Give whatever is possible, big or small

The Prophet ﷺ taught that no act of charity is too small in the sight of Allah. Umm Bujayd once told him that beggars came to her door but she had nothing to give. The Prophet ﷺ replied that even if she could only find a burnt trotter, she should give it. A burnt trotter means the hoof or lower leg of an animal after cooking, something people usually throw away. The lesson is clear: it’s not the size of the gift, but the sincerity behind it.

📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 665
Umm Bujayd reported: She said, “O Messenger of Allah, the poor come to my door and I cannot find anything to give them.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If you can find nothing but a burnt trotter, hand it over to them.

📖Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1677
Abu Huraira reported: He said, “O Messenger of Allah, which charity is best?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One with little property to give. Begin with your dependents.

📖Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6442
Ibn Mas’ud reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Which of you loves the wealth of his heirs more than his own wealth?” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, there are none of us but his own wealth is more beloved to him.” The Prophet said, “Verily, his true wealth is what he puts forward, and the wealth of his heirs is what is left behind.”

📖Sahih Muslim 2569
The Prophet ﷺ said that on the Day of Judgment Allah will say: “O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you did not feed Me.” He will reply, “My Lord, how could I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds?” Allah will say, “Did you not know My servant so-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him, you would have found that with Me?”

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 2:267
O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have earned and from what We have produced for you from the earth. And do not choose the defective therefrom to spend, while you would not take it yourselves except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.

📖Quran 76:8-9
And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], “We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

Why Doesn’t God Intervene Directly

If God gave everything directly to people, life would lose its meaning, and human existence would become purposeless. The world operates on a system of effort, reward, and consequence. If everything was handed out, there would be no need for hard work, struggle, or moral responsibility. People would become dependent, lazy, and ungrateful because when things come easily, they are not valued. Struggles, challenges, and the act of giving create growth, character, and purpose in life. Without them, human civilization would stagnate, and innovation, progress, and learning would cease to exist, Furthermore, if God provided everything directly, there would be no reason for humans to build, innovate, or plan for the future. People would not think about improving their lives, solving problems, or advancing society because everything would already be given without effort. The ability to create, discover, and progress exists only because of the challenges humans face. Without struggles, there would be no motivation to work, no ambition to learn, and no purpose in striving for betterment. The entire system of human civilization, education, business, governance, and social cooperation, would collapse, as there would be no necessity for these structures if all needs were fulfilled automatically, Just as parents know what their children do in their personal lives, including the intimate relationship between a husband and wife, the couple still cannot engage in such acts in front of them. The parents’ absence in these moments is not because they are unaware, but because certain actions require privacy and independent decision-making. Parents, based on their own experiences, already understand what happens in a marriage, yet they do not need to witness it directly for it to be real. Their absence gives the couple the ability to act naturally and freely, while the parents still remain fully aware of the reality of the situation, Similarly, God, as the Creator, knows everything that happens in the world, yet He does not interfere directly in every moment of human life. His absence from direct intervention is not due to a lack of knowledge, but because He has given humans the ability to think, act, and make choices freely. If His presence was constantly visible, free will would be meaningless, and people would obey out of compulsion rather than sincerity. Just as parents step back to allow their children to function independently, God gives humans space to make their own choices, while still being fully aware of their every action and thought, However, God’s knowledge and vision are beyond human understanding. He does not “see” or “know” things in the way that humans do. God is not bound by time, He does not experience events in a sequence like humans do. Instead, He has already seen everything from the beginning to the end of time. He does not need to “watch” each action live, as humans do, because past, present, and future are all known to Him simultaneously.

Qur’an 6:103
No vision can grasp Him, but He comprehends all vision; and He is the Subtle, the Aware.

Qur’an 57:4
And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah is Seeing of what you do.

• This means that God’s awareness is not limited by human perception. When humans see something, they see it in a single moment, in one place, from one angle. God’s seeing is not like this—His knowledge and awareness are absolute, without limitation. He knows everything not because He is physically watching events unfold, but because He has already seen and determined everything before creation itself.

As for private matters like intimacy, God is aware of all actions, but His knowledge does not mean that He “watches” in the way humans do. His awareness is not intrusive but complete, beyond human limitations.

Qur’an 10:61
Not even the weight of a dust particle in the heavens or the earth is hidden from your Lord, nor anything smaller or larger than that, except that it is in a clear record.

• This means everything is already recorded and known to Him. He does not need to observe events in real-time because He has already seen everything from the beginning to the end of time. His knowledge is absolute and complete, but it does not mean He “watches” private matters like human beings do.

Additionally, if someone insists that God sees everything, then He only sees what He wills to see. He can see everything but can also remove from His vision what He does not need to see.

Qur’an 2:233
And be conscious that Allah is Seeing of what you do.

• This means He sees what is relevant to His divine knowledge and wisdom, not necessarily every private act in a way that would resemble human observation.

Qur’an 87:7
Except what Allah wills. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden.

• This verse confirms that God’s knowledge and vision work according to His will. He has the power to see all things but does not need to focus on every detail.

Just as parents know their married children will engage in intimacy but do not need to see it, God’s knowledge is absolute, but it does not mean He watches everything as humans do. He sees what He wills to see, and His seeing is beyond human limitations. If everything was provided instantly, life itself would become meaningless, morality would have no purpose, and human choices would lose all significance. Good and evil would have no distinction because there would be no consequences for actions. Hard work and sacrifice would become pointless, and gratitude would disappear because people would never experience need or effort. The balance between free will and divine knowledge is essential – it is this balance that gives humanity purpose, accountability, and the ability to truly appreciate life.

Hadith on Charity: A path to Paradise, but not a license for sin

📖Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2959
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The servant says: My wealth, my wealth! Verily, he only gets three from his wealth: he eats and it perishes, or he wears clothes and they degrade, or he gives in charity and it is stored for him. Whatever is beyond this will depart him and be left behind for people.

Charity is a deed that leads to Paradise, but it does not erase deliberate evil like adultery, oppression, or corruption. Islam teaches balance: give charity, but also live righteously.

Worship, Tawheed, and Charity: Benefits in This World

📖Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1582
Abdullah ibn Mu’awiyyah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever does three deeds will taste the sweetness of faith: one who worships Allah alone, who declares there is no God but Allah, and who gives charity from his wealth each year with a cheerful and earnest soul.”

Worshipping Allah alone and declaring there is only one God protects a person from shirk, while giving charity purifies the heart from greed. Together, these acts pull a believer away from wrong desires and sins, filling the soul with contentment and joy. This is why the Prophet ﷺ called it the “sweetness of faith” – because true happiness comes when a believer’s heart is free from false worship and selfishness.

📖Quran 92:18-21
Who gives from his wealth to purify himself, and not for anyone who has done him a favor to be rewarded, but only seeking the Face of his Lord, the Most High. And he is sure to be satisfied.

📖Quran 64:16
So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend in charity; it is better for yourselves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is they who will be successful.

Charity purifies the soul and removes greed, bringing a person inner joy and peace. The Prophet ﷺ linked charity with “the sweetness of faith” because giving sincerely makes the heart lighter, happier, and content. Unlike wealth spent on luxury that fades, wealth spent for Allah plants lasting happiness in the heart.