I want to give but I have nothing spare
What the sources ask of someone whose hands are genuinely empty.
على كُلِّ مُسلِمٍ صَدَقةٌ، فقالوا: يا نَبيَّ اللهِ، فمَن لم يَجِدْ؟ قال: يَعمَلُ بيَدِه، فيَنفَعُ نَفسَه ويَتَصَدَّقُ، قالوا: فإن لم يَجِدْ؟ قال: يُعينُ ذا الحاجةِ المَلهوفَ، قالوا: فإن لم يَجِدْ؟ قال: فليَعمَلْ بالمَعروفِ، وليُمسِكْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ؛ فإنَّها له صَدَقةٌ
“Charity is due from every Muslim. They said: Prophet of Allah, and one who finds nothing? He said: he works with his hands, benefits himself, and gives. They said: and if he finds nothing? He said: he helps the distressed person in need. They said: and if he finds nothing? He said: then let him act with what is right and hold back from harm, for that is charity on his behalf.”Translated by Uswah draft, awaiting review
Sahih al-Bukhari 1445
Narrator : Abu Musa al-Ash'ariGraded by : al-BukhariSource :
The obligation scales to capacity, and it never runs out entirely. A fair word and a withheld harm are both counted, and neither costs money.
What to doPick the one thing you can give that is not money, and give it today.
Next
Someone keeps asking me for money
What to do when the asking never stops, and what the Prophet ﷺ told a man who came to him for help.
I am in debt and too ashamed to say so
Why the silence usually costs more than the debt, and what to do first.
My boss wronged me and I said nothing
On speaking up late, and on what it costs to carry a grievance quietly.