Can I give charity if I have no money?

The short answer

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ taught that every Muslim should give charity, and that it includes working to help yourself and others, helping someone in need, a kind word, a smile, removing harm from the road, and even saying SubhanAllah. Doing good and holding back from harm is itself counted as charity.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The Companions asked about someone who has nothing. He said he should work with his hands, benefit himself and give from it; if he cannot, "help the needy who appeal for help"; and if he cannot do that, "perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds" 1.

He gave many examples. Sadaqah is due on every joint of the body every day, and it can be paid by judging fairly between two people, helping someone onto his mount or lifting his luggage, "a good word", every step towards prayer, and removing something harmful from the road 2. "Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity", as is guiding someone who is lost, and pouring water from your bucket into your brother's 3. "Enjoining, all that is good is a Sadaqa" 4.

When poor Companions complained that the rich were getting ahead through their charity, the Prophet ﷺ told them that every SubhanAllah, Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah and La ilaha illallah is a charity, as is enjoining good and forbidding evil, and even intimacy with one's spouse 5.

Kind words are sometimes worth more than money: "Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury" 6. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Don't consider anything insignificant out of good things even if it is that you meet your brother with a cheerful countenance" 7.

So nobody is locked out. Pick two or three of these today, and do them with the intention of sadaqah.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1445
    Sahih Bukhari

    Every Muslim must give charity; if he has nothing, he works, helps the needy, or does good and avoids evil.

    Narrated Abu Burda:from his father from his grandfather that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people asked, "O Allah's Prophet! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?" He said, "He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns)." The people further asked, "If he cannot find even that?" He replied, "He should help the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked, "If he cannot do that?" He replied, "Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَعْمَلُ بِيَدِهِ فَيَنْفَعُ نَفْسَهُ وَيَتَصَدَّقُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ قَالَ ‏"‏ يُعِينُ ذَا الْحَاجَةِ الْمَلْهُوفَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلْيَعْمَلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَلْيُمْسِكْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1009
    Sahih Muslim

    Charity is due on every joint daily, paid by justice, helping, a good word, walking to prayer and removing harm.

    Hammam b. Munabbih reported that-this is out of (those ahadith) which Abu Huraira narrated to us from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). And he while making a mention of ahadith reported from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said this:Sadaqa is due on every joint of a person, every day the sun rises. Administering of justice between two men is also a Sadaqa. And assisting a man to ride upon his beast, or helping him load his luggage upon it, is a Sadaqa; and a good word is a Sadaqa; and every step that you take towards prayer is a Sadaqa, and removing of harmful things from the pathway is a Sadaqa

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ، مُنَبِّهٍ قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ كُلُّ سُلاَمَى مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ - قَالَ - تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ الاِثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُعِينُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقَةٌ - قَالَ - وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ خَطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُمِيطُ الأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1956
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    A smile, guiding the lost and sharing water are all charity.

    Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said :"Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجُرَشِيُّ الْيَمَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُمَيْلٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ تَبَسُّمُكَ فِي وَجْهِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرُكَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهْيُكَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِرْشَادُكَ الرَّجُلَ فِي أَرْضِ الضَّلاَلِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَبَصَرُكَ لِلرَّجُلِ الرَّدِيءِ الْبَصَرِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِمَاطَتُكَ الْحَجَرَ وَالشَّوْكَةَ وَالْعَظْمَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ وَإِفْرَاغُكَ مِنْ دَلْوِكَ فِي دَلْوِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَحُذَيْفَةَ وَعَائِشَةَ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏ وَأَبُو زُمَيْلٍ اسْمُهُ سِمَاكُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الْحَنَفِيُّ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6021
    Sahih Bukhari

    Enjoining all that is good is charity.

    Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, Enjoining, all that is good is a Sadaqa

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو غَسَّانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ كُلُّ مَعْرُوفٍ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1006
    Sahih Muslim

    Every tasbih, takbir, tahmid and tahlil is charity, as is enjoining good and forbidding evil.

    Abu Dharr reported:some of the people from among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken away (all the) reward. They observe prayer as we do; they keep the fasts as we keep, and they give Sadaqa out of their surplus riches. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: Has Allah not prescribed for you (a course) by following which you can (also) do sadaqa? In every declaration of the glorification of Allah (i. e. saying Subhan Allah) there is a Sadaqa, and every Takbir (i. e. saying Allah-O-Akbar) is a sadaqa, and every praise of His (saying al-Hamdu Lillah) is a Sadaqa and every declaration that He is One (La illha ill-Allah) is a sadaqa, and enjoining of good is a sadaqa, and forbidding of that which is evil is a Sadaqa, and in man's sexual Intercourse (with his wife, ) there is a Sadaqa. They (the Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, is there reward for him who satisfies his sexual passion among us? He said: Tell me, if he were to devote it to something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to devote it to something lawful, he should have a reward

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ الضُّبَعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَاصِلٌ، مَوْلَى أَبِي عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمَرَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ الدِّيلِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي، ذَرٍّ أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالُوا لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ذَهَبَ أَهْلُ الدُّثُورِ بِالأُجُورِ يُصَلُّونَ كَمَا نُصَلِّي وَيَصُومُونَ كَمَا نَصُومُ وَيَتَصَدَّقُونَ بِفُضُولِ أَمْوَالِهِمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَوَلَيْسَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مَا تَصَّدَّقُونَ إِنَّ بِكُلِّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلِّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلِّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَنَهْىٌ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَفِي بُضْعِ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيَأْتِي أَحَدُنَا شَهْوَتَهُ وَيَكُونُ لَهُ فِيهَا أَجْرٌ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ وَضَعَهَا فِي حَرَامٍ أَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا وِزْرٌ فَكَذَلِكَ إِذَا وَضَعَهَا فِي الْحَلاَلِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:263

    Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury.

    ۞قَوۡلࣱ مَّعۡرُوفࣱ وَمَغۡفِرَةٌ خَيۡرࣱ مِّن صَدَقَةࣲ يَتۡبَعُهَآ أَذࣰ ىۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمࣱ‏ ۝٢٦٣

    Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2626
    Sahih Muslim

    Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.

    Abu Dharr reported:Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said to me: Don't consider anything insignificant out of good things even if it is that you meet your brother with a cheerful countenance

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، - يَعْنِي الْخَزَّازَ - عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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