How to Calculate the Donation Sworn In the Past?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

For example, a promise was made to donate or give away a specific amount of money many years back, say in 1983. This did not happen, and fast forwarding to the present day, a decision has been made to make that payment and fulfill the promise. Does one need to calculate how much the original sum is now worth in today’s money, or will the initial sum suffice?

Answer

I pray you are well. It would be sufficient to give the amount you initially promised to donate. You don’t need to increase the amount.

One thing you’ll notice about spending in the way of Allah is that whatever you spend tends to come back to you. Sometimes, it’s as money, and at other times, as something else. But, no matter what, “every single thing you spend, He will replace it.” [Quran, 34:39]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.