“Has not Allah made things for you to do in charity?”
It is interesting to note that at the time of event recorded in this hadith, the Companions of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) thought that there was only one type of charity – giving of one’s wealth. However, as we now know, the Islamic concept of charity is vast. It incorporates such things as doing good, giving food and even a smile. In fact the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said,
“Every act of goodness is an act of charity.”
[Recorded in Muslim]
Even the acts of goodness done by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) towards His servants, are considered ‘charity’ from Him (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). When discussing the shortening of the prayer during prayer, the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said,
“This is a charitable act [sadaqah] that Allah has bestowed upon you, so accept His charity.”
[Recorded in Muslim]
Other than the act of giving one’s wealth, the concept of charity in Islam can be divided into two broad categories. The first category consists of acts of goodness and kindness that are done towards other human beings. This category includes acts like ordering the good and forbidding the evil, calling others to the path of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), keeping oneself from harming others, teaching others about the religion, removing something harmful from the road and so forth. We can see that this type of charity may actually be more beneficial in the long run than giving up some of one’s wealth. As the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Your smiling at your brother is a charitable act for you. Your ordering the good and eradicating evil is a charitable act. Your guiding a man in a land wherein he is lost is a charitable act. Your removing a stone, thorn or bone from the road is a charitable act. Your emptying your cup into the cup of your brother is a charitable act.”
[Recorded in al-Tirmidhi]
We can see that any of these acts of charity are available to all people, whether rich or poor.
The second category consists of acts of goodness done directly towards oneself. In fact one of the best charitable acts is to refrain from harming others. Abu Dharr (RadhiAllahu Anhu) once asked the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) what he should do if he does not have the ability to perform some of the good deeds. The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied:
“Keep your evil away from the people and that will be a charitable act from yourself upon yourself.”
[Recorded in Muslim]
SubhaanAllah, the mercy of Allah, even acts of charity towards oneself are rewardable. In fact, even saying ‘SubhaanAllah‘ is considered an act of charity. One of the best things that we can do is perform dhikr of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and in so doing, perform an act of charity towards our own souls. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) in His infinite Mercy, has given us a multitude of ways to earn rewards, even down to how we use the tips of our tongues.
Let’s ask ourselves how we utilise the things He (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) has blessed us with, and if we are using them to maximise our rewards?
“Verily, every tasbeehah is a charitable act, every takbeerah is a charitable act, every tahmeedah is a charitable act, every tahleelah is a charitable act”
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) mentioned the following four phrases as counting as charitable acts:
Tasbeehah – ‘SubhaanAllah’ ‘Glory be to Allah’
Takbeerah – ‘Allahu Akbar’ ‘Allah is the Greatest’
Tahmeedah – ‘al-Hamdulillah’ ‘All praises be to Allah’
Tahleelah – ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah’
These are four phrases that a Muslim should say throughout their lives. According to many commentators on the Qur’an, these are the four phrases that are referred to as ‘lasting good righteous deeds’ in the verse:
“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the righteous good deeds that last are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.”
(Surah al-Kahf:46)
The meaning of subhaanAllah and alhamdullilah were given in detail in the commentary on Hadith 23. The statement allahu akbar implies that Allah is greater than anything else in existence. There is nothing as important or as great as Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). The statement La ilaaha illa-llah forms the foundation of the Muslim’s faith. It means that there is none worthy of worship except Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). We can see that the whole of a Muslim’s life revolves around the meaning of these four phases, and when these become the driving force, their heart will become pure. They will translate into action the implication of these four phrases and will begin to emulate the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) in being the most giving of all people and sacrificing for the sake of Allah. These are truly acts of charity for the person’s own benefit and for the benefit of others. May Allah make us of those who put the implication of these statements into action.
Aameen!