By Khurram Murad
bu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
“There is no person who does not have the obligation of (doing) charity every day that the sun rises.”
Whereupon he was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, from where would we get something to give in charity (so often)?” To
which he (peace and blessings be upon him) replied,
“Indeed the gates to goodness are many: glorifying God, praising Him, magnifying Him, saying‘There is no god but Allah,’ enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong, removing (any source of) harm from the road, making the deaf hear (and understand), guiding the blind, showing the seeker his need, striving as far as your two legs could carry you and with deep concern to give succor to him who asks, carrying with the strength of your arms (the burdens of) the weak. All these are (acts of) charity.” And he added, “And your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, your removing of stones, thorns, and bones from people’s paths is charity, and your guiding a man gone astray in the world is charity for you.”
Any person who comes across this beautiful saying must pause for some moments to consider some of its meanings and implications. The hadith has two main concerns:
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1. Awakening the springs of goodness in the human heart
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2. Strengthening the society with the bond of love, affection, and brotherhood