It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Which deed is best? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Faith in Allah and jihad in His path." He asked: Which freeing of a slave is best? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one most valued in the eyes of its owner." He said: What do you think if I cannot find that? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Help a craftsman, or an akhraq (one who is unskilled)." He said: And if I am not able to do even that? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep people safe from your harm; this too is a charity that you give to yourself."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الوكالة / 11439
Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah! The wealthy have gone ahead in reward. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you not pray, fast and wage jihad?" I said: Of course, but they do just as we do: they pray, fast and wage jihad, and they also give charity, while we do not give charity. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are countless charities in you: your speaking on behalf of one who cannot speak, so that his need is met, is a charity; your listening on behalf of one who cannot hear, so that a need of his is met, is a charity; showing a blind man the way is a charity; your strength being put to helping a weak man is a charity; your removing something harmful from the road is a charity; and even your intimacy with your wife is a charity." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah! Does one of us fulfil his desire and receive a reward for it? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What do you think: if you fulfilled it in an unlawful place, would you incur sin?" He said: I said: Yes. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you count the evil and not count the good?"
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الوكالة / 11440