12/20. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1016c — Protect Yourself With Charity or Good Words
Encouragement to give charity even if it is with half a date or a kind word. And charity is a shield against the fire.
Hadith About Good Words and Charity
Sahih Muslim : 1016c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1016c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّارَ فَأَعْرَضَ وَأَشَاحَ ثُمَّ قَالَ " اتَّقُوا النَّارَ " . ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ وَأَشَاحَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ كَأَنَّمَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ " اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ كَأَنَّمَا وَقَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ .
`Adi bin Hatim Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made a mention of Fire. He turned his face aside and diverted his attention and then said: Guard (yourselves) against Fire. He turned his face and diverted his attention till we thought as if he were (actually seeing it and then said: Protect yourselves against Fire even if it is with half a date, and he who does not find it, (he should do so) with pleasant words. Abu Kuraib did not mention the word: (as if).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1016cIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 86USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2217
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1016c
This hadith about good words and charity shows the serious way the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned the Fire. He turned his face away, and the companions felt as if he was seeing it. Then he told them to guard themselves against the Fire, even with half a date. For anyone who could not find that, he mentioned pleasant words. The message is simple and hopeful: do not miss good deeds because you think you have too little. Small charity matters, and kind speech also has value. The hadith does not add a long list of rules. It gives a practical door of goodness for people with money and people without money. A believer can give, speak kindly, and stay alert about the Hereafter.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke about the Fire in a serious and warning tone.
- Half a date is mentioned to show that even small charity should not be ignored.
- When a person cannot give material charity, pleasant words are still a way to do good.
