5 Powerful Hadith That Show the True Importance of Sadaqah

The Quran and Hadith clearly explain the value of Sadaqah and the blessings it brings in this world and the Hereafter. Many Muslims want to give Sadaqah but struggle to understand its true rewards and importance in Islam.

Let’s dive into what the Quran and Hadith teach about Sadaqah and how it can transform your wealth and faith.

What Is Sadaqah in Islam?

Sadaqah is a voluntary form of charity in Islam that reflects kindness, generosity, and sincerity. Unlike obligatory charity, Sadaqah is not limited to money alone. Any good deed done purely for the sake of Allah, without expecting reward or recognition, counts as Sadaqah.

A simple smile, helping someone in need, offering guidance, or supporting a struggling family are all examples of Sadaqah. Islam teaches that even the smallest act of kindness holds value when performed with a sincere heart. This makes Sadaqah an accessible and powerful way for every Muslim to earn reward and spread goodness in daily life.

What Are Hadith and Their Connection to Sadaqah?

Hadith are recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They serve as a practical guide for Muslims, explaining how to live according to Islamic teachings and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

Many authentic Hadith highlight the importance of Sadaqah in Islam and encourage believers to give charity regularly. These narrations show how Prophet Muhammad ﷺ practiced generosity in his daily life and motivated his companions to do the same. Muslims who wish to follow the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ actively engage in acts of Sadaqah, knowing its spiritual rewards and social benefits.

Sadaqah in Hadiths

The following are the hadiths about the Sadaqah:

1.Different Ways of Sadaqah in Hadith

This prophetic saying reveals:

Smiling at your brother is charity
Commanding good and forbidding evil is charity
Guiding a lost person is charity
Helping a visually impaired person is a charity
Removing obstacles from pathways is a charity
Assisting someone with their load or mount is charity
Speaking kindly is charity

حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجُرَشِيُّ الْيَمَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُمَيْلٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم”‏

تَبَسُّمُكَ فِي وَجْهِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرُكَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهْيُكَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِرْشَادُكَ الرَّجُلَ فِي أَرْضِ الضَّلاَلِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَبَصَرُكَ لِلرَّجُلِ الرَّدِيءِ الْبَصَرِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِمَاطَتُكَ الْحَجَرَ وَالشَّوْكَةَ وَالْعَظْمَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِفْرَاغُكَ مِنْ دَلْوِكَ فِي دَلْوِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ”‏.‏

قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَحُذَيْفَةَ وَعَائِشَةَ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏ وَأَبُو زُمَيْلٍ اسْمُهُ سِمَاكُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الْحَنَفِيُّ ‏.‏

Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you.

Your seeing a man with bad eyesight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you.”

Jami at-Tirmidhi 1956
Book 27, Hadith 62

2.Daily Acts of Sadaqah

Hammam b. Munabbih reported that this is out of (those ahadith) which Abu Huraira narrated to us from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). And he, while making a mention of hadith, reported from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH), said this:

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ، مُنَبِّهٍ قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم”‏

كُلُّ سُلاَمَى مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ – قَالَ – تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ الاِثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُعِينُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقَةٌ – قَالَ – وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ خَطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُمِيطُ الأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ”‏‏.‏

“Sadaqa is due on every joint of a person, every day the sun rises. Providing justice between two men is also a Sadaqa.

And assisting a man to ride upon his beast, or helping him load his luggage upon it, is a Sadaqa; and a good word is a Sadaqa; and every step that you take towards prayer is a Sadaqa, and removing harmful things from the pathway is a Sadaqa.”

Sahih Muslim 1009
Book 12, Hadith 72

3.Principle of Sadaqah in Islam

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam:

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى، وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ، وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى، وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَعَنْ وُهَيْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ بِهَذَا‏.‏

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents.

And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 1427, 1428
Book 24, Hadith 31

This hadith underscores:

The upper hand (giver) is better than the lower hand (receiver)
Starting a charity with dependents is recommended
The best charity is from what is left after one’s expenses
Self-sufficiency is rewarded

4.Sadaqah Gives Protection

It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَمَّالُ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ الأَزْهَرِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ أَبِي عِيسَى الْحَنَّاطِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ “‏ الْحَسَدُ يَأْكُلُ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ وَالصَّلاَةُ نُورُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏.‏

“Envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood, and charity extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire. Prayer is the light of the believer and fasting is a shield against
the Fire.”

Sunan Ibn Majah 4210
Book 37, Hadith 111

This hadith emphasizes:

Envy consumes good deeds
Charity extinguishes bad deeds
Prayer is the light of the believer
Fasting shields against the Fire

5.Feeding Someone is a Sadaqah

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنَا بَقِيَّةُ قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنِي بَحِيرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَعْدَانَ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ‏:‏ مَا أَطْعَمْتَ نَفْسَكَ فَهُوَ صَدَقَةٌ، وَمَا أَطْعَمْتَ وَلَدَكَ وَزَوْجَتَكَ وَخَادِمَكَ فَهُوَ صَدَقَةٌ‏.‏

Al-Miqdam heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say,

“What you feed yourself is sadaqah. What you feed your child, your wife and your servant is Sadaqah.”

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 195
Book 9, Hadith 40

This hadith reminds us of:

Feeding oneself is considered charity
Providing food for one’s child is charity
Feeding one’s spouse is charity
Providing food for one’s servant is charity

Conclusion: The Importance of Sadaqah in Quran and Hadith

Sadaqah in the light of the Quran and Hadith offers timeless guidance that emphasizes compassion, generosity, and care for others. Islamic teachings encourage Muslims to give charity willingly, as it purifies wealth, strengthens faith, and brings blessings into life.

Through consistent acts of Sadaqah, believers not only earn rewards from Allah but also contribute positively to society. Practicing charity nurtures empathy, supports the needy, and reflects the true spirit of Islam rooted in mercy and kindness.

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