Noor Garden“Smiling Is Charity” – Hadith for Kids
Kindness · Ages 5–11
This hadith tells children that a smile is a real charity. You do not need money or toys to give sadaqah: a warm, friendly smile makes your brother, sister, friend or neighbour feel welcome and happy, and Allah rewards you for it. Every kind smile you give is a small gift that pleases Allah.
The hadith
تَبَسُّمُكَ فِي وَجْهِ أَخِيكَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ
(part of a longer hadith)
Your smile in the face of your brother is a charity for you.
Narrated by: Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him)
Source: Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1956
Grade: Hasan (at-Tirmidhi); Sahih (al-Albani)
What it teaches
You don't need money to give charity. A happy smile makes others happy and earns you a reward.
A little story to help understand it
This is an illustrative example we wrote to explain the meaning. It is not part of the hadith.
Amina's new classmate, Sara, sat alone on her first day and looked nervous. Amina remembered what her father had told her: a smile is charity. At break time she walked over, smiled kindly and said, "Would you like to sit with us?" Sara smiled back for the first time that day. On the way home Amina counted how many people she had smiled at: her teacher, the bus driver, Sara, and her little brother. "That's four charities, and I didn't spend a single coin!" she told her father, who smiled too.
Try it today
Smile at five people today. That's five charities!
Mini quiz
Smiling at someone is…
- A charity
- A waste of time
- Only for special days
Show the answer
Answer: A charity (A)
Questions parents ask
Is this hadith authentic?
Yes. It is recorded in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1956. Grade: Hasan (at-Tirmidhi); Sahih (al-Albani). It was narrated by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him). The words shown here are part of a longer hadith.
How can kids practice it?
Smile at five people today. That's five charities! Play a "smile counter" game: at bedtime, count together how many people you smiled at during the day.
Do I need money to give charity?
No. Money is one kind of charity, but this hadith shows that a sincere smile is also charity. Children can give sadaqah every day with smiles, kind words and helping hands.
More hadith to learn
Last reviewed: 2026-10-09 · Sources & Method