Every good deed is a charity

Jabir ibn `Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: «Every good deed is a charity» (1).

Explanation of vocabularies (2):

(Good deed) in linguistics is every righteous deed, whereas deniable actions are dispraised by the Shari`ah as Al Qady said. Ar-Raghib said: "Good deed is known by the Shari`ah and the reason all together".

(charity) every good deeds shall deserve a reward exactly as charity.

Lessons gained from the Hadith (3):

1- Exhorting people to do righteous deeds as much as possible, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to despise any good deed.

2- Al Mawardy said: "Good deeds are of two kinds: Saying and action. Saying is good speech, glad tiding, and nice words which are resulted from good manner and nature. Action is spending money, helping by effort, and aiding in problems which are resulted from loving goodness to people and preferring what is beneficial to them. These matters bring about two benefits: For the doer by gaining reward and good reputation, and a benefit for the helped which is comfort and relief, therefore it is called here as charity" (4).

3- Easiness of the Shari`ah and its encompass to all people because doing good deeds and gaining reward is not dedicated only to rich people but every able Muslim may do different kinds of good deeds such as: Adhkar, glorification, invocation, advice, enjoining good and forbidding evil, guiding a lost person, and condoling the distressed...etc.

4- A Muslim has to exert efforts to do righteous deeds as much as he can. By doing good deeds, his life shall be good, his soul will feel comfort, and his relationships with the people around him shall be good if his intention is good.

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(1) Reported by Al Bukhari, No. (6021) and Muslim No. (2375).
(2) Fathul-Bary of Ibn Hajar (10 / 448) and in the commentary of An-Nawawy on Muslim (7 / 91).
(3) Fathul-Bary of Ibn Hajar (9/ 31).
(4) Adab Ad-Dunya wad-Din (1/247) in short.