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_
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.
Islam teaches that every act of kindness performed sincerely for the sake of Allah carries immense reward. Among the most beloved deeds are giving charity to those in need and raising daughters with love, patience, and good character. These acts may seem ordinary in daily life, but the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) show that they can become a means of earning Allah's mercy and success in the Hereafter.
Charity is not limited to giving large amounts of wealth. Even a small gift, a meal offered to someone who is hungry, helping a struggling family, or supporting an orphan can be an act of charity when it is done with sincerity. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught that Allah looks at the intention behind every deed. A small act performed with a sincere heart may be greater in the sight of Allah than a large donation given for recognition or praise.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also informed us that charity does not decrease wealth. Rather, Allah places blessings in the wealth of the one who gives for His sake. This teaches Muslims to trust Allah's promise and to be generous even when they feel their own resources are limited. Charity purifies the heart from greed and strengthens compassion for others.
Alongside the virtue of charity, Islam gave a remarkable honor to those who raise daughters with care and righteousness. Before Islam, many societies looked down upon daughters, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completely changed this attitude. He taught that daughters are a blessing from Allah and that treating them with kindness is a source of immense reward.
According to an authentic hadith recorded in and , the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that whoever has three daughters, or three sisters, and treats them well, educates them, and is patient with them until they become independent, Allah will reward that person greatly. Other authentic narrations mention similar virtue for raising two daughters with love and care.
Another authentic narration reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that whoever cares for two daughters until they reach maturity will be with him on the Day of Judgment like these two fingers, and he joined his fingers together to illustrate their closeness. This beautiful hadith shows the high status of those who fulfill this responsibility with sincerity and patience.
Raising daughters is not merely about providing food, clothing, and shelter. It includes teaching them faith, good manners, honesty, modesty, compassion, and trust in Allah. Parents who invest time in nurturing righteous character are performing a noble act of worship. Every lesson taught with sincerity, every sacrifice made for their well-being, and every prayer offered for their guidance is known to Allah.
These teachings also remind Muslims that daughters should never be viewed as a burden. They are a trust from Allah and a means through which parents may attain great reward if they fulfill their responsibilities with justice and mercy. A home where daughters are loved, respected, and guided according to Islamic values is a home filled with blessings.
Charity and raising daughters share an important quality: both require sincerity, patience, and selflessness. A charitable person gives from what they love for the sake of Allah, while a devoted parent sacrifices comfort and time to raise children upon righteousness. Both deeds reflect mercy, and Allah loves those who show mercy to His creation.
Every Muslim has opportunities to earn these rewards. A person who supports a poor family, sponsors an orphan, helps a widow, or gives even a small amount in charity is investing in the Hereafter. Likewise, parents and guardians who raise daughters with love, dignity, and Islamic values are engaged in one of the most rewarding responsibilities described in the Sunnah.
The life of a believer is built upon sincere deeds that seek the pleasure of Allah rather than the praise of people. Charity softens the heart, while raising daughters with kindness strengthens families and society. Both are among the beautiful teachings of Islam that continue to benefit individuals in this world and bring hope for immense reward in the next.
May Allah make us among those who spend generously for His sake, treat our families with compassion, fulfill every trust with sincerity, and earn the rewards promised by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Ameen.
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