Abu Hurairah (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said,
On every person’s joints or small bones (i.e. fingers and toes), there is sadaqah (charity) every day the sun rises. Doing justice between two people is sadaqah; assisting a man to mount his animal, or lifting up his belongings onto it is sadaqah; a good word is sadaqah; every step you take towards prayer is sadaqah; and removing harmful things from pathways is sadaqah.
Reported by Bukhari & Muslim
Sadaqat is very wide term and used in the Quran to cover all kinds of charity. Sadaqat means to give alms and also legal alms for which the word zakat is used in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. Zakat has been called sadaqat because it is also a kind of compulsory charity.
On the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him): “Some people from amongst the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said to the Prophet (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam), “O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity from their surplus wealth.” He (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Has not Allah made things for you to give in charity? Truly every tasbeehah [saying: ‘subhanAllah’] is a charity, and every takbeerah [saying: ‘Allahu akbar’] is a charity, and every tahmeedah [saying: ‘al-hamdu lillah’] is a charity, and every tahleelah [saying: ‘laa ilaha illaAllah’] is a charity. And commanding the good is a charity, and forbidding an evil is a charity, and in the bud`i [sexual act] of each one of you there is a charity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, when one of us fulfils his carnal desire will he have some reward for that?” He (SallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Do you not see that if he were to act upon it [his desire] in an unlawful manner then he would be deserving of punishment? Likewise, if he were to act upon it in a lawful manner then he will be deserving of a reward.”
Reported by Muslim
