Nasai

Urdu marginal note:
By "charity" (sadaqah) is meant any good deed, that is, an act that brings reward, because the purpose of prescribed charity is also to attain reward. Therefore, every Muslim should continue to perform some good deed according to his capacity.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In this hadith, various good deeds have been described as charity (sadaqah). In some ahadith, it is mentioned that spending on one’s family is also charity. Placing a morsel in one’s wife’s mouth as an act of affection is also charity. Any means or action through which one defends one’s honor and dignity is also charity. (Fath al-Bari: 10/550)

(2)
In another hadith, there is further detail. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“For every joint of a person, charity is due every day. Reconciling between two people is charity. Helping a man to mount his riding animal or lifting his belongings onto it is also charity. Speaking a good word is charity. Every step taken towards prayer is charity. Removing something harmful from the road is also charity.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad wa’l-Siyar, Hadith: 2989)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Saying ‘Subhan Allah’, ‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Alhamdulillah’, and ‘La ilaha illallah’ is charity. Encouraging good deeds is charity. Forbidding evil is charity. Your intimacy with your wife is charity.”
The Companions (radi Allahu anhum) asked:
“O Messenger of Allah! If one of us fulfills his desire, will he have a reward for that?”
He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied:
“Tell me, if he were to fulfill it in a forbidden way, would he not bear a sin? In the same way, if he fulfills it in a lawful manner, he will have a reward.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Zakat, Hadith: 2329(1006))

It is narrated from Anas (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When a Muslim plants a tree or cultivates a crop, and then a human, an animal, or a bird eats from it, it is charity for him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Harth wa’l-Muzara’ah, Hadith: 2320)

In another narration:
“If something is stolen from it, that too is charity for him.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Musaqat, Hadith: 3968(1552))

In short, the scope of “al-ma’ruf” (good deeds) in Islam is very broad. May Allah grant us the strength to act upon it.
Ameen!

Hadith Commentary:
In the narration that Imam Bukhari has included in the Book of Manners, it is stated thus: that one should command a good or virtuous deed.
Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi has added further: and that one should forbid an evil deed.
It is thus understood that for a person who is destitute, there is the reward of charity in giving admonition and advice.
(Wahidi)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar states:
And Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ibn Abi Jamrah, may Allah benefit through him, said: The arrangement of this hadith is that it encourages charity, and when one is unable to give it, it encourages that which is close to it or takes its place, which is action and benefit. And when one is unable to do that, it encourages that which takes its place, which is relief (to the distressed). And when that is not possible, it encourages doing a good deed, i.e., other than what has been mentioned previously, such as removing something harmful from the path. And when that is not possible, it encourages prayer (salat), and if one is unable to do even that, then refraining from evil—and that is the last of the ranks. He said: The meaning of evil here is that which the Shari‘ah has prohibited. In this is consolation for the one who is incapable of performing recommended acts, if his incapacity is not by choice. (Fath al-Bari)
In summary, by bringing this hadith here, Imam Bukhari has, step by step, encouraged giving charity.
When one does not have the ability to give financial charity, then whatever act can take its place is itself charity.
For example, doing good deeds and benefiting others through one’s own self; when one is unable to do even this, then to come to the aid of someone afflicted by calamity; and if even this is not possible, then to do any other good deed, such as removing something harmful from the road.
Then, attention is drawn to prayer (salat), for this too is among the best of deeds.
The final stage is to abandon evil, that which the Shari‘ah has prohibited.
These too are acts of reward, and in this is consolation for the person who is completely incapable of performing good deeds.
The command of Allah is:

“And whatever good they do, it will not be denied them.” (Aal ‘Imran: 115)
Whatever good deeds people do are not wasted.
Rather, its reward is certainly given in one form or another.
This is the law of Divine Power.

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Al-Zalzalah: 7-8)
Do not be heedless of recompense: wheat grows from wheat, barley from barley.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
From this hadith, it is understood that acting upon a good deed and refraining from an evil deed are of the same rank. However, from another narration, it is evident that refraining from an evil word or deed is the last level, because in that narration it is mentioned that the people asked:
O Messenger of Allah! If someone is unable to act upon a good deed, what should he do? He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied that he should refrain from an evil word or deed.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Adab, Hadith: 6022)
The purpose is that one should show compassion and kindness to Allah’s creation, whether that is through spending wealth or through means other than wealth.
It may be through performing an action, such as helping someone in need, or through refraining from an action, such as abstaining from causing harm to someone.
This last level is also a type of compassion and kindness towards Allah’s creation.

(2)
Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, through this hadith, has encouraged giving charity in stages.
First, that one should provide financial assistance.
If he is unable to do so, then he should benefit others through his own self.
If he is not able to do even this, then he should remove something harmful from the path.
The last level is to abandon evil.
In short, whatever good deed a person does will not be wasted.
The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is:
﴿وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَن يُكْفَرُوهُ﴾ ()
“Whatever good they do will not be denied to them.”
(3)
In one hadith, it is mentioned that a human being has three hundred and sixty joints, and every morning, charity should be given on behalf of each joint.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) finally said that if a person cannot give charity and alms on behalf of every joint, then offering two rak‘ahs of Duha prayer will suffice for him.
(Sahih Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, Hadith: 1671(720); Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Adab, Hadith: 5242; Fath al-Bari: 3/389)