Charity Can Take Multiple Forms

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘On every Muslim there is enjoined (a compulsory) sadaqa (alms).’ They (the people) said, ‘If one has nothing?’ He said, ‘He should work with his hands so that he may benefit himself and give in charity.’ They said, ‘If he cannot work or does not work?’ He said, ‘Then he should help the oppressed unhappy person (by word or action or both).’ They said, ‘If he does not do it?’ He said, ‘Then he should enjoin what is good (or said what is reasonable).’ They said, ‘If he does not do that?’ He said, ‘Then he should refrain from doing evil, for that will be considered for Him as a Sadaqa (charity)’
(Sahih al Bukhari, Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 51).

It is clear from this hadith that volunteering can form a large part of our charity. So, instead of throwing money at any given cause, why not throw yourself into it?

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) Reported: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) Said, ” On every joint of man, there is Charity, on everyday when the sun rises: doing justice between two men is Charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal or to load his luggage on it is Charity, and a good word is Charity, every step which one takes towards (the mosque for) salat is Charity, and removing harmful things from the way is Charity “.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: Almighty Allah has made the human body flexible, that is to say, its parts have joints that enable him to make all kinds of movements. If human beings did not have these joints, it would not have been possible for the different parts to make movements which they do. Had it been so, one would not have been able to use various parts of his body as he likes. Thus, these joints are a valuable gift from Allah for which one should always be grateful to Him. In all, a person has three hundred and sixty joints in his body, as has already been stated in a Hadith narrated earlier.

According to some Ahadith, two Rak`ah of Duha prayer (optional forenoon prayer) have been regarded sufficient for this purpose, while in others, it has been stated that if one cannot do anything else to express gratefulness to Allah, he should refrain from harming others as it is a form of Sadaqah.