Growing up, I loved to save. I grew up in Egypt in a southern suburb of Cairo. My weekly allowance was around 10 cents, of which I would save 7-8 cents and compete with myself from week to week on how much I could save. When I entered college, I learned about the importance of being a community activist and the value of giving. One day, a faculty mentor spoke to a group of us, students, about charitable giving. He encouraged us to bless the little income we make by dedicating a charitable percentage. At that time, he recommended 2-3%. He explained that every time he receives an income, he takes out his charitable contribution before paying bills, saving or anything else. As a faculty, he would receive income from multiple sources and he shared with us that every time he receives a check, cash or other form of income, he takes the charitable percentage out before anything else.

He reminded us that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught that no wealth is ever decreased from giving in charity. The charitable percentage is never a deduction. In fact, it is an investment that increases the value of the remaining part of the income.

I first tried to allocate charitable contribution out of faith. I had little income as a student, so I said to myself: why not try it. However, once I experienced the financial impact of charitable contributions on the increased value of my own wealth as well as the impact on the community, it became an indispensable habit.

If you haven’t experienced it yet, start today by allocating 3-5% of your income to a charitable contribution, especially those that build foundation for our community, like Ihsan. You won’t regret it.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

Charity does not reduce wealth, God raises the status of a person when they forgive others. God elevates a person who humbles himself to Him. Muslim