“Every act of good is a sadaqah (charity).”
Did you know that our Prophet ﷺ told us that each one of us must give in charity? In Islam, charity is not confined to giving away wealth. Any good that you do for the sake of Allah is considered charity. Our Prophet ﷺ said:
كُلُّ مَعْروفٍ صَدَقَةٌ
“Every act of good is a sadaqah (charity).”
(Sahih Bukhari)
Our Prophet ﷺ told us that even if someone is incapable of giving charity or helping others, if he simply refrains from harming others that will be considered a charity from him!
كُفَّ شَرَّكَ عنِ الناسِ، فإِنَّها صدَقَةٌ منكَ على نفسِكَ
“Keep your evil away from people, for that is a charity from you to yourself.”
(Sahih Muslim)
In another hadith, he ﷺ advised the one who can’t give in charity to others nor help them to instead do good deeds and stay away from bad deeds. He, may Allah’s peace and praise be upon him, left us with no excuse to not give in charity!
He ﷺ said, “Every Muslim has to give charity.”
The people said, “O Messenger! If someone has nothing to give, what should he do?”
He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and give in charity (from what he earns).”
They asked, “If he cannot do that?”
He replied, “He should help the needy who ask for help.”
The people asked, “If he cannot do that?”
He replied:
قَالَ فَلْيَعْمَلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَلْيُمْسِكْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ
“Then he should do good deeds and stay away from bad deeds and this is considered charity.”
(Sahih Bukhari)