Is it enough for a rich person to give only zakah? Can he spend the remaining money as he wishes? Is it necessary for him to do other charities than zakah?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The amount that a person has to give from his wealth is the amount that is fard. He can do supererogatory charities if he wishes. He can give zakah and spend the remaining wealth as he wishes. He can spend his wealth as he wishes legitimately. He can buy luxurious houses and cars.

However, one gains a lot of thawabs when he acts in accordance with the Sunnah and does charity. The rich should act in accordance with the hadith "He who fills his stomachs and goes to bed while his neighbor is hungry is not one of us" and take care of the poor.

There are millions of people who suffer from hunger and illnesses in the Islamic world. It is not appropriate for a Muslim to act indifferently toward them. 

However, he is not regarded to have committed a sin if he gives zakah and does not do any other charity; he becomes deprived of great thawabs in that case.

Questions on Islam