Charity And Good Deeds
1) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Every part of a person's body must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note: "Removing a harmful thing from the road,” means to remove a rock, a broken bottle, nails, or any obstacle from the road that is bothering pedestrians
2) On the authority of Adee bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Save yourselves from Hell, even if it be by giving only half a date (of a palm tree) as charity: and one who does not have even that, should at least speak nicely."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note: This Hadith instructs people to give whatever charity they are able to, even if it is only a small taken like the date from a palm tree. Performing small acts of charity could prevent a person from getting sent to Hell. However, if a person is not able to give anything at all, he should at least speak nicely to others.
3) On the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told me: "Do not consider even the smallest good deed as insignificant; even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is a good deed"
(Muslim)
4) On the authority of Abu Musa Al Ashrai (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Charity is necessary for every Muslim". The Prophet was asked: "He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity". The companions asked, "what if he is not able to work?" The Prophet said: He should help poor and needy persons". The companions further asked "what if he cannot do even that?" The Prophet said "he should; urge others to do good". The companions submitted what if he lacks that also? The Prophet said "he should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity".
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note: He should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity". Means all people are capable of committing evil by hurting other people. Therefore, treating people kindly is the same as performing a charity. Also, the person who is kind to others brings good deeds upon himself in return and consequently causes more charity to be performed.
5) On the authority of Jabir (may Allah be please with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) said: "Every good deed is a charity."
(Bukhariand Muslim)
6) On the authority of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "If a Muslim plants a tree then whatever is eaten from it by the birds and animals is a charity on his part and whatever is stolen or lost is also charity."
(Muslim)
Another version on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
"If a Muslim plants or cultivates, whatever another man or animal eats from his plants is charity for him". (Muslim)
Note 1: The main point of this Hadith is to encourage people to plant trees because this allows people, birds, and animals to be fed from the fruit that the tree produces. Also planting trees is good for the society.
Note 2: This Hadith also explains that if a person steels the fruit of a tree, it is a sin. However, for the person who planted the tree, it is considered a charity for someone to
7) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and asked him: which act of alms giving is most virtuous? The Prophet answered. "Those alms you give away while you are in good health. If you have a keen desire to amass wealth, you are afraid of adversity and longing for money. Do not delay giving in charity until you are in the throes of death and then say: To so and so this, and to so and so that, for by then it already belongs to so and so".
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note 1: "So and so" means Mr. x and Mr. Y.
Alms means charity.
In the throes of death means that person is about to die.
Adversity means poverty.
Note 2: This Hadith says that he best time to give charity is when a person is young, healthy and eager to save money in order to become rich. It is much better to give charity rather than waiting until a person has become old and has accumulated wealth. To give charity when a person is young and poor is more important than to wait until the last minute of life when it is too late.
8) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be; upon him) said: "A needy and poor person is not one who asks for a date or two or a morsel or two. The real poor person is one who, despite his poverty, abstains from asking."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Another version:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "A poor person is not one who goes around begging and who can be turned away with a morsel or a date. A truly poor person is one who has insufficient means to live on, and does snot disclose his poverty so that he might be given alms, nor stands up to beg".
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note 1: "Date" means the fruit of the palm tree.
Note 2: The main point of this Hadith is to actively seek out those people who need charity but do not ask for it because they are too proud or shy to admit they need help. A person should recognize another person’s need without being asked.
9) On the authority of Uqbah Ibn Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
'I joined the Afternoon Prayer led by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in Medina. The moment the Prophet finished the prayer he stood up and stepping across the line of the worshippers hastened to one of his chambers. People in the gathering were surprised by such haste. When he came back, The Prophet explained his action and said: "I recalled that I had piece of silver (or gold) for charity and this disturbed me. I have now arranged for its distribution".
(Bukhari)
Another version says:
"I had a piece of silver (or gold) which was meant for charity. I was disturbed that it would remain with me overnight".
(Bukhari)
Note: The main point of this Hadith is not to delay in giving charity.
10) On the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
I questioned the messenger of Allah as to what act is most meritorious? The Prophet said: "Faith in Allah and striving for His cause". I asked, the liberation of which kind of slave is best? The Prophet said: "the one who is most liked by the master and whose price is the highest". I asked what if I am unable to do that (on account of lack of money) The Prophet said: "Then help someone in his work or make something for someone who is not able to make it himself". I asked, "What if one does not have the capacity? The Prophet said: "Restrain yourself from doing harm to anyone for that is also charity towards yourself".
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note 1: The main points of this Hadith are:
1. To believe in God and do things for God's sake.
2. To free slaves.
3. To help other people who are not able to help themselves.
4. To restrain your self from doing harm to anyone.
Note 2: During the time of the Prophet Muhammad in the Seventh century, slavery was practiced widely. The Prophet Muhammad preached that if a master freed their slaves, God would save them from going to Hell. There were many sayings in the Hadith and the Koran discussing the freeing of slaves and as a result of this doctrine many people converted to Islam. Unfortunately, some people followed this commandment only when it was convenient to do so. They freed slaves that were old and lazy, and were no longer needed. This is the same, as when some people give old clothes that they no longer need to charity.
So, for people to free their slaves that are young and productive is the best form of charity.
11) On the authority of Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When a person spends on his family and hopes for compensation from God, he is also seen by God to be giving charity."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note: The Prophet said this Hadith because some people spend money on other people and forget to spend it on their own families.
12) On the authority of Salman bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Giving charity to the poor is charity and giving to a relative amount to two good deed i.e. charity and benevolence to kinsmen."
(Tirmizi)
13) On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah up upon him) said: "There will be seven persons sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement when there will be no other shade besides His shade. They are: a just ruler; a young man who passes his youth in worship and service of Allah the Lord of Honour and Glory, one whose heart is perpetually attached to the mosque; two such persons who love each other for the sake of Allah, they joined together for His sake and parted for His sake; a man who is invited for sin by a rich beautiful woman but declines, saying I fear Allah. One who gives charity in a secret way without making a show, in a way that his left hand does not know what his right had spent, and one who remembers Allah in solitude so that his eyes overflow (fill with tears)
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note 1: The Seven people in this Hadith means the seven types of people that are considered to be very unique and difficult to find. Those special people will have better treatment on judgement Day. They will not have to wait in the unbearable heat; but rather, will be allowed to wait for their judgement in the comfortable shade.
Note 2: "Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah” means people whose friendship is not based on materialistic or superficial things, but on their mutual love for Allah. When one of them becomes corrupted, they are no longer friends.
Note 3: "Mosque" means the place where Muslims go to pray five times per day. A Mosque to the Muslims is like a church to the Christians.
14) On the authority of Abu Hurariah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "He who tries to serve the widowed and the poor, is just like a fighter for Allah sake" the reporter (Abu Hurairah) think that the Prophet (also) said: "It is like one standing for worship who does not feed exhausted and like one fasting without break".
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note: This Hadith means that those who help the widowed and the poor will receive a great recompensation from God, the same way as those who worship God all the time or those who defend their faith or their country. The main point in this Hadith is to encourage people to help the widowed and the poor.
15) On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
The messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be; upon him) said: "He who invites an orphan to his food and drink, Allah will grant, in reward Paradise provided he does not commit any sin which is not pardonable (e.g. unbelief, polytheism etc.) And he who looks after three daughters or three sisters, then educates them and shows mercy towards them until Allah makes them independent, Allah will grant Paradise." A man said: O Messenger of Allah, what if there are two daughters or sisters? He (the Prophet) said: "In the case of two daughter or sisters that person also deserves Paradise".
(Sharh Sunnah - Bagawi)
Note: The main point of this Hadith is that people who adopt orphans will go to Paradise.
16) On the authority of Abu Dhrr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
Some companions said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): The rich people have taken away a good deal of merit. They pray and fast as we do, but they are in a position to distribute in charity a part of their wealth (which we are unable to do). The Prophet said: "Has not Allah given you things which you can employ for charity? All glorification of Allah (saying Subhan Allah) is charity. All praise of Allah (to say Al-hamdo Lillah) is charity, all affirmation of Allah's Unity (To say La llaha Illaallah) is charity; calling upon somebody to do good is charity, preventing somebody from doing evil is charity. They asked: O Messenger of Allah, is it possible that one of us should satisfy his desire and would be rewarded?" The Prophet answered: "If he satisfied his urge through illicit means, would it not be sinful? Therefore when he satisfied it lawfully it is deserving of reward." (Muslim)
Note: "Subhan Allah" means "How far is Allah from every imperfection".
"Al-hamdo Lillah" means "Praise be to Allah".
17) On the authority of Abu Malik Al-Harith ibn` Asim al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
The messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Purity is half of faith. Al-hamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah) fills the scales. Subhan Allah (How far is Allah from every imperfection) and Al-hamdo Lillah (Praise be to Allah) fill that which is between heaven and earth. Prayer is light, charity is a proof, patience is illumination, and the Qur'an is an argument for or against you. Every one starts his day and is a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or bringing about its ruin".
(Muslim)
Note 1: Purity is half of faith" mean a heart should be free from evil and jealously. Purity also means that all things should be kept clean, such as the body, clothes, and the home. Maintaining this purity comprises half of faith.
Note 2: On the Day of Judgement there will be a scale for the good deeds and the bad deeds. If a person has more good points then bad on the day of Judgement, he will be sent to Paradise. If he has more bad points, he will be sent to Hell. Therefore, one way for devout Muslim to "fill the scales" with good points is to recite "Praise be to Allah" and "How far is Allah from imperfection" as often as possible.
Note 3: "Prayer is light" means that when a Muslim prays in the Mosque five times a day, he feels good and happy. Also prayer will illuminate his face on the Day of Judgement.
Note 4: 'Charity is illumination" means that in this life, patience is necessary to overcome problems and to achieve goals. In the next life, God will reward those people who are patient.
Note 5: Charity is proof" refers to the fact that since all people love money, if a person gives his money to charity, it provides proof that he is good Muslim.
Note 6: The Koran is an argument for or against you" means that the Koran is constitution. For those people who follow it, it will be for them, for those people who don’t follow it, it will be used against them.
Note 7: The last sentence of this Hadith means that everyone has all the information necessary to live righteously or unrighteously. It is up to the individual to choose his own destiny.
