(the daughter of Um Salama) My mother said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall I receive a reward if I spend for the sustenance of Abu Salama's offspring, and in fact they are also my sons?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Spend on them and you will get a reward for what you spend on them."
Hadith Commentary: Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat)
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1467, transmitted through Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her), addresses the profound question of spiritual reward in providing for one's stepchildren.
Scholarly Analysis
The query posed by Umm Salama demonstrates the meticulous nature of the Companions in seeking precise understanding of divine reward. She inquired whether spending on her stepchildren - who were also the children of her deceased husband Abu Salama - would yield spiritual recompense, despite her natural maternal connection.
The Prophet's unequivocal response establishes that financial provision for stepchildren carries divine reward equivalent to charity given to non-mahram individuals. This ruling emphasizes that blood relation does not diminish the spiritual merit of charitable expenditure.
Legal Implications
This hadith clarifies that maintenance of stepchildren, while a familial obligation, simultaneously constitutes an act of voluntary charity (sadaqah) deserving heavenly reward. The ruling applies particularly when the stepmother's provision exceeds her obligatory maintenance.
Scholars derive from this that any expenditure beyond what is legally required for relatives can be classified as charity, thus encouraging Muslims to be generous even with those for whom they bear some financial responsibility.
Spiritual Dimensions
The Prophet's response illuminates Allah's boundless generosity, wherein a single action fulfills both worldly obligation and spiritual opportunity. This demonstrates Islam's comprehensive approach to worship, transforming mundane responsibilities into acts of devotion.
This teaching encourages Muslims to perceive all beneficial expenditure as potential worship, thereby infusing daily life with spiritual consciousness and multiplying opportunities for divine reward.