Technology has transformed our material life. Why shouldn’t we use it to transform our spiritual lives? One spiritual need that technology has made advances in, is giving. 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, according to Bukhari, “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small.”

Giving consistently is one of the most prized habits you can develop to achieve endless Barakah while creating a sustained impact. Technological advances in online giving have now made it possible to practice this habit with great ease. You can now conveniently use online tools to support your giving goals. But where do you start? The following tools and tips can help you in making BIG in your giving journey.

Zakat Calculator

Zakat is an Ibadah that is obligatory for all Muslims. You pay Zakat on your savings that have reached nisab. But how much Zakat should you pay? Are you sure you have taken all your assets into account? Did you calculate correctly? Are you aware of all the fiqh rules associated with the calculation?

 You can eliminate all your doubts by using a Zakat calculator like that on the  Feeling Blessed app. The comprehensive calculator asks for details of all possible personal assets including cash, investments, and business inventory. It also takes payables and deductible liabilities into account, ensuring that your zakat is calculated with all items taken into account. Lastly, the Zakat calculator offers you the chance to set a target against the Zakat you owe. This amount is automatically updated when you make your donation. Hence you are able to pay your Zakat and keep a track of the amount paid against the target throughout the year.  

Identifying Charities to Give

Whether you want to give Zakat or Sadaqa, it’s important to identify the charities you trust. You may start off with the charities nearest to your home. It could be a local Masjid or an orphanage in your town. One advantage of donating to such charities is that you can conveniently visit them and see if they are legitimate. The Feeling Blessed app provides you with an interactive map of different charities. Sometimes it's also important to see if the charities you support are utilizing the funds properly and if they regularly monitor and evaluate their program delivery. Charity Navigator is a great website that allows you to assess and evaluate each charity. A very basic point to consider is to see if the charity you support is legally registered. Some online giving platforms, such as Feeling Blessed, only showcase charities that are registered. If you are donating to a crowd-funding platform make sure to do a background check of the organization before making your donation. 

Harness the Power of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

What is peer-to-peer fundraising? It’s a way to empower yourself to raise funds for a cause. With peer-to-peer fundraising, YOU lead the efforts to raise support by identifying donors and enticing them to contribute towards the cause. Before the advent of online tools, peer-to-peer fundraising was an arduous undertaking involving a lot of traveling, meeting with potential donors, managing cash donations, etc. Today you don’t have to worry about any of these grueling tasks. Instead, you can go online and create a fundraiser or gift registry. The tool not only allows you to monitor the progress of the campaign but it creates a seamless channel for donors to donate directly to the cause you care about. 

Automate your Giving

Do you remember the Hadith at the beginning of this article? Giving consistently is the key to creating a sustained impact for yourself and those in need. Unfortunately, this can be burdensome for many who are constantly on the go and juggling countless tasks in their daily professional lives. 

Picture this scenario: you have decided to donate daily online to fight hunger in Yemen. First You identify a legitimate charity to donate to. Then you go to their website and fill out a lengthy form and your card details to make a small donation of $5. You do the same if you want to support them every day. Recurring giving allows you to make a regular donation automatically. Many online platforms are equipped with this feature and some are more versatile than others. For example, you can make monthly, weekly, or daily automated giving through the Feeling Blessed app. You can even define the start and end date of your giving. 

Conclusion 

Giving can be an extremely fulfilling experience. It is important to invest your time, money, and energy where it matters the most. Technology offers you endless ways to achieve your giving goals. There is no harm in embracing technology to fulfill your giving needs.