Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 1411
sahih

Narrated Haritha bin Wahab:

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "O people! Give in charity as a time will come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and one (who will be requested to take it) will say, "If you had brought it yesterday, would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it."

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْبَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حَارِثَةَ بْنَ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏

‏ تَصَدَّقُوا فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ زَمَانٌ يَمْشِي الرَّجُلُ بِصَدَقَتِهِ، فَلاَ يَجِدُ مَنْ يَقْبَلُهَا يَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ لَوْ جِئْتَ بِهَا بِالأَمْسِ لَقَبِلْتُهَا، فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَلاَ حَاجَةَ لِي بِهَا ‏

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References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 24, Hadith 15
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 24, Hadith 492 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophet ﷺ would always encourage his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to do good deeds, one of which wasoffering zakat and charity to those who deserve it. In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ orders us to never delay in giving charity and paying our zakat, as there will come a time when wealth will be abundant such that no person will be in need. This will happen towards the end of time, close to the time of the Hour, as noted in the narration in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim,from AbooHurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him). This signis considered to be among the minor signs of the Hour. It has been said that it will take place during the time of al-Mahdee, and when Jesus (peace be upon him) descends to earth. At that time, a person will walk around searching for any poor person to give charity or zakat tobut will find no one to accept it from him. Every time he offers his zakat and charity to someone, they will decline it and say to him, “If you had brought it yesterday, I would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it.” The reason they would say this is thought to be because they have become rich and are no longer in need of money, but it has also been said that it is because people would opt for the Hereafter, and give up on worldly pleasures, Thus, they would be satisfied with whatever Allah provides for them each day, and refrain from saving any money for tomorrow. It has been said that this hadeeth serves as a warning and threat to those who would delay in giving charity – that is to say, it is a threat to those who intentionally delay giving it to the poor who deserve it, until the poor are no longer in need of the money. In this case, the rich will be liable and held accountable, because they did not help the poor when theywere in need. This hadeeth warns us against postponing the giving of zakat, because doing so may result in the person finding no one to take it from him later. It also serves as evidence that testifies to the Prophethood of the Prophet ﷺ. .
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