Class 4
CHARITY THAT REQUIRE NO MONEY
DOING CHARITY WITHOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Every joint of a person must perform a charity each day that the sun rises…” (Bukhari & Muslim). So if we are all supposed to give charity every day, how can those who do not have money fulfill this requirement?
Alhamdulillah Islam is easy and there are so many ways of doing good for everyone, whether they are amongst the rich, the middle class or the poor. Alhamdulillah, every one of us have our own opportunities.
Those without money might have the blessing of time and health on their hands as the Prophet ﷺ said, "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time." (Sahih Bukhari).
So we can skip some of the idle time that we spend browsing and do a lot of charitable acts. We list below what we can do as charity without sending a single penny.
Have sincere intention of doing charity when you get the money
The first and foremost thing to do when you do not have the money is to have the sincere intention to do good with it when you are blessed with wealth. Keep making Dua that Allah blesses you and also gives you the hidayah to use it in ways that pleases Him. And you better best believe that Allah takes into account your good intentions as if they were good deeds even before they are realized into actions. Your desire to do something (good) should be as strong as when you first desired it, even if down the road you feel that there is no way for you to accomplish it. Islam teaches us hope. We find in many instances that Allah rewards a person for his strong desire to do a certain good thing just as long as his intentions are set straight: sincerity in doing it for Allah’s sake, and hope in Allah in that He will reward it.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“Verily Allah ta’ala has written down the good deeds and the evil deeds, and then explained it [by saying]: “Whosoever intended to perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied. And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended it [i.e., the evil deed] and then performed it, then Allah writes it down as one evil deed.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
"Whoever asks Allah, the mighty and Sublime, sincerely for martyrdom, Allah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even of he dies in his bed." (Nisa’ii; Sahih)
Also Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: We accompanied the Prophet ﷺ in an expedition when he said, "There are some men in Al-Madinah who are with you wherever you march and whichever valley you cross. They have not joined you in person because of their illness." In another version he ﷺ said: "They share the reward with you." (Muslim).
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave the example of one whom Allah has granted wealth who spends it in the way of Allah, while one who is poor says: “Had I possessed wealth, I would have acted like so-and-so.” The Prophet said, “If that is his intention, his reward is the same as that of the other.” (Tirmidhi, classed as Hasan Sahih)
So do not be disheartened, my brothers and sisters. Allah makes everything possible that even if anyone wanted to make it impossible, he will find that he would not be able to do so. Truly He is the Most Wise and we are blessed to be followers of His Deen. May Allah increase our understanding of Islam and grant us the honour and blessing of being amongst those who spend for the sake of Allah. Aameen.
Making Dua for Others
The best and the most important way we can help our brothers and sisters is by making sincere duas for them, this should be done even if we are already helping them financially, we should pray that Allah makes this test or trial easy for them and that they wouldn’t need any help in future. Engage in heartfelt duas for the welfare and prosperity of the people you know and for the Ummah in general.
Nowadays, Dua’a is trivialized. “Please make duaa for me” is a casual statement. However, when we nod in the affirmative in response to the above request, do we really consider making duaa? How many us feel the pain of the oppressed and the afflicted, and raise our hands in sincere duaa for them even after the obligatory prayers (let alone the Tahajjud prayer)? Just as we need duaa of others, we should be generous in making du’a for others too.
Remember the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whenever a Muslim supplicates for his (Muslim) brother in his absence, the angels say: 'May the same be for you too'". (Sahih Muslim).
It is important to remember that even though we may not be able to physically help our brothers and sisters in faith, we can still offer them support through prayer. We should always strive to make dua for others and ask Allah to grant them ease and blessings.
Furthermore, this hadith serves as an example of how powerful unity among Muslims is.
Sincere Advice or a Good word that is helpful
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“…And the good word is a charity…” (Bukhari & Muslim)
“The rights of one Muslim over another are six.”… “If you meet him, greet him with Salam; if he invites you, accept the invitation; if he asks for advice, give him sincere advice; if he sneezes and praises Allah, say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on you); if he falls sick, visit him; and if he dies, attend his funeral.” (Sahih Muslim)
Imparting valuable insights and experiences to guide others through life’s challenges, a good work to encourage personal growth and resilience or to make them happy are all charitable acts. Providing valuable advice & telling others to do good things especially in matters of faith and righteousness, qualifies as Sadaqah Alhamdulillah.
Make peace between two people
The Prophet ﷺ said, “…to judge justly between two people is a charity...” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Bringing justice implies making peace and conciliation between two people, and judging justly between their disputes. According to some scholars, it is even considered a communal obligation (fard kifayah). So this is indeed a very rewarding act of charity.
The Prophet ﷺ told us that reconciling between people is better than observing voluntary fasts, offering voluntary prayers and giving voluntary charity.
He ﷺ said: “Shall I not tell you something that is better than the status of (voluntary) fasting, prayer and charity?” They said: “Yes.” He ﷺ said: “Reconciling in a case of discord, for the evil of discord is the shaver.” Al-Tirmidhi said: It was narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “It is the shaver, and I do not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (i.e., destroys) religious commitment.” (Abu Dawood & Tirmidhi; classed as Hasan by Albani)
It is such a rewarding act that in Islam it is permitted to tell lies, in order to achieve this great purpose. So it is permissible for you to tell each party that the other has said good things about them and praised them so as to encourage reconciliation. This does not come under the heading of lies that are haraam.
Helping others in general
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“…To help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity...” (Bukhari & Muslim)
‘Giving in charity is an obligation upon every Muslim’. he was asked: ‘What about one who does not find (the means) to do so?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘Let him work with his hands, thus doing benefit to himself and give in charity.’ He was asked: ‘What if he does not have (the means) to do so?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
Extend assistance to those facing difficulties, regardless of their background or circumstances. Help someone get into the bus or train and help put their bags in. Dedication of time and energy towards noble causes and acts of kindness is recognized as Sadaqah.
Walk to the congregational prayers.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “…every step that you take towards the prayer is a charity…” (Bukhari & Muslim)
It should be noted that it is narrated that there is a great reward for walking to the mosque, and that the worshippers who will have the greatest reward are those whose houses are further away.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Shall I not tell you something by means of which Allah erases sins and raises people in status?" Then he ﷺ said: "Doing Wudu properly at times when it is difficult to do so, taking many steps to the mosque, and waiting for prayer after prayer. That is constant readiness." (Sahih Muslim)
“The people who will receive the greatest reward for prayer are those who walk the furthest distance to come and pray, then those who walk the next furthest.” (Sahih Muslim)
“Whoever purifies himself in his house then walks to one of the houses of Allah in order to perform one of the duties enjoined by Allah, for every two steps he takes, one will erase a sin and the other will raise him one degree in status.” (Sahih Muslim)
“Give glad tiding to those who walk to the mosque in darkness (Isha & Fajr), of perfect light on the Day of Resurrection.” (Abu Dawud; classed as sahih by Al-Albani)
Removing Harm From a Path
The Prophet ﷺ said, “…removing a harmful object from the road is a charity.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Ensuring the safety of fellow travelers by removing obstacles and hazards from their path is a form of charity and embodies a sense of communal responsibility.
For sisters this can be applicable to removing things from the pathway in their homes, the small toys etc that they remove thinking about others and protecting them from harming their feet, this InShaAllah will be considered as charity.
All praises be to the Most High. Islam is not only easy, it eases our daily tasks as well. When we don’t have money, we can have good deeds in their place, and if we don’t have the means to go out to give, then the home is just as good, in fact the home is more deserving of your charity than outsiders.
The full hadeeth of the topics covered above… “Every joint of a person must perform a charity each day that the sun rises: to judge justly between two people is a charity. To help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity. And the good word is a charity. And every step that you take towards the prayer is a charity, and removing a harmful object from the road is a charity. (Bukhari & Muslim)
Smile
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity…” (Tirmidhi; classed as hasan)
“You cannot satisfy people with your wealth, but satisfy them with your cheerful faces and good morals” (Abu Ya`la and Al-Hakim; Authentic hadith).
Amazingly, smiling is equal to spending in the cause of Allah, without having to pay even a penny. This is, indeed, a Prophetic solution to those who desire to give charity but cannot afford it.
This is an endless wellspring, if we just know how to use it. If we use smiling, wisely and sensibly, we can win over hearts. They will be more open and prepared to listen to what we share about our beautiful faith.
Abdullah ibn Al-Harith ibn Hazm said, “I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Prophet does.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Jarir ibn Abdullah said: “Allah’s Messenger ﷺ never looked at me but with a smile” (Sahih Muslim).
So, All we have to do is keep a beautiful smile on our face at all times.
The smile which penetrates the walls of others’ hearts and settles there as a crowned king.
The smile that indicates and shows one’s good character.
Refrain from harming other people.
Keep your evil away from the people and that will be a charitable act from yourself upon yourself. (Muslim)
Actively protect others from potential harm, whether religious, physical, emotional, or societal, which is an act of charity. Examples are, don’t spread lies about others, don’t gossip, do not back bite, don’t park the cars in a place that will bother others, don’t be the reason for people fighting, there are many small things stopping of which can all be counted as charity InShaAllah.
Enjoining Good & Forbidding Evil
The Prophet ﷺ “…commanding good and forbidding evil is charity…” (Tirmidhi). This can come under spreading good knowledge and we will read more about this topic in the next class InShaAllah.
Showing directions
The Prophet ﷺ said, “…your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you…”(Tirmidhi)
Simple but effective charity, it makes things easy for people and protects them from harm of getting lost wasting time roaming around.
Dhikr & Two Rakahs of Duha
The Prophet ﷺ said, “In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah’s Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illAllah) is an act of charity; and enjoining good is an act of charity, and forbidding evil is an act of charity, and two Rak`ah Duha prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).” (Sahih Muslim)
Alhamdulillah just by making time in the morning for these two rakahs of prayer is equivalent to acts of charity for 360 joints of ours.
Have intimate relations with your spouse.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Having intercourse (with one’s wife) is a charity.” He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, if one of us fulfils his desire, is there reward in that?” He ﷺ replied, “Do you not see that if he does it in a haram way he will have the burden of sin? So if he does it in a halal way, he will have a reward for that.” (Sahih Muslim)
Intercourse is a right the spouses have on each other (yes the wife also has the right of intimacy), this is because the spouses has to maintain their chastity and fulfil the physical desires and only have each other to do so in a halal the other ways would end up making them fall into haram.
Helping a person with bad eye-sight or an elderly
“…your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you…” (Tirmidhi). Help them cross the road, help them get out of the Masjid, etc.
The full Hadeeth, “Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you”. (Tirmidhi, classed as Hasan)
Tomorrow we will InShaAllah read about the Best Types of Charity.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the rewards of Charity in this world and the next.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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