78/34. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6023 — Half a Date and Good Words
Pleasant friendly speech
وَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ».
Hadith About Half a Date in Charity
Sahih Bukhari : 6023
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6023
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّارَ، فَتَعَوَّذَ مِنْهَا وَأَشَاحَ بِوَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ النَّارَ، فَتَعَوَّذَ مِنْهَا، وَأَشَاحَ بِوَجْهِهِ ـ قَالَ شُعْبَةُ أَمَّا مَرَّتَيْنِ فَلاَ أَشُكُّ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ " اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ ".
`Adi bin Hatim Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the (Hell) Fire and sought refuge (with Allah) from it, and turned his face to the other side. He mentioned the (Hell) Fire again and took refuge (with Allah) from it and turned his face to the other side. (Shu`ba, the sub-narrator, said, "I have no doubt that the Prophet (ﷺ) repeated it twice.") The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "(O people!) Save yourselves from the (Hell) Fire even if with one half of a date fruit (given in charity), and if this is not available, then (save yourselves) by saying a good pleasant friendly word."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6023In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 54USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 52
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6023
This Hadith about half a date in charity teaches that even a small act of giving matters. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned the Fire, sought refuge from it, and turned his face aside. He repeated this, then said to save yourselves from the Fire even with half a date. If that is not available, then a good, pleasant, friendly word is mentioned. The Hadith does not make charity only for the wealthy. It opens the door through small giving and kind speech. The wording helps people who feel they have little: do what you can. A small gift and a good word both carry weight in this teaching.
What we learn from this hadith
- Even a small amount given in charity has value.
- A good, pleasant word is also encouraged when material giving is not available.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم reminded people to seek protection from the Fire.
- A Muslim should not dismiss small chances to do good.
