The Book of Zakah

Abu Huraiarh said: "The Messenger of Allah said: None gives charity from (wealth earned from) a good source - and Allah does not accept anything but that which is good - but the Most Merciful takes it in His right hand, even if it is a date, and it tended in the hand of the Most Merciful until it becomes grater than a mountain, just as one of you tends his foal or camel calf."' (Shih)

It was narrated from 'Abudullah bin Hubshi Al-Khath 'ami that the Prophet was asked: "Which deed is best?" He said: "Faith in which there is no doubt, Jihad in which there is no stealing of the spoils of war, and Hjijatun Mabrurah."[1] It was said: "Which prayer is best? He said:"That in which there is ling Qunut (standing)." It was said: "Which charity is best?" He said: "The poor's night." It was said: "Which Hijrah (emigration) is best?" He said: "One who shuns (Hahara) that which Allah has forbidden." It was said: "One who strives against the idolaters with his life and his wealth. "It was said: "Which death is best?" He said: "One who sheds his blood while his horse's feet are cut with swords."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "A Dirham surpassed a hundred thousand Dirhams." They said: "How?" He said: "A man had two Dirhams and gave one in charity, and another man went part of his wealth and took out a hundred thousand Dirhams and gave them in charity."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'A Dirham was better than a hundred thousand Dirhams.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, how?' He said: 'A man had two Dirhams and gave one in charity, and another man went to part of his wealth and took out a hundred thousand Dirhams and gave them in charity."'

It was narrated that Abu Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah used to tell us to give in charity, and one of us could not find anything to give until he went to the market place and hired himself out to carry loads for people. Then he would bring a Mudd and give it to the Messenger of Allah. I know a man who has a hundred thousand now, but on that day he had (only) one Dirham."

It was narrated that Abu Mas 'ud said: "When the Messenger of Allah commanded us to give in charity, Abu 'Aqil give half a Sa', and another man brought much more than that. The hypocrites said: 'Allah has no need of the charity of the former, and the latter only did it to show off. Then the following was revealed: 'Those who defame such of the believers who give charity voluntarily, and such who could not find to give charity except what is available to them."'[1]

Sa'eed and 'Urwah narrated that they heard Hakim bin Hizam say: "I asked the Messenger of Allah and he gave me, then I asked him and he gave me, then I asked him and he gave me. Then he said: "This wealth is attractive and sweet. Whoever takes it without insisting, it will be blessed for him, and whoever takes it with avarice, it will not be blessed for him. He is like one who eats and is not satisfied. And the upper hand is better than the lower hand."'

It was narrated that Tariq Al-Muharibi said: "We came to Al-Madinah and the Messenger of Allah was standing on the Minbar addressing the people and saying: 'The hand which gives is the upper hand. Start with those for whom you are responsible; your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, then the next closest, and the next closet."'

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Umar that: the Messenger of Allah said, when mentioning charity and those who refrain from asking. "The upper hand is better than the lower hand; the upper hand is that which gives and the lower hand is that which asks."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Give charity.' A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I have a Dinar.' He said: 'Spend it on yourself.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'Spend it on your wife.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'Spend it on your son.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'Spend it on your servant.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'You know best (what to do with it)."'

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that: a man entered the Msjid on a Friday when the Messenger of Allah was delivering the Khutbah, and he said: "Pray two Rak'ahs." Then he came on the following Friday, when the Prophet was delivering the Khutbah and he said: "Pray two Rak'ahs." Then he came on the third Friday, when the Prophet was delivering Khutbah and he said: "Pray two Rak'ahs." Then he said: "Give in charity." So they gave in charity, and he gave him (that man) two garments. Then he said: "Give in charity" and (that man) threw one of his two garments. The Messenger of Allah said: "Have you not seen this man? He entered the Masjid in scruffy clothes and I hoped that you would notice him, and give charity to him, but you did not do that, So I said, 'Give in charity.' You gave in charity, and I gave him two garments, then I said; 'Give in charity' and he threw one of his two garments. Take your garment." And he rebuked him.

Narrated: 'Umair, the freed slave of commanded me to cut up some meat, then a poor man came so I gave him some. When my master fund out about that, he beat me, so I went to the Messenger of Allah and he came to him and said: 'Do not beat him.' He said: 'He gave away my food without me telling him to.' He said: 'The reward will be shared between you both."'

It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophet said: "Every Muslim must give charity." It was said: "What if he cannot find (anything to give)? "He said: "Let him work with his hands and benefit himself and give in charity." It was said: "What if he cannot do that?" He said: "Let him help someone who is in desperate need." It was said: "What if he cannot do that?" He said: "Let him enjoin good." It was said: "What if he cannot do that? He said: "Let him refrain from doing evil, for that is an act of charity."

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Prophet said: "When a woman give charity from her husband's house, she will have a reward, and her husband will have a similar reward, and the storekeeper will have a similar reward, without the reward of any of them detracting from the reward of the others in the slightest. The husband will be rewarded for what he earned and she will be rewarded for what she spent."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "When the Messenger of Allah conquered Makkah, he stood up to address the people and said in his Khutbah; 'It is not permissible for a woman to give anything without her husband's permission."' (He narrated it) in abridged from.

It was narrated from 'Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the wives of the Prophet "gathered around him and said: "Which of us will be the first to following you (in death)?" He said: "The one of you who has the longest arms." They took a stick and started to measure their arms. But Sawdah was the first one to follow him. She was the one who had the longest arms, because she used to give in charity a great deal.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which kind of charity is best? He said: 'Giving charity when you are in good health, and feeling stingy, hoping or a long life and fearing poverty."'

Hakim bin Hizam said: "The Messenger of Allah said: "The best kind of charity is that which is given when you are rich, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."'

Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: "The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and start with those for whom you are responsible."'

It was narrated from Abu Mas'ud that the Prophet said: "When a man spends on his family, seeking reward for that, that is an act of charity on his part."

It was narrated that Jabir said: "A man from Banu 'Udhrah declared that a slave of his would become free after he died. News of that reached the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Do you have any property besides him?' He said: 'No.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Who will buy him from me?' Nu'aim bin 'Abdullah Al-Adawi bought him for eight hundred Dirhams. The Messenger of Allah brought it (the money) and gave it to him, then he said: 'Start with yourself and if there is anything left, give it to our family. If there is anything left after your family (has been taken care of), then give it to your relatives. If there is anything left after your relatives (have been taken care of), then (give it) to such and such, saying: 'In front of you and to your right and to your left."' (Shih)

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: "The parable of the one who spends and give in charity, and the one who is miserly, is that of two men wearing coats of mail, with their hands pressed closely to their breasts and their collarbones. When the one who spends wants to give charity, the (coat of mail) expends so much that it covers his fingertips and obliterates his traces. But when the miser wants to give, the (coat of mail) contracts and every ring grips the place where it is, and his hands are tied up to his collarbone."'Abu Hurairah says: 'I swear that he saw the Messenger trying to expand it but it did not." Tawus said: "I heard Abu Hurairah said: "I heard Abu Hurairah illustrating with his hand trying to expand it but it did not." (Sahaih)

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: "The parable of the miser and the one who gives in charity is that of two men wearing coats of mail with their hands tied to their collarbones. Every time the one who gives thinks of giving in charity, the (coat of mail) expands until it obliterates his traces, and every time the miser thinks of giving charity, every circle (of the coat of mail) contracts and sticks to him, and his hand is tied up to his collarbones." I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "He tries to expand it, but he cannot."

It was narrated that Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunaif said: "One day we were sitting in the Masjid with a group of the Muhajirin and Ansar, We sent a man to 'Aishah to ask permission to come to her. She said: 'A beggar came in to me one day when the Messenger of Allah was present, and I ordered that he be given something, then I called for it and looked at it. The Messenger of Allah said: Do you want that nothing should enter or leave your house without your knowledge? I said: 'Yes.' He said: "Don't be hasty, O 'Aishah. Do not count what you give, otherwise Allah will count what He gives to you."'

It was narrated from Asma' bint Abi Bakr that the Prophet said to her: "Do not count what you give, otherwise Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will count what He gives to you."

It was narrated from Asma' bint Abi Bakr that she came to the Prophet and said: "O Prophet of Allah, I do not have anything but that which Az-Zubair brings to me. Is there any sin on me if I give a small amount of that which he brings to me?" He said: Give whatever you can, and do not withhold what you have, lest Allah withhold provision from you."

It was narrated from 'Adiyy bin Hatim that the Prophet said: "Protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date."

It was narrated that 'Adiyy bin Hatim said: "The Messenger of Allah mentioned the Fire, and he turned his face away (as if seeing it), and sought refuge with Allah from it." (One of the narrators) Shu'bah said: "He did that three times, then he said: 'Protect yourselves from the Fire even with half a date, and if you cannot find that, then with a good word."'

Al-Mundhir bin Jarir narrated that his father said: "While we were with the Messenger of Allah in the early hours of the morning, some people came who were naked and barefoot, with their swords hung (around their necks). Most of them, may all of them, belonged to the tribe of Mudar. The face of the Messenger of Allah changed when he saw them in poverty. He went in (to his house) then he came out and ordered Bilah to call the Adhan and then the Iqamah. He (the Prophet) prayed, tjem je addressed te,, (reciting the Verses): 'O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him(Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women: and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual right), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you.' [1] and: 'Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow,' [2] Then they gave in charity, some giving a Dinar, others a Dirham, or a garment, or a Sa' of wheat or, a Sa' of dates, until he said: 'Even half a date.' A man from among the Ansar came with a bag of money which his hands could hardly lift. The people followed one another (in giving charity) until I saw two heaps of food and clothing, and I saw the face of the Messenger of Allah shining like gold (with joy). The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever sets a good precedent in Islam, he will have the reward for that, and the reward of those who acted in accordance with it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest. And whoever sets an evil precedent in Islam, he will have a burden of sin for that, and the burden of those who acted in accordance with it, without that detracting from their burden in the slightest."'