The Smallest Gift
After Friday prayer, Hamza watched the grown-ups put money into the charity box. He dug into his pockets. A button. A pebble. One very old sweet wrapper. No money at all.
“I have nothing to give,” he sighed to his father. Baba smiled. “Hamza, do you know what the Prophet ﷺ told us? Even meeting your brother with a smiling face is charity. Your pockets are empty, but your face is full of gifts.”
On the way home, Hamza smiled at the bus driver. He smiled at old Uncle Rahman, and carried his heavy bag of oranges all the way to his door. He smiled at his little sister and gave her the last bite of his apple.
That night Hamza whispered, “Baba, I gave charity all day, and I didn’t spend a single coin.” Baba laughed and hugged him. “And your bag of gifts, my son, is still full.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Your smile for your brother is charity.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi)