From the Sayings of Muhammad
Al-Ahmadiyya, May 1979 Issue (Vol. 1, No. 5, p. 2)
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (may the peace of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:
Doing justice between two people is charity; and assisting a man upon his beast, and lifting his baggage, is charity; and pure words in which he rewards, and answers a questioner with mildness is charity; and removing that which is an inconvenience to man, such as thorns and stones, is charity.
Every good deed is charity, and it is a good deed that you meet your brother with a cheerful countenance and that you pour water from your bucket into the vessel of your brother.
If one of you should take his rope and bring a bundle of firewood on his back and then sell it, with which Allah should save his honour, it is better for him than that he should beg of people, whether they give him or do not give him.
The man who exerts himself on behalf of the widow and the poor one is like the one who struggles in the way of Allah or the one who keeps awake in the night (for prayers) and fasts during the day.
Charity is incumbent on every Muslim.
His companions said:
“O Prophet of Allah, what about him who has not got anything to give?”
The Prophet said:
“He should work with his hand and profit himself and give in charity.”
They said:
“If he has nothing in spite of this?”
He said:
“He should help the distressed one who is in need.”
They said:
“If he is unable to do this?”
The Prophet replied:
“He should do good deeds and refrain from doing evil — this is charity on his part.”
May Allah have mercy on the man who is generous when he buys and when he sells and when he demands his due.
The angels met the soul of a man from among those who were before you, (and) they said:
“Have you done any good?”
He said:
“I used to give respite to the one in easy circumstances and forgave one who was in straitened circumstances.”
So, they forgave him.
When a person is invited to a meal and he does not accept or reply, he disobeys Allah and His Messenger; and he who goes to a feast without being invited enters as a thief and goes forth as a raider.
The blessing of food is the washing of hands before it, and the washing of hands after it.
Whoever contracts a debt intending to repay it, Allah will repay it on his behalf (i.e., God will grant him the means to pay it),and whoever contracts a debt intending to waste it, Allah will bring him to ruin.