Ramadan: Small Acts of Kindness That Can Make a Big Difference

Ramadan is the month of blessings and mercy. It is also a time when Muslims strive to do good deeds and perform acts of charity to please Allah (SWT).

In this article, we will explore some small acts of kindness that make a significant impact during Ramadan and how they can benefit us and those around us.

May Allah (SWT) guide us all toward righteousness and grant us the ability to do good deeds in this blessed month and beyond.

Give a smile

Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” [Az-Zalzalah – Verse 7-8].

Therefore, all good deeds have a great reward, no matter how small, especially during Ramadan. Allah (SWT) rewards a Muslim for smiling in the face of others or removing a stone from the middle of the road and other simple acts of kindness.

Abu Dharr narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1956].

Donate to charity

Donating to charity is one of the best actions that can be done during the blessed Ramadan, as Anas narrated that: the Prophet (PBUH) was asked which fast was most virtuous after Ramadan? He (PBUH) said: “Sha’ban in honor of Ramadan,” He said: “Which charity is best?” He (PBUH) said: “Charity in Ramadan.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 663].

Allah (SWT) says: “Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words—they will get their reward from their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.” [Surah Al-Baqarah – verse 262].

You can donate for the poor and most needy Muslims who live in refugee camps, which include millions of vulnerable women and children, through the Bonyan Organization, which provides relief services in stricken countries in the Middle East, such as Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon.

Donate now, and bring happiness to refugee peoples’ hearts in this blessed month.

Share food

One of the best deeds to do in Ramadan is inviting relatives and friends to eat breakfast in your home, as this deed has a great reward from Allah, whether you share food for iftar with the rich or poor. 

Evidence for this is found in many verses and hadiths (Sayings of the prophet (PBUH)), including:

• Allah (SWT) said in Surat Al-Insan: And give food—despite their desire for it—to the poor, the orphan, and the captive. [Verse 8]

• Ibn’ Abbas informed Ibn az-Zubayr, “I heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, ‘He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbor goes hungry,’Sahih (Al-Albani).
• Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter,” [At-Tirmidhi].

• Zaid b. Khalid reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast, or who equips a fighter will have a reward equivalent to his,” Sahih (Darussalam).

Volunteer your time

Prophet Muhammad said:  “The best people are those most beneficial to [other] people.”

Volunteering our time and energy to help others is a noble and virtuous act that is highly encouraged in Islam, especially during this blessed month. By donating our time, we can show our love for Allah (SWT) and our commitment to serving others. 

Whether volunteering at a local mosque or community center, visiting the sick and elderly, or simply spending time with family and friends, every act of kindness and generosity has a great reward from Allah (SWT).

Offer gifts to children

Do not forget that the children need a part of your kindness during the blessed Ramadan, as you can put a smile on their faces by gifting them some things such as:

• Sweets.
• Clothes.
• School bags and stationery.
• Children’s toys like balls, dolls, remote control cars, etc.
• Money! So the child can buy what he desires himself.

Anas ibn Malik said: “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most merciful of people with children,” Sahih (Al-Albani).

Send a thoughtful message

Sending a thoughtful message to a loved one during Ramadan is a beautiful act of kindness that can bring joy and comfort to their day. 

Whether a simple message of support or a heartfelt prayer, reaching out to others is essential to this spiritually significant time.

Practice patience and kindness

The list goes on and on, and we cannot list all the good deeds we can do in the blessed month of Ramadan, but make sure to use every second to practice patience and kindness with those around you.

Here are some examples of that:

• Saying nice words to others, for example, you can compliment their dress, cooking, home, etc. You may contribute to changing their day for the better by saying a small word.
• When you are on the bus or any other public transportation, offer your seat to an older person, a pregnant woman, or a disabled person.
• Offer to help prepare food with your mother or spouse.
• Dua’ is a powerful tool that Muslims have. It hardly takes a minute to make Dua’ for another person, but its effects can be massive.
• Forgiveness and compassion for others, even those who wronged us in the past.
• Ramadan is an ideal time to quit bad habits such as smoking or swearing.
• Express gratitude and appreciation for the blessings in your life, whether during the holy month or beyond.

Resources 

• https://quran.com/
• https://sunnah.com/
• https://www.arabamerica.com/10-good-deeds-anyone-can-do-during-ramadan/

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