Chapter 11: The Prophet on Charity
‘Charity extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire.’ (Ibn Majah)
‘A dinar that you spend for the sake of Allah, a dinar that you spend to free a slave, a dinar that you give in charity to a needy person and a dinar that you spend on your family – the greatest of them in reward is the one that you spend on your family.’ (Muslim)
‘Your smiling at your brother is an act of charity for you.’ (Tirmidhi)
‘I saw a man enjoying the delights of Paradise because of a tree he cut back from the middle of the road because it was bothering people.’ (Muslim)
‘There is no Muslim who plants something and birds, humans or animals eat from it, but it will be charity for him.’ (Bukhari)
‘If you want to soften your heart, then feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan.’ (Ahmad)
‘Whoever gives charity equivalent to a date earned from a good (halal) source, for Allah does not accept anything but that which is good, Allah will take it in His right hand then tend for it for its giver as one of you tends his colt until it becomes like a mountain.’ (Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once addressed a gathering and said: ‘Every Muslim must give charity.’
The gathering replied: What if he can’t find anything to give? The Prophet replied: ‘Then let him work with his hands and benefit himself and give charity’
They said: What if he can’t or does not do that? The Prophet ﷺ replied: ‘Then let him assist the one who is in desperate need.’
They asked: What if he can’t do that? The Prophet replied: ‘Then let him enjoin what is good and right.’
The people then asked: What if he does not do that? The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: ‘Then let him refrain from doing evil, and that is an act of charity on his part.’ (Bukhari)
‘Charity is proof.’ (Muslim)
‘And the people of Paradise are of three types: a man of authority who is fair and just, whoever gives charity and does good…’ (Muslim)
‘A man who gives charity and conceals it to the extent that his left hand does not know what his right hand does’ (one of the seven whom Allah will shade with His shade on the Day of Resurrection).‘ (Bukhari, Muslim)
‘Every individual will be in the shade of his charity until judgement is passed between people.’ (Sahih ibn Hibban)
‘Charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord and wards off a bad death.’ (Tirmidhi)
‘Whoever among you is able to screen himself against the Fire, even with half a date given in charity.’ (Bukhari)
‘When a person dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who will offer supplication for him.’ (Muslim)