do this with the intention of encouraging others, too often it becomes a subtle performance, a way of seeking likes, followers, or public recognition.

The Prophet ﷺ cautioned us about this very trap:

“The thing I fear most for you is the minor shirk: showing off.” (Musnad Ahmad)

This, as Imam al-Ghazali would warn, destroys the very essence of purification in sadaqah. Instead of breaking the ego, it inflates it. Instead of planting sincerity, it breeds vanity.

The Difficulty of High-Value or Secret Sadaqah

A deeper challenge lies in finding opportunities for sadaqah that are both high in value and hidden from recognition. To give secretly requires discipline, creativity, and sometimes sacrifice. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

And among the seven whom Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment is:

“…a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Imam al-Ghazali explains that this form of charity has the greatest effect on the soul, for it purifies intention completely.

Khidmat: Service to Scholars as a Form of Charity

Imam al-Ghazali and other scholars highlight another path: khidmat, serving scholars. Students who dedicate themselves to helping their teachers in simple, unseen ways (carrying their books, assisting in their work, protecting their time, or spreading their knowledge) are in fact engaging in a noble form of sadaqah.

This is not charity of wealth, but charity of effort. By serving scholars, students share in the reward of the scholars’ good deeds, since knowledge is continuously shared and multiplied.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Supporting scholars, even through humble service, is thus a form of sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity). The Prophet ﷺ also said:

“When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them.” (Muslim)

By assisting scholars, students indirectly contribute to spreading beneficial knowledge, ensuring that the chain of good deeds continues beyond their own lives.

Multiplying the Value of Giving

Imam al-Ghazali also reflects on the ripple effect of sadaqah. A single act of kindness may feed a hungry person, but it also plants seeds of compassion, gratitude, and social harmony. Moreover, Allah promises that charity does not decrease wealth:

“Charity does not decrease wealth.” (Muslim)

In fact, it multiplies in unseen ways, through barakah (blessings), protection from calamity, or spiritual elevation in the hereafter.

But this multiplication only applies when the giving is pure. If it is tainted with riya’, then the act may count for nothing in the sight of Allah, no matter how many people applaud it online.

Bringing Imam al-Ghazali’s Wisdom Into Our Lives

To truly understand the value of sadaqah, we must move from seeing it as a burden to embracing it as a privilege. Every ringgit, every loaf of bread, every smile we give for Allah’s sake is an opportunity to polish the heart and draw nearer to Him.

In a world increasingly driven by self-interest, and amplified by social media, Imam al-Ghazali’s reminder is timeless: giving is not losing, it is gaining. The one who gives in the path of Allah is in fact the one who is most enriched. And the one who finds ways to give quietly, or to serve scholars in humility, is planting seeds of goodness that may grow far beyond their lifetime.

Reflection for Today: Seek not just to give, but to give in ways unseen. If you cannot find a secret act of sadaqah with your wealth, then offer service (khidmat) to a scholar, a parent, or a teacher. In doing so, you not only purify your own soul, but also share in their continuing stream of good deeds.