Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 1030 [Read full issue]
Charity without Money
The word 'charity' is too limited as a translation of the Islamic term sadaqah, because the latter combines all the full meaning of charity and kindness to others with connotations of 'truth, right, etc.' The term is derived from the root sidq which means truth. In its Islamic usage, sadaqah retains the connotations of its root. This is the reason the Prophet says 'Sadaqah is a proof'.[Muslim] What he alludes to in this hadith is that it proves a person's claim of belonging to his community by being charitable and kind to others.
The Prophet was keen to ensure his companions understand the full extent of charity, or sadaqah, in its broad Islamic perspective. Therefore, he pointed out on many occasions the different forms of kindness that count as a charity.
Abu Dharr said quoting the Prophet: 'To pour water out of your bucket into your brother's is a sadaqah; to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong is a sadaqah; to meet your brother with a smile on your face is a sadaqah; to remove a stone, thorn or bone from people's passage is credited to you as a sadaqah; and to guide a person in an area where he fears to be lost is a sadaqah'. [Bukhari]
When we look at these five aspects of charity, none of which involves money, we note that some of them are very simple, while others are of far-reaching effect. The combination serves to highlight the Islamic concept that every good action, no matter how small, is a kindness that earns God's reward.
Compiled From:
"Al-Adab al-Mufrad with Full Commentary: A Perfect Code of Manners and Morality " - Adil Salahi