We should give charity and do good for others for their sake. That is from spiritual excellence (ihsan)—to want for your brother what you want for yourself. But not everyone can live up to that high level of ethics. For those who cannot, there is still Prophetic guidance that compels one to do good in the world. If I do good or avoid harming others only for the sake of my own benefit in the Afterlife, that also counts as a commendable action in Islam.

This episode unpacks the Prophetic roadmap toward ethical living contained in the following hadith:

Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Charity is a duty upon every Muslim.” They said, “What if he has nothing?” The Prophet said, “Then he should work with his hands to benefit himself and give in charity.” They said, “What if he cannot do so [out of inability or laziness]?” The Prophet said, “Then he should help a depressed, needy person.” They said, “What if he cannot do so?” The Prophet said, “Then he should enjoin goodness and virtue.” They said, “What if he cannot do so?” The Prophet said, “Then he should refrain from evil, for that will be his charity.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6022, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1008

 This hadith makes it a requirement on every believer to give sadaqa, or charity, on a regular basis. But if one is unable to give money, he is taught to do whatever else he can for the people around him: by helping them out in a non-monetary way, or by encouraging them toward good acts, or, at the very least, by refraining from harming them. According to this hadith, simply stopping oneself from doing evil becomes an act of charity!

In this episode, Dr. Fareeha Khan and Syeda Fatima Quadri unpack how easy the Prophetic teaching makes it for people to live ethically in our world. To live ethically, one doesn’t necessarily have to live off the grid, shop only locally, or aim to make justice prevail all on one’s own. This teaching shows that positive ethical contribution is attainable for everyone, not just those who have a high moral drive.

TEXT IN FOCUS:

Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Charity is a duty upon every Muslim.” They said, “What if he has nothing?” The Prophet said, “Then he should work with his hands to benefit himself and give in charity.” They said, “What if he cannot do so [out of inability or laziness]?” The Prophet said, “Then he should help a depressed, needy person.” They said, “What if he cannot do so?” The Prophet said, “Then he should enjoin goodness and virtue.” They said, “What if he cannot do so?” The Prophet said, “Then he should refrain from evil, for that will be his charity.”

(Bukhari and Muslim)

TAGS:

#sadaqa

#prophetic-teachings

#islamic-charity

#dr-fareeha-khan

#sila

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