The Muslim Guide to Infaq and Nazr
In Islam, there are two types of donations or vows that are made for the sake of Allah (God), which are known as infaq and nazr.
Infaq refers to the act of spending one’s wealth in the way of Allah. This can take many forms, such as giving to the poor, supporting charitable causes, or contributing to the upkeep of mosques and other religious institutions. Infaq is considered a virtuous act in Islam and is seen as a way of seeking the blessings and forgiveness of Allah.
Nazr (Nadhr), on the other hand, refers to a vow or promise made to Allah in which one pledges to perform a certain act or make a donation if a particular wish or desire is fulfilled. For example, a person may make a vow to fast for a certain number of days or to make a donation to a charitable cause if their loved one recovers from an illness. Nazr is also considered a virtuous act in Islam and is seen as a way of expressing gratitude to Allah for his blessings.
Both infaq and nazr are based on the Islamic belief that seeking the blessings and forgiveness of Allah is an important aspect of spiritual practice. By spending wealth in the way of Allah or making a vow or promise to him, Muslims seek to draw closer to the divine and earn his blessings and forgiveness.
Distinguishing Between Infaq and Nazr
Infaq directly refers to spending money in the way of Allah. This act can be giving charity or giving zakat, but making a nazr (vow) or making a promise to Allah can include giving money or any kind of good deed. For example, some crypto traders describe to us that they make a vow like this: before entering a position and after careful analysis, in order for Allah to bless this position, they vow to give a percentage of the profit of this trade to the needy (Fuqara) in the way of Allah. Do you see? This is both a form of spending and a form of vow. That is, provided that their trade is successful, a percentage is promised for the blessing and pleasure of Allah and to help the needy or poor.
Islamic tradition holds that the act of spending wealth in the way of Allah and making a vow or promise to him can bring one closer to Allah and earn them blessings and forgiveness for their sins. This practice is based on the belief that seeking the intercession of Allah can bring spiritual purification and draw one closer to the divine. Making a vow is also very effective in forgiving sins. Consider that a person has a sin such as gossiping. In Islam, gossiping is strictly forbidden and is considered a sin. So what should a Muslim who has a habit of this sin do? He can vow that Allah will help him to leave this act, and on the other hand, the sinner fasts every day with the intention of seeking forgiveness from Allah. You may think that such things do not happen to anyone, if it has not happened to you, we are proud of you and you are one of the righteous servants of Allah, but if a Muslim is caught in this trap, we hope that he will see our advice and try to move towards Allah.
| Feature | Infaq | Nazr |
| Primary Definition | Spending wealth in the way of Allah. | A conditional vow made to Allah. |
| Nature of Action | Strictly financial contributions. | Any good deed (financial or non-financial). |
| Examples | Paying Zakat, Sadaqah, funding a charity. | Fasting, praying, feeding the poor, or donating. |
| Motivation | General pursuit of divine blessings. | Gratitude for a specific granted wish, greater blessing or forgiveness of sin. |
Quran: Allah Directly Commands Believers to Do Good Deeds
The Quranic narrations that support this practice include the following:
“And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, “My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.”” (Quran 63:10)
“And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.” (Quran 2:158)
Infaq and nazr are deeply ingrained in Islamic tradition and are considered virtuous acts that bring one closer to Allah and earn them blessings and forgiveness.