Commentary on Hadith 25: How Everyday Habits and Dhikr Become Charity

He (RH) said:

The twenty-fifth Hadith.

On the authority of Abu Dharr (RA),

some companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

said to the Prophet ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah,

the wealthy have gone with the rewards;

they pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast,

and they give charity from their surplus wealth."

He said, "Has Allah not made for you that which you can give as charity?

Indeed, in every Tasbih is a charity,

and every Takbir is a charity,

and every Tahmid is a charity,

and every Tahlil is a charity,

and enjoining good is a charity,

and forbidding evil is a charity,

and in the sexual act of one of you is a charity."

They said, "O Messenger of Allah,

does one of us satisfy his desire and get a reward for it?"

He said, "Do you see, if he were to satisfy it in

a forbidden way, would he not sin for it?

Likewise, if he satisfies it in a lawful way, he will have a reward."

Narrated by Muslim. This Hadith is also from the concise speech of the Prophet ﷺ,

and it contains an emphasis on three principles or universal rules from the Hadith.

The first of which relates to Dhikr, which is praising Allah ﷻ,

and this is the nourishment of the soul, as many scholars have stated.

For indeed, among the greatest things that nourish the soul and connect it to Allah ﷻ,

and spread joy and delight within it, is remembering Him, Glorified and Exalted is He.

The best remembrance after the Words of Allah ﷻ are four words in this Hadith:

Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar.

"For every Tasbih there is a charity, and every Takbir is a charity,

and every Tahmid is a charity, and every Tahlil is a charity."

And these four words are those mentioned in the saying of Allah ﷻ:

"...and the everlasting good deeds."

“Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.” (Quran 18:46)

"And the everlasting good deeds"

“And Allāh increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.” (Quran 19:76)

For in them is the best hope and return, and the best reward.

So whoever wants the good of this world and the Hereafter

should focus on praising and remembering Allah ﷻ, the best of which are the four words.

Some Salaf, like Abu Sa'id, added: 'There is no power or strength except with Allah.'

The second meaning this Hadith indicates, one of the universal principles,

relates to the virtue of enjoining good and directing to it,

'...and enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity,'

So a person's directing others to good and introducing it to them,

and alerting them to error is among the greatest ways to draw close to Allah ﷻ.

The third matter: the issue of reward for customary actions,

for by the mercy of Allah ﷻ to this Ummah, He rewards them for customary actions,

even if they did not intend the customary action as an act of obedience.

"Does one of us get a reward for satisfying his desire with his wife?"

He said, 'Yes. What if he did it unlawfully?'

The Prophet ﷺ did not say to him,

'If he intended it'—so he did not make intention a condition.

Therefore, the believers of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ

have the shortest lifespans, yet the greatest rewards,

and are the majority of the people of Paradise, making up two-thirds of it, because

Allah عز وجل rewards them for many of their habits, turning them into acts of worship.

The second matter is that Allah عز وجل has made for them seasons

of obedience where rewards are multiplied— which those before us missed.

Friday—the Jews and Christians were deprived of it, and we were blessed with it.

Laylat al-Qadr was not known to any nation before us, but we were made to know it.

And likewise with other virtuous nights, days, and seasons,

such as Ramadan, Hajj, and others.

So, the point is that habits turn into acts of worship,

provided that these habits are proper, meaning on a straight path,

where one does not do or intend anything Haram.

Yes, ﷺ.