Think of the last time someone made a difficult day easier. They may have listened without rushing you, brought over a meal or offered help before you had to ask. Small gestures can stay with us long after the moment has passed.
World Kindness Day, observed on November 13, is an opportunity to pass that kindness on. For Muslims, kindness in Islam is part of everyday faith: how we treat our families, respond to someone in need and speak when patience is difficult.
Kindness begins with the people around us
In Qur’an 4:36, Allah commands kindness toward parents, relatives, orphans, people in need, neighbors and travelers, among others. The verse directs our attention to people we know well and those whose circumstances we may barely know.
That can begin with a call to a parent you have been meaning to check on, an offer to collect groceries for a neighbor or making room for someone who feels left out.
How we offer that help matters too. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that gentleness beautifies what it is part of, while its absence detracts from it (Sahih Muslim 2594a). A gentle answer, a patient explanation or help offered without embarrassment can make someone feel respected as well as supported.
Sadaqah includes more than money
Sadaqah means charity, and Islamic teachings include everyday good deeds within it. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Every act of goodness is sadaqa” (Sahih Muslim 1005).
In another hadith, he described helping someone with their belongings, speaking a good word and removing something harmful from a path as acts of charity (Sahih al-Bukhari 2989). These are opportunities available in the course of an ordinary day.
Choose an action that answers a real need:
- Check on someone who has been quiet lately, and make time to listen.
- Offer practical help, such as carrying someone’s groceries or giving them a ride.
- Share a meal with a neighbor or a family going through a difficult week.
- Speak gently when you disagree, including in messages and comments online.
- Give what you can to help someone meet a need, such as food or clothing.
You may never know what happens after that first gesture. Someone you help may feel encouraged to help another person. Even when you see no wider ripple, the person in front of you has received something worthwhile.
Start your ripple with Kindness Travels
For World Kindness Day 2026, Human Development Fund (HDF) is launching Kindness Travels, an invitation to put one kind intention into action.
Choose an act on the campaign website and start your ripple. You’ll receive a unique ripple number to share on social media, inviting others to take part.
Watch Kindness Travels, HDF’s AI-created short film, below.
Think of one person you could help today. Choose your act, follow through, and invite someone else to begin.
