The Excellence of Sadaqa - Section 1

Fatima daughter of Qais reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is something due on property apart from <i>zakat</i>.”* He then recited, “It is not piety that you should turn your faces to the east and west. . .”** Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. * This is said to include such acts as generosity to a beggar, readiness to lend money or goods to one who asks, and ordinary hospitality. ** Quran 2:177.

وَعَن فَاطِمَة بنت قبيس قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ فِي الْمَالِ لَحَقًّا سِوَى الزَّكَاةِ» ثُمَّ تَلَا: (لَيْسَ الْبَرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قبل الْمشرق وَالْمغْرب) الْآيَة. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه والدارمي

Buhaisa quoted her father as saying that he asked God’s messenger what was the thing which it is unlawful to refuse and was told that it was water. He repeated the question to God’s Prophet (ﷺ) and was told that it was salt. When he asked God’s Prophet (ﷺ) a third time he received the reply, “To do good is better for you.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ بُهَيْسَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ: يَا رَسُول الله مَا لشَيْء الَّذِي لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ؟ قَالَ: «الْمَاءُ» . قَالَ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَا الشَّيْءُ الَّذِي لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ؟ قَالَ: «الْمِلْحُ» . قَالَ: يَا نَبِيَّ الله مَا لاشيء الَّذِي لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ؟ قَالَ: «أَنْ تَفْعَلَ الْخَيْر خير لَك» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone cultivates waste land he will have a reward for it, and what any creature seeking food* eats of it will count as <i>sadaqa</i> to him.” Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it. * This includes man, beast and bird. The word is 'afiya.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «من أحيى أَرْضًا مَيِّتَةً فَلَهُ فِيهَا أَجْرٌ وَمَا أَكَلَتِ الْعَافِيَةُ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ والدارمي

Al-Bara’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone lends an animal for milking, or silver coins, or shows someone the way, it will be equivalent to his having emancipated a slave.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ الْبَرَاءِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ مَنَحَ مِنْحَةَ لَبَنٍ أَو روق أَوْ هَدَى زُقَاقًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلَ عِتْقِ رَقَبَة» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Abu Jurayy Jabir b. Sulaim said:

I came to Medina and saw a man whose opinion was followed by the people, for he said nothing without their acting on it. I asked who he was, and when I was told that he was God’s messenger, I said twice, “Upon you be peace, messenger of God.” He replied, ‘Do not say, “Upon you be peace,’ for that is the salutation to the dead, but say, ‘Peace be upon you’.” I asked him if he was God’s messenger, and he replied, “I am the messenger of God who, if injury befalls you and you call on Him, will remove it; if a year of famine comes upon you and you call on Him, will make things grow; if you lose your riding-beast in a barren land or desert and call upon Him, will restore it to you.” I asked him to give me an injunction, and he said, “Do not revile anyone.” After that I never reviled a freeman or a slave, a camel or a sheep.” He said, “And do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, for looking pleasantly at your brother when you speak to him is an act of kindness. Wear your lower garment halfway up to the knee, but if you dislike that, let it go down to the ankles; on no account, however, must you let it trail, for that is a kind of pride, and God does not like pride. If anyone reviles or reproaches you for something he knows about you, do not reproach him for something you know about him, for the mischief of that will lie at his door.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted the part about the salutation. A version has, “The reward of that will be yours and its mischief will be his.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي جُرَيٍّ جَابِرِ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَرَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ عَنْ رَأْيِهِ لَا يَقُولُ شَيْئًا إِلَّا صَدَرُوا عَنْهُ قُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالُوا: هَذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قُلْتُ: عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ قَالَ: «لَا تقل عَلَيْك السَّلَام فَإِن عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ تَحِيَّةُ الْمَيِّتِ قُلِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ» قلت: أَنْت رَسُول الله؟ قَالَ: «أَنا رَسُول الله الَّذِي إِذا أَصَابَكَ ضُرٌّ فَدَعَوْتَهُ كَشَفَهُ عَنْكَ وَإِنْ أَصَابَكَ عَامُ سَنَةٍ فَدَعَوْتَهُ أَنْبَتَهَا لَكَ وَإِذَا كُنْتَ بِأَرْض قفراء أَوْ فَلَاةٍ فَضَلَّتْ رَاحِلَتُكَ فَدَعَوْتَهُ رَدَّهَا عَلَيْكَ» . قُلْتُ: اعْهَدْ إِلَيَّ. قَالَ: «لَا تَسُبَّنَّ أَحَدًا» قَالَ فَمَا سَبَبْتُ بَعْدَهُ حُرًّا وَلَا عَبْدًا وَلَا بَعِيرًا وَلَا شَاةً. قَالَ: «وَلَا تَحْقِرَنَّ شَيْئًا مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَنْ تُكَلِّمَ أَخَاكَ وَأَنْتَ مُنْبَسِطٌ إِلَيْهِ وَجْهُكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَارْفَعْ إِزَاَرَكَ إِلَى نِصْفِ السَّاقِ فَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ فَإِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ وَإِيَّاكَ وَإِسْبَالَ الْإِزَارِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنَ الْمَخِيلَةِ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمَخِيلَةَ وَإِنِ امْرُؤٌ شَتَمَكَ وَعَيَّرَكَ بِمَا يَعْلَمُ فِيكَ فَلَا تعيره بِمَا تعلم فِيهِ فَإِنَّمَا وَبَالُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ مِنْهُ حَدِيثَ السَّلَامِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «فَيَكُونَ لَكَ أَجْرُ ذَلِكَ وَوَبَالُهُ عَلَيْهِ»

‘A’isha said the Prophet (ﷺ) asked how much was left of a sheep which they had killed, and when she told him that only its shoulder Remained, he replied, “The whole of it is left except its shoulder.”* Tirmidhi transmitted it and said it is sahih. * Meaning that what one gives to others has lasting value, as such giving is fundamentally done for God’s sake; whereas what one keeps indicates selfishness and so has only transient value.

وَعَن عَائِشَة إِنَّهُمْ ذَبَحُوا شَاةً فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا بَقِيَ مِنْهَا؟» قَالَتْ: مَا بَقِي مِنْهَا إِلَّا كتفها قَالَ: «بَقِي كلهَا غير كتفها» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَصَححهُ

Ibn 'Abbas said he heard God’s messenger say, “Any Muslim who gives a Muslim a garment to wear will be in God’s safe keeping as long as a shred of it remains on him.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عَبَّاس قَالَ ك سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ كَسَا مُسْلِمًا ثَوْبًا إِلَّا كَانَ فِي حفظ من الله مادام عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُ خرقَة» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud attributed the following to the Prophet, “There are three whom God loves:

a man who gets up at night and recites God’s book; a man who gives <i>sadaqa</i> with his right hand and concealing it (‘Abdallah thought he added ‘from his left hand’); and a man who is on an expedition and faces the enemy when his companions are routed.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, but said that this is a tradition to which regard is not paid, one of its transmitters, Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash, being guilty of many errors.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ:

ثَلَاثَةٌ يُحِبُّهُمُ اللَّهُ: رَجُلٌ قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَتْلُوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَرَجُلٌ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِصَدَقَةٍ بِيَمِينِهِ يُخْفِيهَا أُرَاهُ قَالَ: مِنْ شِمَالِهِ وَرَجُلٌ كَانَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَانْهَزَمَ أَصْحَابُهُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْعَدُوَّ

. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَيْرُ مَحْفُوظٍ أَحَدُ رُوَاتِهِ أَبُو بكر بن عَيَّاش كثير الْغَلَط

Abu Dharr reported God's messenger as saying, “There are three whom God loves and three whom God hates. Those whom God loves are:

a man who, when one came and begged from some people in God’s name, not because of any relationship between him and them, and was refused by them, withdrew from them and gave him something secretly, no one knowing of the gift but God and the one who gave it; a man who travelled all night with people till sleep was more desirable to them than anything which could be compared with it, and when they laid down their heads got up and engaged in his devotions and recited verses of the Qur’an; and a man who was in a detachment which met the enemy and was routed, yet went straight forward till he was killed or given victory. The three whom God hates are an old man who commits fornication, a poor man who is proud, and a rich man who is oppressive.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it but Nasa'i did not mention the three whom God hates.

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «ثَلَاثَةٌ يُحِبُّهُمُ اللَّهُ وَثَلَاثَةٌ يُبْغِضُهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّهُمُ اللَّهُ فَرَجُلٌ أَتَى قَوْمًا فَسَأَلَهُمْ بِاللَّه وَلم يسألهم بِقرَابَة بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعُوهُ فَتَخَلَّفَ رَجُلٌ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ فَأَعْطَاهُ سِرًّا لَا يَعْلَمُ بِعَطِيَّتِهِ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالَّذِي أَعْطَاهُ وَقَوْمٌ سَارُوا لَيْلَتَهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ النَّوْمُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِمَّا يُعْدَلُ بِهِ فَوَضَعُوا رُءُوسَهُمْ فَقَامَ يَتَمَلَّقُنِي وَيَتْلُو آيَاتِي وَرَجُلٌ كَانَ فِي سَرِيَّة فلقي الْعَدو فهزموا وَأَقْبل بِصَدْرِهِ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ أَوْ يُفْتَحَ لَهُ وَالثَّلَاثَةُ الَّذِينَ يُبْغِضُهُمُ اللَّهُ الشَّيْخُ الزَّانِي وَالْفَقِيرُ الْمُخْتَالُ والغني الظلوم» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying:

When God created the earth it began to oscillate, so He created the mountains, ordered them on to it, and it became steady. The angels marvelled at the strength of the mountains and asked their Lord whether there was anything in His creation stronger than the mountains, to which He replied that iron was stronger. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than iron, and He replied that fire was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than fire and He replied that water was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than water and He replied that wind was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than wind and He replied, “Yes, the son of Adam who gives <i>sadaqa</i> with his right hand concealing it from his left.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَن أنس بن مَالك عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْأَرْضَ جَعَلَتْ تَمِيدُ فَخَلَقَ الْجِبَالَ فَقَالَ بِهَا عَلَيْهَا فَاسْتَقَرَّتْ فَعَجِبَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْجِبَالِ فَقَالُوا يَا رَبِّ هَلْ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ شَيْءٌ أَشَدُّ مِنِ الْجِبَالِ قَالَ نعم الْحَدِيد قَالُوا يَا رَبِّ هَلْ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ شَيْءٌ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْحَدِيدِ قَالَ نَعَمِ النَّارُ فَقَالُوا يَا رب هَل من خلقك شَيْء أَشد من النَّار قَالَ نعم المَاء قَالُوا يَا رب فَهَل مِنْ خَلْقِكَ شَيْءٌ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْمَاءِ قَالَ نَعَمِ الرِّيحُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَبِّ هَلْ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ شَيْءٌ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الرِّيحِ قَالَ نَعَمِ ابْن آدم تصدق بِصَدقَة بِيَمِينِهِ يخفيها من شِمَالِهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ وَذُكِرَ حَدِيثُ مُعَاذٍ: «الصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ» . فِي كتاب الْإِيمَان

Abu Dharr reported God's messenger as saying, “No Muslim will contribute a pair from every class of property he possesses to be devoted to God’s path without all the guards of paradise meeting him and summoning him to receive what they have.” Abu Dharr asked him what the nature of that would be, and he replied, “If they are camels there will be two, and if they are cows there will be two.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يُنْفِقُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَالٍ لَهُ زَوْجَيْنِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا اسْتَقْبَلَتْهُ حَجَبَةُ الْجَنَّةِ كُلُّهُمْ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى مَا عِنْدَهُ» . قُلْتُ: وَكَيْفَ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ: «إِنْ كَانَتْ إِبِلًا فَبَعِيرَيْنِ وَإِنْ كَانَت بقرة فبقرتين» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Marthad b. ‘Abdallah said one of the companions of God’s messenger told him that he had heard him say, “The believer's shade on the day of resurrection will be his <i>sadaqa</i>.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مَرْثَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ ظِلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة صدقته» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone gives liberally to his family on the day of ‘Ashura, God will be liberal to him the rest of the year.” Sufyan said he had tested it and found it to be so. Razin transmitted it, and Baihaqi in <i>Shu’ab al-iman</i> transmitted it from [Ibn Mas'ud], Abu Huraira, Abu Sa'id andjabir, but declared it to be weak.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ فِي النَّفَقَةِ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَسَّعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ سَائِرَ سَنَتِهِ» . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ: إِنَّا قَدْ جربناه فوجدناه كَذَلِك. رَوَاهُ رزين وَرَوَى الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ عَنْهُ وَعَنْ أبي هُرَيْرَة وَأبي سعيد وَجَابِر وَضَعفه

Abu Umama told of Abu Dharr asking God’s Prophet (ﷺ) to tell him what the reward for <i>sadaqa</i> would be, and receiving the reply, “Many times as much, and more still with God.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الصَّدَقَةُ مَاذَا هِيَ؟ قَالَ: «أَضْعَافٌ مُضَاعَفَةٌ وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْمَزِيدُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد