Even The Poor Can Give Charity

It was narrated from Abu Dharr that some people from among the companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم): 

“O Messenger of Allaah, the rich people will get more reward. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they give in charity from their excess wealth.” 

He said, “Has not Allaah given you things with which you can give charity? 

Every tasbeehah (saying ‘Subhaan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)) is a charity. 

Every Takbeerah (saying ‘Allaahu akbar (Allaah is Most Great)) is a charity. 

Every Tahmeedah (saying ‘al-hamdu-Lillaah (praise be to Allaah)) is a charity. 

Every Tahleelah (saying ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)) is a charity. 

Enjoining what is good is a charity. 

Forbidding what is evil is a charity. 

Having intercourse (with one’s wife) is a charity.” 

They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, if one of us fulfils his desire, is there reward in that?” 

He said, “Do you not see that if he does it in a haraam way he will have the burden of sin? So if he does it in a halaal way, he will have a reward for that.”

(Narrated by Muslim, 1674) 

Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

 “The phrase, ‘Having intercourse is a charity’ – the word bud’ (translated here as ‘having intercourse’) may mean intercourse, or it may refer to the private part itself…

This indicates that permissible actions may become acts of worship, if there is a sincere intention. Intercourse may be an act of worship if the intention behind it is to fulfil the rights of one's wife, to treat her kindly as enjoined by Allaah, to seek a righteous child, to keep oneself or one’s wife chaste, to prevent both partners from looking towards or thinking of haraam things, and other good intentions. ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if one of us fulfils his desire, is there reward in that?’”

(Sharh Muslim, 7/92)