Is donating a small amount of money every day at the time of pre-dawn a bid‘ah (innovation), or is considering that a bid‘ah an exaggeration?
Designating charity specifically for the pre-dawn time (sahar) with the belief of added virtue is an innovated bid'ah, as there is no Shar'i evidence for it. Worship is not restricted by time or place except with proof. And His (Allah's) saying: "And those who seek forgiveness in the pre-dawn hours" (Al-Imran/17) specifies seeking forgiveness in the pre-dawn hours, not charity. Scholars have interpreted the verse as relating to seeking forgiveness at the time of sahar because it is a time when supplications are accepted and Allah answers those who ask Him. Furthermore, restricting charity to this time involves undue hardship and is not compatible with the usual practice of those who ask for charity and the poor. So, strive to spend in charity at all times without restriction, and pray, supplicate, and seek forgiveness at the pre-dawn time as stated in the Sharia.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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