What is the meaning of the Hadith: "Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with half a date," and specifically "half a date"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The meaning of "half a date" (شِق تمرة) is its half, and it is an exaggeration of scarcity. The intention is that the encourages doing all good deeds, whether few or many, even if it is with a kind word, and that doing so protects its doer from the Fire. One should not belittle any charity, no matter how small, for a little of it shields the one who gives charity from the Fire.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/68340
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 68340
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy