Wisdom of The Holy Prophet — Page 43
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL VALUES 43 CHARITY Whatever of your pure wealth you spend m charity, Allah has full knowledge thereof, Those who spend their wealth in charity by night and day, secretly and openly have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve (2. 274-275). * * * The Holy Prohet (peace be on him) said: 1. Every good act is charity. 2. The best charity is to promote goodwill between people. 3. The best charity is to fill a hungry stomach. 4. There is no charity deserving of greater reward than giving a drink of water to a thirsty one. 5. When one of you gives away a garment to another the benefactor remains under the protection of Allah as long as the other's person is covered by the garment. 6. Do not feed the poor on something you would n. ot eat yourselves. 7. Begin by spending upon those who are dependent upon you. 8. Spend first upon yourself, next upon those dependent on you. If something is left over it is for your kin and if there is still something left over it is for others. 9. That which you consume yourself counts as charity; that which you provide for your wife counts as charity; that which you spend on your children counts as charity and that which you provide for your servant also counts as charity. 10. Whatever you give your wife is charity. 11. When a beggar comes to your door put something in his hand, even though it may be only a portion of burnt sheep's trotters. 12. What Allah likes best is feeding a hungry person in want, or relieving a person of his debt or fine or afflic tion.