This advice was issued on 25 Rabi'a Awal, 1405 A.H.
Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety)
You are aware of the afflictions of the Muslims living in Africa and in Sudan in particular. Years ago, they suffered drought. These conditions paved the way for the involvement of missionary organizations whose secret aim is to convert Muslims to Christianity.
"The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim; he does not wrong him or let him down. Whoever meets his brother's needs, Allah will meet his needs, and whoever relieves a Muslim of some worldly distress, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection."
which was too heavy to carry. Thereafter, the people came successively (with charity) until I saw two heaps of food and clothes. I noticed that the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was glowing like that of the bright moon or glittering gold. Then, he (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him without anything being diminished from their rewards. Whoever introduces an evil practice in Islam, will shoulder its sin and sins equal to those who will act upon it without diminishing in any way their burden." (Related by Muslim).
You watched and read about this disaster and severe famine which has inflicted the Muslims in Africa. You should give them Sadaqah (voluntary charity) from your money granted by Allah (Exalted be He). In this way, you will be following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his love for goodness and spending money in Allah's cause and the example of his Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) in hastening to spend money in charitable activities. Do not hold your aid in contempt even if it is insignificant. The date you give is considered as Sadaqah. Your rapid response will hinder the non-Muslims who exploit this famine to invade the Muslims in their country to misguide and convert them to Christianity.
You can confront the non-Muslims by spending your money in Allah's Cause to support and help your brothers thereby dispensing with the enemy who awaits for their misfortune. It should be noted that Sadaqah wards off the evil death and afflictions and extinguishes the fire of sins as reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him). In this regard, Allah (Exalted be He) says: Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allâh (of good deeds) will remain. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (i.e. Nawâfil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and 'Umrah), you will certainly find it with Allâh, better and greater in reward.
The Custodian of the Two Sacred Mosques, King Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz (may Allah protect him), in a kind and blessed initiative, constituted committees throughout the Kingdom to support the poor and needy in Africa. He was affected by the conditions of hunger, thirst, death, and nakedness under which the Muslims live there. May Allah reward him for these efforts and make the truth victorious through him! Newspapers and mass media broadcasted information about these committees for which we hope success. These committees have objectives to work with the intention to save Muslims from ruin and help them overcome this calamity through what those who seek reward can offer.
I appeal to you my brothers in Islam to support and cooperate with these committees in collecting assistance and encouraging people to offer them. Allah (Exalted be He) supports a servant as long as the servant supports his brother. It is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: A believer to another believer is like a wall of bricks supporting each other. And he interlocked his fingers Also, The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, and fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any of its limbs aches, the whole body aches, because of fever and sleeplessness.
He (peace be upon him) also said, Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity. He (peace be upon him) also said, Charity extinguishes (the fire of) sin just as water extinguishes fire. It is reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim)on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allah does not accept anything but that which is good – Allah will take it in His right hand and tend it for the one who gave it as any one of you tends his foal until it becomes like a mountain.
There are many well-known Ayat and Hadith mentioning the merits of giving Sadaqah and helping poor Muslims. I ask Allah (Exalted be He) to grant us all success to compete for Allah's pleasure, to accept our and your deeds, to double your reward and replace what you spend in the way of goodness with what is best. May Allah be merciful with our Muslim brothers in Africa and other lands, succor them by His Grace, and relieve their afflictions and calamity for He is the Most Generous and Able to answer! May Allah's peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad, his Family and Companions!