Is there charity due every day in Islam?
Yes, the Prophet ﷺ said every joint of your body owes a charity every day the sun rises. This isn't money you must pay: it's paid through simple good deeds like a kind word, helping someone or removing litter from the road. Two rak'ahs of Duha prayer cover it all.
A charity for every joint
The Prophet ﷺ said that a charity is due on every joint of a person on every day the sun rises. Judging fairly between two people is charity, helping a man onto his ride or lifting his luggage onto it is charity, a good word is charity, every step towards prayer is charity, and removing something harmful from the road is charity (Sahih al-Bukhari 2989). In another narration he said each person has 360 joints (Sahih Muslim 1007).
It's a way of saying "thank you" to Allah for a healthy body that moves, bends and works every day.
Easy ways to pay it
- Saying SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah or Allahu akbar: each one is a charity (Sahih Muslim 720).
- Encouraging good and discouraging wrong.
- Helping someone with their shopping or a heavy suitcase.
- A smile and a kind word. See Is a smile really charity in Islam?
- Volunteering your time. See Does volunteering count as charity in Islam?
The Prophet ﷺ summed it up: "Every good deed is charity" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6021).
Duha prayer covers the whole day
In the same hadith in Sahih Muslim, after listing these deeds, the Prophet ﷺ said that two rak'ahs prayed in the forenoon (Duha) are enough for all of it (Sahih Muslim 720). Duha can be prayed from about 15–20 minutes after sunrise until shortly before Dhuhr, so even a quick prayer at work or before school counts.
Daily giving with money
There's no obligation to give money every day; the only yearly obligation is zakat. But daily giving is encouraged. The Prophet ﷺ said that every morning two angels come down: one asks Allah to give the one who spends something in return, and the other asks Allah to bring loss to the one who holds back (Sahih al-Bukhari 1442). Allah praises those who give by night and by day:
If you have little money, don't worry. See Can I give charity if I'm broke?
- Every joint owes a charity each day (Sahih al-Bukhari 2989).
- Dhikr, kind words and helping others pay it.
- Two rak'ahs of Duha cover the whole day.
- Daily money charity is encouraged, not required.
People also ask
Who should I give charity to first?
Give charity first to yourself and those you support, then needy relatives, neighbours and your community. The Prophet taught this order.
Read the full answer →Why can't the Prophet's family receive zakat?
The Prophet's family can't receive zakat because he said it is not lawful for Muhammad or his family. Here's why, and who counts as family.
Read the full answer →Does charity protect you from calamity?
Yes, charity is a means of Allah's protection and mercy in Islam, but not a guarantee. What the Quran and authentic hadith actually say.
Read the full answer →Can I pay zakat for my parent who died?
Yes, a Muslim parent's unpaid zakat is treated as a debt paid from the estate, and children may pay it too. See what each school of law says.
Read the full answer →Do I pay zakat on gold bars and coins?
Yes, you pay zakat on gold bars and coins: 2.5% of their market value once your gold and savings reach the nisab (about 85 g of gold) for a year.
Read the full answer →