Do not underestimate any good deed, no matter how small, as good deeds are not limited to great deeds. Such as huge donations and building charitable projects, but it also includes simple actions that people may not pay attention to
As for what follows:
Today we stand with one of the great commandments of our Master Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. This commandment is short in its words, but great in its meanings and instructions. It carries within it one of the secrets of happiness in this world and the hereafter, and shows us the value of small deeds in the scale of God Almighty.
It is easy to apply this commandment in our daily lives, and it opens wide doors of goodness for us, and brings us closer to the satisfaction of God Almighty. Let us listen together to the commandment of our master Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, in the hadith of Abu Dharr, may God be pleased with him: «Do not despise any good deed, even if you meet your brother with a cheerful face» [1]So, what is the meaning of this commandment? What does the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, want to tell us through it?
This commandment is a call from the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, not to underestimate any good deed, no matter how small, as good deeds are not limited to great deeds. Such as huge charity and building charitable projects, but it also includes simple actions that people may not pay attention to, but they may be great in the sight of God if they are performed with sincere intention and sincerity. Because the value of a good deed is not measured by its size or material impact, but rather by the honesty and sincerity of the intention. A favor may be a small thing in the eyes of people, but its status with God is great. Because it expresses purity of heart and love of goodness.
The story of that black woman, Umm Mihjan, may God be pleased with her, is not hidden from you. In the time of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, she was known to the people as being poor, with no significant lineage, no money to be proud of, and she did not possess any of the worldly trappings. However, she was She has a heart full of faith and sincerity, so she joined the mosque to do a great job, which on the surface is small, but in the eyes of God it is great. Where she was cleaning and preparing the mosque; To remain a pure place for worshiping God Almighty, she performed her work in silence and sincerity. She did not ask for thanks from anyone, nor did she expect people in return for her work. The Companions, may God be pleased with them, used to see her cleaning the mosque regularly, until it became part of their daily scene, and perhaps no one expected this. A simple act will make her forever remembered.
One day, the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, missed her, so he asked the Companions about her, and they told him that she had died. The Companions, may God be pleased with them, thought that her matter was simple, so they did not want to disturb the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, with her death. The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said to them, blaming:Would you not have informed me?“? That is: You informed me, then he said to them: «They showed me her grave, so he showed it to her. He prayed over her and prayed for her forgiveness and mercy. Then he said: These graves are full of darkness for their people, and God Almighty enlightens them for them with my prayers over them.» [2].
Did you see – beloved ones – how our Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, cared for her? He went to her grave and prayed over her, all in appreciation of her work and sincerity. Her simple work of cleaning the mosque – which people might see as small – was a reason for her to be remembered and appreciated by the best of God’s creation, may God bless him and grant him peace. Do not despise any favor.
Have we ever thought that any action, no matter how small, could be a key to God’s mercy? People may see it as despicable, but in the eyes of God it is great. Perhaps an act that people thought was worthless could be a reason for the Most Merciful’s satisfaction and entry into Paradise.
A Muslim must know that the Paradise of the Most Gracious is attained by the blessings of God, and by the value of work before God, not by the value of work before people. One day the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, sat telling his honorable companions about a man from ancient times. This man had never done good, so this man passed by. While he was walking, he saw a thorn branch hurting passers-by, so he got off his mount and removed it from the path of the people, so much so that the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Either he found it on the road and dropped it, or he found it in a trunk and removed itThen the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, explained to them how God Almighty rewarded him for this work, and he, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “So God forgave him and admitted him to Paradise» [3].
Consider with me, a man was walking in the street, and he saw stones, thorns, or anything obstructing the path of Muslims, so he lifted it. This action may seem simple in the eyes of some, and some may be arrogant to go down and remove something trivial from the road, but the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, told us. That this man entered Paradise because he removed people’s harm from the road; Thus, he would have done a great job in the eyes of God Almighty.
Rather, our Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, mentioned to us the story of the adulterous woman: “That a prostitute woman – adulteress – She saw a dog on a hot day walking around a well – That is, it revolves around it -His tongue has dripped from thirst – Take it out due to extreme thirst – So she removed her robes from him – That is, she gave him water to drink with her slippers – So she was forgiven» [4].
One scholar says: If mercy toward dogs forgives the sins of prostitutes, then how can mercy be shown to the one who united the Lord of creation?! Yes, how do you show mercy to a patient who needs medicine? How do you show mercy to a poor person who needs food and drink? How do you show mercy to a poor person who is shivering from the cold?
If mercy towards dogs and animals – may God protect you – is one of the reasons for the forgiveness of sins and misdeeds, and the descent of God’s mercy upon His servants, then how about the mercy of the Muslim who says: There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God?!
You may think that praying two rak’ahs at night is an easy matter, but it may elevate you to the rank of doers of good, and you may belittle supplication or seeking forgiveness, but God Almighty will weigh your scales with them on the Day of Resurrection. As God Almighty said: {So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.} [الزلزلة: 7، 8].
Do not despise any act of kindness. Come to do good in all its forms: with your money, your tongues, your actions, and your smiles, and do not underestimate the importance of any work. You do not know which actions will lead to your happiness and your salvation from temptations, calamities, and horrors in this world and the hereafter.
Our jurisprudential issue relates to giving old clothes in charity:
One of the jurisprudential issues that I would like to draw attention to is the issue of giving away old clothes in charity.
Firstly: Giving old clothes in charity is one of the abandoned prophetic traditions that carries great meanings in solidarity and compassion among Muslims. The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, encouraged charity of all kinds, whether it was money, food, or clothes. Because it helps those in need and brings joy to their hearts.
secondly: It is better to give in charity than the most precious and precious wealth: It is stated in the Fiqh Encyclopedia: It is recommended in charity that the one who gives it in charity, i.e.: the money given be from the best wealth of the donor and dearest to him; God Almighty said: {You will not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love and whatever thing you spend, for God is All-Knowing of it.} [آل عمران: 92].
Al-Qurtubi said: “The meaning is that you will not be righteous until you spend from what you love, that is: precious and precious wealth, and the predecessors, may God be pleased with them, if they loved something, they would attribute it to God Almighty.”[5].
Third: Giving charity with bad things is disliked: Al-Khatib Al-Shirbini, may God have mercy on him, said: “And giving charity with bad things is disliked, according to the Almighty’s saying: {And do not spend on the evil} [البقرة: 267] If he does not find anyone else, then it is not disliked.”[6].
Therefore, there is nothing wrong with you giving used clothes in charity. Rather, it is recommended according to some scholars in the event that you wear new clothes. Because giving old clothes in charity is an effective means of giving charity, but on the condition that they are usable and clean. Taking into account the dignity of those in need, it is an opportunity to revive an abandoned tradition and collect reward from God Almighty, in addition to contributing to spreading the spirit of brotherhood and love in society.
Fourth: How do we commemorate this Sunnah? We make sure that old clothes are in good condition and usable. We wash them well and iron them carefully to make them look tidy and suitable for presentation. You can give them to neighbors in need, or deliver them to people who know those in need.
My dear brother, remind your friends and relatives of the importance of this great Prophetic Sunnah. Perhaps by reviving this Sunnah, we may obtain the blessing of charity and the reward of following the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace.
[1] Sahih Muslim, Book of Righteousness, Connection, and Etiquette – Chapter on the Recommendedness of a Fluent Facial When Meeting: (4/2026), No. (2626).
[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of Prayer – Chapter on Sweeping the Mosque and Picking Up Rags, Mud, and Sticks: (1/124) No. (458), Sahih Muslim, Book of Funerals – Chapter on Praying Over Graves: (2/659), No. (956).
[3] On the authority of Abu Hurairah, may God be pleased with him, on the authority of the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, that he said: ((A man who had never done good removed a thorn branch from the road. Either it was in a tree and he cut it off and threw it, or it was placed and he dropped it, and God thanked him for it and admitted him into Paradise.) ); [سنن أبي داود، (7/ 527)، برقم (5245)، قال الشيخ شعيب الأرنؤوط: إسناده قوي من أجل محمد بن عجلان، فهو صدوق لا بأس به].
[4] Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace – Chapter on the Virtue of Watering and Feeding Respected Animals: (4/1761), No. (2245).
[5] Kuwaiti Encyclopedia of Jurisprudence: (26/336).
[6] Mughni who needs to know the meanings of the words of the curriculum: (4/196).
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Writer: Dr. Muhammad Jumaa Al-Halbousi