Here the focus narrows to partnership in doing good. The chapter rests on the Qur'anic command to cooperate in righteousness and piety, ta'awun 'ala al-birr wa al-taqwa, and shows how a deed can be shared so that two people earn one reward together. The doer and the one who makes the deed possible are joined in its worth.
Notice how wide the door is opened. Equipping someone, caring for the family they leave behind, sending another in your place, lifting a child for a moment of worship, or faithfully passing on a charity entrusted to you: each is counted as real participation. The message is that you do not have to be the one on the front line to have a full share in the good.
Hadith 177
Khalid Al-Juhani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن أبي عبد الرحمن زيد بن خالد الجهني رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من جهز غازياً في سبيل الله فقد غزا ومن خلف غازيا في أهله بخير فقد غزا" ((متفق عليه)) .
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who equips a warrior in the way of Allah (will get the reward of the one who has actually gone for Jihad); and he who looks after the family of a warrior in the way of Allah will get the reward of the one who has gone for Jihad". [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Whoever equips a fighter for Allah's cause, or cares for the family he leaves behind, earns a reward like the fighter's own. Supporting someone's good work gives you a full share in it.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 177 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 177
Hadith 178
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، بعث بعثاً إلى بني لحيان من هذيل فقال: " لينبعث من كل رجلين أحدهما والأجر بينهما" ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a detachment to Banu Lahyan tribe and remarked, "Let one of every two men get ready to advance, and both will earn the same reward". [Muslim].
In plain words
When the Prophet sent out a group, he had one of every two stay back to support the other, and both earned the same reward. The one who makes a good deed possible shares fully in its worth.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 178 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 178
Hadith 179
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لقي ركبا بالروحاء فقال : "من القوم؟" قالوا: المسلمون، فقالوا: من أنت؟ قال: "رسول الله" فرفعت إليه امرأة صبياً فقالت : ألهذا حج؟ قال: "نعم ولك أجر" ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came across a party of mounted men at Ar-Rauha and asked them, "Who are you?" They answered: "We are Muslims, and who are you?" He said, "I am the Messenger of Allah." A woman from among them lifted a boy up to him and asked: "Can this one go on Hajj?" He (ﷺ) said, "Yes, and you will have the reward." [Muslim].
In plain words
When a woman lifted a child and asked if he could perform Hajj, the Prophet said yes and that she would have a reward too. Helping another toward an act of worship earns the helper reward as well.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 179 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 179
Hadith 180
Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: " الخازن المسلم الأمين الذي ينفذ ما أمر به، فيعطيه كاملاً موفراً، طيبة به نفسه فيدفعه إلى الذي أمر له به أحد المتصدقين" ((متفق عليه)) .
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The honest Muslim trustee who carries out duties assigned to him (in another narration he said, "Who gives"), and he gives that in full, with his heart overflowing with cheerfulness, to whom he is ordered, he is one of the two givers of charity". [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
An honest trustee who delivers in full what he is told to give, with a cheerful heart, is counted as one of the two givers of charity. Faithfully passing on someone's charity makes you a sharer in its reward.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 180 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 180