The Reward of Charity and Raising Daughters
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: A woman came to me with her two daughters. She asked me for something. I had nothing except one date, so I gave her that one date.
She split the date into two pieces and gave one piece to each daughter. She did not eat anything herself.
After she left, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came home. I told him the whole story. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever is tested with daughters and treats them well, those daughters will become a barrier for him from the Fire of Hell.
_Mishkat 431, narrated from Bukhari and Muslim_
A Hadith states: Whoever gives even the equivalent of a date in charity from lawful earnings, Allah accepts it with great honor. Then He continues to increase that charity for the giver until it becomes like a mountain.
_Bukhari and Muslim_
The servant gave something as small as a date, and the Most Merciful and Generous Lord granted the reward of a mountain. Only Allah is such a Giver.
Never hesitate to give charity. It fulfills the needs of the poor and brings reward to the giver. We cannot even estimate how much reward.
*The Virtue of Raising Daughters*
In the Hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, along with mention of charity, the virtue of raising daughters is also stated.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave glad tidings to the one who raises daughters and looks after them. Such a person will be safe from Hell, and serving daughters will become a barrier between him and Hell.
Suraqa bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Shall I not tell you about the best charity? He then said himself: The best charity is that you spend on your daughter who has returned to you after divorce or after becoming a widow, and she has no one else to earn for her except you.
The Master of Both Worlds, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever bears the expenses of three daughters or three sisters, teaches them manners, and treats them with mercy and kindness until they no longer need his support, Allah will make Paradise obligatory for him.
A man asked: O Messenger of Allah, what if there are two daughters or two sisters that he raised?
He replied: The same virtue applies to him.
The narrator said: If the question had been asked about one daughter, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would have mentioned the same virtue for one.
_Mishkat_
*Spending on Relatives Brings Double Reward*
Looking after the needs of your relatives and giving to them is a deed of great reward. Many people give a lot in charity to the poor.
Other people come and ask. But one’s own relatives do not ask due to self-respect and honor. So their needs remain unmet.
Yet spending on relatives brings two rewards: one for giving charity, and another for caring for and serving relatives.
The Prophetic saying is: Giving charity to a poor person is just one charity. But giving charity to a relative brings double reward, because it is both charity and upholding family ties.
_Mishkat_
It is important to note that you do not have to say it is charity when giving. If you give to a close relative by calling it charity, they may not accept it and feel hurt.
So give it as a gift. You don’t even have to say the word “gift.” Just say: Here is some money, use it for expenses, or make clothes, or spend it on any lawful need.
