No Muslim plants a tree except that whatever is eaten from it will be counted for him as charity, and whatever is stolen from it will be counted as charity for him, and no loss is incurred on him except that it will be counted as charity for him
Authentic hadithعن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «ما من مسلم يَغرس غَرسا إلا كان ما أُكل منه له صدقة، وما سُرق منه له صدقة، ولا يَرْزَؤُهُ أحد إلا كان له صدقة». وفي رواية: «فلا يَغرس المسلم غَرسا فيأكلَ منه إنسان ولا دَابَة ولا طير إلا كان له صدقة إلى يوم القيامة»، وفي رواية: «لا يَغرس مسلم غرسا، ولا يزرع زرعًا، فيأكل منه إنسان ولا دَابَة ولا شيء، إلا كانت له صدقة».
Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No Muslim plants a tree but whatever is eaten from it will be counted for him as charity, and whatever is stolen from it will be counted as charity for him, and whatever is taken from it will be counted as charity for him." Another narration reads: "No Muslim plants a tree, then a man, a beast or a bird eats from it, but it will be counted as charity for him on the Day of Judgment." Another narration states: "No Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, then a man, a beast, or anything else eats from it, but it will be counted as charity for him." These both narrations are reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).
Explanation
This Hadīth means that any Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, then any living being eats from it, he will receive reward for it, even after his death, for the reward of his action will continue as long as the his plants stay beneficial. This Hadīth encourages the planting trees and sowing fields for what they entail of abundance goodness, for they have religious benefits as well as worldly benefits. If anything is eaten of such trees or plants, it will be counted as charity, even something is stolen of it, i.e. when someone steals dates from his date palm, yet he will receive the reward, keeping in mind that if the owner recognizes the thief, he will sue him in the court, even though, Allah, the Almighty, counts it as charity for its owner until the Day of Judgment. Also if some animals or insects eat form it, the owner will still receive the reward of charity. The Hadīth specifies the Muslim because he is the one who benefits from this charity in this world and the Hereafter.
Source · Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).