1273 – Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every act of kindness is charity.” Recorded by al-Bukhari. (1)

1274 – Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not disdain any good deed, even if all you do is meet your brother with a cheerful face.” Recorded by Muslim. (2)

Glossary of the ḥadith:
• bi-wajh: occurs with tanwīn (an indefinite ending).
• ṭalq: with a fatḥa on the ṭāʾ and a silent lām; it means cheerful, easy-going, radiant. It also appears as ṭalīq, like the word amīr.

Points derived from the two ḥadiths:
1 – The avenues of goodness are many, and it is recommended for a Muslim to take a share in each of them. Allah the Exalted says, “Whatever good you do, Allah is fully aware of it” (2:215); He also says, “Whatever good they do will not go unthanked” (3:115); and He says, “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good shall see it” (99:7).

2 – In several authentic reports the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) enumerated a fine array of good deeds and deemed each of them an act of charity. He said: “Every declaration of subḥān-Allāh is charity, every al-ḥamdu lillāh is charity, every lā ilāha illā-Allāh is charity, every Allāhu akbar is charity, enjoining what is right is charity, and forbidding…"