Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Charity is due upon every joint in a person's body each day 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. Saying a good word is a charity. Every step that you take towards the prayer is a charity, and removing a harmful object from the road is a charity."
There is a charity to be given for each joint of the human body
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that every religiously accountable Muslim should give every day a voluntary charity on behalf of every single one of his bone joints as a form of expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty for well-being and for creating his bones with joints that allow him to grasp and stretch. This charity can be fulfilled not through giving money alone but through all types of righteous acts, which include: Acting justly and reconciling between those in disagreement counts as a charity. Helping someone disabled with his mount by helping him ride on it or lifting his luggage on it counts as a charity. The good word, whether it is Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), supplication, greeting of peace, or otherwise counts as a charity. Every step you take to the prayer counts as a charity. Removing what is harmful from the way counts as a charity.
Lessons
- The structure of the bones of human beings and their soundness are among the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty upon them. Hence, each bone needs charity to be given on its behalf to show due gratitude for such a blessing.
- Encouraging the act of renewing gratitude daily to maintain such blessings.
- Encouraging the constant observance of voluntary acts of worship and charity on a daily basis.
- The merit of reconciling between people.
- Encouraging a Muslim to help his fellow Muslim as this counts as a charity.
- Encouraging the attendance of the congregational prayers and walking thereto and maintaining mosques.
- It is obligatory to respect the Muslims' roads by avoiding what hurts or harms them.
Topics
Related hadiths
- Religion is sincerityAuthentic
- I advise you to fear Allah, and to listen and obey even if a slave is appointed as your leader. Whosoever among you shall live after me will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided CaliphsAuthentic
- We pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to listen and obey at times of hardship and ease, energy and reluctance, and to endure if prejudice is held against usAuthentic
- There shall be rulers in charge of you, and you will approve and disapprove. So anyone who approves (their good deeds) shall be absolved, and anyone who forbids (their bad deeds) shall be safe, except for those who are content and complyAuthentic
- If a person falls ill or travels, he shall be credited with whatever good deeds he used to perform while being at home and in good healthAuthentic
- Convey from me even if one verse, and narrate from the Children of Israel, and there is no sin in doing that. And whoever intentionally tells a lie about me, let him occupy his seat in HellfireAuthentic