Anything which is given away gratuitously with the intention of growing close to Allah (Qurbah) is referred to as alms (Sadaqa), and there is no certain limit to it.

Alms-giving protects its giver against different disasters and damages such as illnesses, fires, accidents, drowning, destruction, insanity, and sudden tragic deaths and repels all of them. In this regard, the Holy Prophet has enumerated as many as seventy damages which are repelled by alms-giving and has stated that this is beside the huge heavenly rewards for alms-giving.

Unlike other things which are received by those appointed by Allah, alms and charities are received by Allah the Almighty directly as it is said in the Holy Quran, “Do they not know that it is Allah who accepts the repentance of His servants and receives the charities, and that it is Allah who is the All-clement, the All-merciful?” (Repentance, 9:104); the necessary condition for the validity of charity is to give it with the intention of growing close to Allah.