This hadith is a great reminder of how Allah has blessed mankind. It also shows how mankind should react to the great blessings and bounties that they have generously received from their Creator. This hadith also shows that acts of charity are not just open to those who have wealth. Instead, there are numerous deeds that one can perform that are, in reality, also acts of charity.

A few lessons we can take from this beautiful hadith are as follows:


1. The small bones in a person's hand and foot, in particular, and all of the bones and joints in a body, in general, form part of the marvellous creation that Allah has created. This marvellous creation and its magnificent workings are, in themselves, great bounties. Everyone should be thankful to Allah each and every day for such bounties. 

2. The gratefulness that one shows is not simply by expressing a statement. Instead, it must also be shown in acts of charity toward others. These acts of charity do not require wealth and are available to almost everyone. 

3. Bringing about justice between two, helping a man get on his mount or placing his
belongings on his conveyance, a good word and every step one takes to the mosque are just some of the simple yet great acts of charity that ALLAH (subhanahu wa ta’ala) appreciates and hence as Muslim we should seek to perform them and similar acts on a daily basis.

To learn more, do check out Commentary on the Forty Hadith of Imam An-Nawawi by Sheikh Jamal Al-Din Zarabozo, vol. 2, page 829.