“You will never reach true goodness until you give, from what you love, for the sake of Allah. Whatever you give, Allah surely knows it.”
——— Qur’an 3:92 (Aal-e-Imran, Ayah 92)
The Prophet said, “On every Muslim there is enjoined (a compulsory) Sadaqa (alms).”
The people said, “If one has nothing?’
The Prophet said, “He should work with his hands so that he may benefit himself and give in charity.”
The people said, “If he cannot work or does not work?”
The Prophet said, “Then he should help the oppressed unhappy person (by word or action or both).”
The people said, “If he does not do it?”
The Prophet said, “Then he should enjoin what is good (or said what is reasonable).”
The people said, “If he does not do that”’
The Prophet said, “Then he should refrain from doing evil, for that will be considered for Him as a Sadaqa (charity).”
——— Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 51
The levels of charity described are:
Passive: Simply stopping oneself from committing sins or harming others.
Financial: Earning money to support oneself and others.
Physical: Using one's strength or time to aid the struggling.
Verbal: Encouraging righteousness and justice.