Sunan Abu-Dawud (Introduction to Partial Translation)
Zakat (Kitab Al-Zakat)
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There is no zakat payable (on grain or dates) on less than five camel-loads. The wasq (one camel-load) measures sixty sa' in weight.
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn:
Habib al-Maliki said: A man said to Imran ibn Husayn: AbuNujayd, you narrate to us traditions whose basis we do not find in the Qur'an.
Thereupon, Imran got angry and said to the man: Do you find in the Qur'an that one dirham is due on forty dirhams (as Zakat), and one goat is due on such-and-such number of goats, and one camel will be due on such-and-such number of camels?
He replied: No.
He said: From whom did you take it? You took it from us, from the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).
He mentioned many similar things.
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to order us to pay the sadaqah (zakat) on what we prepared for trade.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
A woman came to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and she was accompanied by her daughter who wore two heavy gold bangles in her hands. He said to her: Do you pay zakat on them? She said: No. He then said: Are you pleased that Allah may put two bangles of fire on your hands?
Thereupon she took them off and placed them before the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) saying: They are for Allah and His Apostle.
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:
I used to wear gold ornaments. I asked: Is that a treasure (kanz), Apostle of Allah? He replied: whatever reaches a quantity on which zakat is payable is not a treasure (kanz) when the zakat is paid.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) wrote a letter about sadaqah (zakat) but he died before he could send it to his governors. He had kept it with his sword. So AbuBakr acted upon it till he died, and then Umar acted upon it till he died.
It contained: "For five camels one goat is to be given; for ten camels two goats are to be given; for fifteen camels three goats are to be given; for twenty camels four goats are to be given; for twenty-five to thirty-five camels a she-camel in her second year is to be given. If the number exceeds by one up to seventy camels, a she-camel in her fourth year is to be given; if they exceed by one up to seventy-five camels, a she-camel in her fifth year is to be given; if they exceed by one up to ninety camels, two she-camels in their third year are to be given; if they exceed by one up to one hundred and twenty, two she-camels in their fourth year are to be given. If the camels are more than this, a she-camel in her fourth year is to be given for every fifty camels, and a she-camel in her third year is to be given for every forty camels.
For forty to one hundred and twenty goats one goat is to be given; if they exceed by one up to two hundred, two goats are to be given. If they exceed by one up to three hundred, three goats are to be given; if the goats are more than this, one goat for every hundred goats is to be given. Nothing is payable until they reach one hundred. Those which are in one flock are not to be separated, and those which are in separate flocks are not be brought together from fear of sadaqah (zakat). Regarding that which belongs to two partners, they can make claims for restitution from each other with equity. An old goat and a defective one are not to be accepted as sadaqah (zakat)."
Az-Zuhri said: When the collector comes, the goats will be apportioned into three flocks: one containing bad, the second good, and the third moderate. The collector will take zakat from the moderate. Az-Zuhri did not mention the cows (to be apportioned in three flocks).
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
Al-Harith al-A'war reported from Ali. Zuhayr said: I think, the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: "Pay a fortieth. A dirham is payable on every forty, but you are not liable for payment until you have accumulated two hundred dirhams. When you have two hundred dirhams, five dirhams are payable, and that proportion is applicable to larger amounts.
"Regarding sheep, for every forty sheep up to one hundred and twenty, one sheep is due. But if you possess only thirty-nine, nothing is payable on them." He further narrated the tradition about the sadaqah (zakat) on sheep like that of az-Zuhri.
"Regarding cattle, a yearling bull calf is payable for every thirty, and a cow in her third year for forty, and nothing is payable on working animals.
Regarding (the zakat on) camels, he mentioned the rates that az-Zuhri mentioned in his tradition. He said: "For twenty-five camels, five sheep are to be paid. If they exceed by one, a she-camel in her second year is to be given. If there is no she-camel in her second year, a male camel in its third year is to be given, up to thirty-five. If they exceed by one a she-camel in her third year is to be given, up to forty-five. If they exceed by one, a she-camel in her fourth year which is ready to be covered by a bull-camel is to be given." He then transmitted the rest of the tradition like that of az-Zuhri.
He continued: If they exceed by one, i.e. they are ninety-one to hundred and twenty, two she-camels in their fourth year, which are ready to be covered by a bull-camel, are to be given. If there are more camels than that, a she-camel in her fourth year is to be given for every fifty. Those which are in one flock are not to be separated, and those which are separate are not to be brought together. An old sheep, one with a defect in the eye, or a billy goat is not to be accepted as a sadaqah unless the collector is willing.
As regards agricultural produce, a tenth is payable on that which is watered by rivers or rain, and a twentieth on that which is watered by draught camels."
The version of Asim and al-Harith says: "Sadaqah (zakat) is payable every year." Zuhayr said: I think he said "Once a year".
The version of Asim has the words: "If a she-camel in her second year is not available among the camels, nor is there a bull-camel in its third year, ten dirhams or two goats are to be given."
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: "When you possess two hundred dirhams and one year passes on them, five dirhams are payable. Nothing is incumbent on you, that is, on gold, till it reaches twenty dinars. When you possess twenty dinars and one year passes on them, half a dinar is payable. Whatever exceeds, that will be reckoned properly."
(The narrator said: I do not remember whether the words "that will be reckoned properly" were uttered by All himself or he attributed them to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him).
No zakat is payable on property till a year passes on it.
But Jarir said: Ibn Wahb (sub-narrator) added to this tradition from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him): "No zakat is payable on property until a year passes away on it."
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: I have given exemption regarding horses and slaves; with regard to coins, however, you must pay a dirham for every forty (dirhams), but nothing is payable on one hundred and ninety. When the total reaches two hundred, five dirhams are payable.
Narrated Mu'awiyah ibn Haydah:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: For forty pasturing camels, one she-camel in her third year is to be given. The camels are not to be separated from reckoning. He who pays zakat with the intention of getting reward will be rewarded. If anyone evades zakat, we shall take half the property from him as a due from the dues of our Lord, the Exalted. There is no share in it (zakat) of the descendants of Muhammad (peace_be_upon_him).
Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:
When the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) sent him to the Yemen, he ordered him to take a male or a female calf a year old for every thirty cattle and a cow in its third year for every forty, and one dinar for every adult (unbeliever as a poll-tax) or cloths of equivalent value manufactured in the Yemen.
Narrated Someone who accompanied the collector of the Prophet:
Suwayd ibn Ghaflah said: I went myself or someone who accompanied the collector of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) told me: It was recorded in the document written by the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) not to accept a milking goat or she-camel or a (suckling) baby (as zakat on animals); and those which are in separate flocks are not to be brought together, and those which are in one flock are not to be separated.
The collector used to visit the water-hole when the sheep went there and say: Pay the sadaqah (zakat) on your property. The narrator said: A man wanted to give him his high-humped camel (kawma'). The narrator (Hilal) asked: What is kawma', AbuSalih? He said: A camel a high hump.
The narrator continued: He (the collector) refused to accept it. He said: I wish you could take the best of my camels. He refused to accept it. He then brought another camel lower in quality than the previous one. He refused to accept it too. He then brought another camel lower in quality than the previous one. He accepted it, saying: I shall take it, but I am afraid the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) might be angry with me, saying to me: You have purposely taken from a man a camel of your choice.
Narrated Sa'r ibn Disam:
Muslim ibn Shu'bah said: Nafi' ibn Alqamah appointed my father as charge d'affaires of his tribe, and commanded him to collect sadaqah (zakat) from them. My father sent me to a group of them; so I came to an aged man called Sa'r ibn Disam
I said: My father has sent me to you to collect zakat from you. He asked: What kind of animals will you take, my nephew? I replied: We shall select the sheep and examine their udders. He said: My nephew, I shall narrate a tradition to you. I lived on one of these steppes during the time of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) along with my sheep. Two people riding a camel came to me.
They said to me: We are messengers of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), sent to you so that you may pay the sadaqah (zakat) on your sheep.
I asked: What is due from me for them?
They said: One goat. I went to a goat which I knew was full of milk and fat, and I brought it to them.
They said: This is a pregnant goat. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited us to accept a pregnant goat.
I asked: What will you take then? They said: A goat in its second year or a goat in its third year. I then went to a goat which had not given birth to any kid, but it was going to do so. I brought it to them.
They said: Give it to us. They took it on the camel and went away.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mu'awiyah al-Ghadiri:
AbuDawud said: I read in a document possessed by Abdullah ibn Salim at Hims: Abdullah ibn Mu'awiyah al-Ghadiri reported the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) as saying: He who performs three things will have the taste of the faith. (They are:) One who worships Allah alone and one believes that there is no god but Allah; and one who pays the zakat on his property agreeably every year. One should not give an aged animal, nor one suffering from itch or ailing, and one most condemned, but one should give animals of medium quality, for Allah did not demand from you the best of your animals, nor did He command you to give the animals of worst quality.
Narrated Ubayy ibn Ka'b:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) commissioned me as a collector of zakat. I visited a man. When he had collected his property of camels, I found that a she-camel in her second year was due from him.
I said to him: Pay a she-camel in her second year, for she is to be paid as sadaqah (zakat) by you.
He said: That one is not worthy of milking and riding. Here is another she-camel which is young, grand and fat. So take it.
I said to him: I shall not take an animal for which I have not been commanded. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) is here near to you. If you like, go to him, and present to him what you presented to me. Do that; if he accepts it from you, I shall accept it; if he rejects it, I shall reject it.
He said: I shall do it. He accompanied me and took with him the she-camel which he had presented to me. We came to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He said to him: Prophet of Allah, your messenger came to me to collect zakat on my property. By Allah, neither the Apostle of Allah nor his messenger has ever seen my property before. I gathered my property (camels), and he estimated that a she-camel in her second year would be payable by me. But that has neither milk nor is it worth riding. So I presented to him a grand young she-camel for acceptance as zakat. But he has refused to take her. Look, she is here; I have brought her to you, Apostle of Allah. Take her.
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: That is what is due from you. If you give voluntarily a better (animal) Allah will give a reward to you for it. We accept her from you.
She is here, Apostle of Allah; I have brought her to you. So take her. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then ordered me to take possession of it, and he prayed for a blessing on his property.
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who collects more sadaqah than is due is like him who refuses to pay it.
Narrated Bashir ibn al-Khasasiyyah:
(Ibn Ubayd said in the version of his tradition that his name was not Bashir, but (it was) the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) (who had) named him Bashir)
We said: (to the Apostle of Allah): The collectors of sadaqah collect more than is due; can we hide our property to that proportion? He replied: "No."
Narrated Jabir ibn Atik:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Riders who are objects of dislike to you will come to you, but you must welcome them when they come to you, and give them a free hand regarding what they desire. If they are just, they will receive credit for it, but if they are unjust, they will be held responsible. Please them, for the perfection of your zakat consists in their good pleasure, and let them ask a blessing for you .
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There is to be no collecting of sadaqah (zakat) from a distance, nor must people who own property remove it far away, and their sadaqahs are to be received in their dwelling.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: No sadaqah is due on a horse or a slave except that given at the breaking of the fast (at the end of Ramadan).
Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:
When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent him to the Yemen, he said (to him): Collect corn from the corn, sheep from the sheep, camel from the camels, and cow from the cows.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr Ibn al-'As:
Hilal, a man from the tribe of Banu Mat'an brought a tenth of honey which he possessed in beehives to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He asked him (the apostle of Allah) to give the wood known as Salabah as a protected (or restricted) land.
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) gave him that wood as a protected land.
When Umar ibn al-Khattab succeeded, Sufyan ibn Wahb wrote to Umar asking him about this wood. Umar ibn al-Khattab wrote to him: If he (Hilal) pays you the tithe on honey what he used to pay to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), leave the protected land of Salabah in his possession; otherwise those bees are like those of any wood; anyone can take the honey as he likes.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
Banu Shababah were a sub-clan of the tribe Fahm. (They used to pay) one bag (of honey) out of ten bags. Sufyan ibn Abdullah ath-Thaqafi gave them two woods as protected lands. They used to give as much honey (as zakat) as they gave to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He (Sufyan) used to protect their woods.
Narrated Attab ibn Usayd:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) commanded to estimate vines (for collecting zakat) as palm-trees are estimated. The zakat is to be paid in raisins as the zakat on palm trees is paid in dried dates.
Narrated Sahl ibn AbuHathmah:
AbdurRahman ibn Mas'ud said: Sahl ibn AbuHathmah came to our gathering. He said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) commanding us said: When you estimate take them leaving a third, and if you do not leave or find a third, leave a quarter.
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
Describing the conquest of Khaybar Aisha said: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to send Abdullah ibn Rawahah to the Jews of Khaybar, and he would make an estimate of the palm trees when the fruit was in good condition before any of it was eaten.
Narrated Sahl ibn Hunayf:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited to accept ja'rur and habiq dates as zakat. Az-Zuhri said: These are two kinds of the dates of Medina.
Narrated Awf ibn Malik:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) entered upon us in the mosque, and he had a stick in his hand. A man hung there a bunch of hashaf. He struck the bunch with the stick, and said: If the owner of this sadaqah (alms) wishes to give a better one than it, he would give. The owner of this sadaqah will eat hashaf on the Day of Judgment.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prescribed the sadaqah (alms) relating to the breaking of the fast as a purification of the fasting from empty and obscene talk and as food for the poor. If anyone pays it before the prayer (of 'Id), it will be accepted as zakat. If anyone pays it after the prayer, that will be a sadaqah like other sadaqahs (alms).
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
The people during the lifetime of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to bring forth the sadaqah at the end of Ramadan when closing the fast one sa' of barley whose straw is removed, or of raisins. Abdullah said: When Umar (Allah be pleased with him) succeeded, and the wheat became abundant, Umar prescribed half a sa' of wheat instead of all these things.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
I shall always pay one sa'. We used to pay during the lifetime of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) one sa' of dried dates or of barley, or of cheese, or of raisins. This is the version of Yahya. Sufyan added in his version: "or one sa' of flour." The narrator Hamid (ibn Yahya) said: The people objected to this (addition); Sufyan then left it.
Narrated Tha'labah ibn Su'ayr:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One sa' of wheat is to be taken from every two, young or old, freeman or slave, male or female. Those of you who are rich will be purified by Allah, and those of you who are poor will have more than they gave returned by Him to them. Sulayman added in his version: "rich or poor"
Narrated Tha'labah ibn Su'ayr:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) stood and gave a sermon; he commanded to give sadaqah, at the end of Ramadan when the fasting is closed, one sa' of dried dates or of barley payable by every person. The narrator Ali added in his version: "or one sa' of wheat to be taken from every two." Both the chains of narrators are then agreed upon the version: "payable by young and old, freeman and slave."
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Al-Hasan said: Ibn Abbas preached towards the end of Ramadan on the pulpit (in the mosque) of al-Basrah. He said: Bring forth the sadaqah relating to your fast. The people, as it were, could not understand. Which of the people of Medina are present here? Stand for your brethren, and teach them, for they do not know.
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prescribed this sadaqah as one sa' of dried dates or barley, or half a sa' of wheat payable by every freeman or slave, male or female, young or old. When Ali came (to Basrah), he found that price had come down. He said: Allah has given prosperity to you, so give one sa' of everything (as sadaqah).
The narrator Humayd said: Al-Hasan maintained that the sadaqah at the end of Ramadan was due on a person who fasted.
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
Al-Abbas asked the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) about paying the sadaqah (his zakat) in advance before it became due, and he gave permission to do that.
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn:
Ibrahim ibn Ata, the client of Imran ibn Husayn, reported on the authority of his father: Ziyad, or some other governor, sent Imran ibn Husayn to collect sadaqah (i.e. zakat). When he returned, he asked Imran: Where is the property? He replied: Did you send me to bring the property? We collected it from where we used to collect in the lifetime of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), and we spent it where we used to spend during the time of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who begs (from people) when he is affluent will come on the Day of Resurrection with scrapes, scratchings, or lacerations on his face. He was asked: What constitutes affluence, Apostle of Allah? He replied:It is fifty dirhams or its value in gold. The narrator Yahya said: Abdullah ibn Sufyan said to Sufyan: I remember that Shu'bah does not narrate from Hakim ibn Jubayr. Sufyan said: Zubayr transmitted to us this tradition from Muhammad ibn AbdurRahman ibn Yazid.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone begs when he has something equivalent to an uqiyah in value, he has begged immoderately. So I said: My she-camel, Yaqutah, is better than an uqiyah. The version of Hisham goes: "better than forty dirhams. So I returned and did not beg anything from him." Hisham added in his version: "An uqiyah during the time of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was equivalent to forty dirhams."
Narrated Sahl ibn Hanzaliyyah:
Uyaynah ibn Hisn and Aqra' ibn Habis came to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). They begged from him. He commanded to give them what they begged. He ordered Mu'awiyah to write a document to give what they begged. Aqra' took his document, wrapped it in his turban, and went away.
As for Uyaynah, he took his document and came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) at his home, and said to him: Muhammad, do you see me? I am taking a document to my people, but I do not know what it contains, just like the document of al-Mutalammis. Mu'awiyah informed the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) of his statement.
Thereupon the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who begs (from people) when he has sufficient is simply asking for a large amount of Hell-fire. (An-Nufayl (a transmitter) said elsewhere: "embers of Hell".)
They asked: Apostle of Allah, what is a sufficiency? (Elsewhere an-Nufayl said: What is a sufficiency which makes begging unfitting?)
He replied: It is that which would provide a morning and an evening meal. (Elsewhere an-Nufayl said: It is when one has enough for a day and night, or for a night and a day.) He (an-Nufayl) narrated to us this tradition briefly in the words that I have mentioned.
Narrated Ziyad ibn al-Harith as-Suda'i:
I came to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and swore allegiance to him, and after telling a long story he said: Then a man came to him and said: Give me some of the sadaqah (alms). The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Allah is not pleased with a Prophet's or anyone else's decision about sadaqat till He has given a decision about them Himself. He has divided those entitled to them into eight categories, so if you come within those categories, I shall give you what you desire.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said something similar as mentioned in the preceding tradition. This version adds: But the poor man (miskin) who abstains from begging from the people is one (according to the version of Musaddad who does not get enough so that he may not beg from the people, nor is his need known to the people, so that alms be given to him. This is the one who has been deprived.
Musaddad did not mention the words "one who avoids begging from the people."
Narrated Ubaydullah ibn Adl ibn al-Khiyar:
Two men informed me that they went to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) when he was at the Farewell Pilgrimage while he was distributing the sadaqah and asked him for some of it. He looked us up and down, and seeing that we were robust, he said: If you wish, I shall give you something, but there is nothing spare in it for a rich man or for one who is strong and able to earn a living.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Sadaqah may not be given to a rich man or to one who has strength and is sound in limbs.
Narrated Ata ibn Yasar:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Sadaqah may not be given to rich man, with the exception of five classes: One who fights in Allah's path, or who collects it, or a debtor, or a man who buys it with his money, or a man who has a poor neighbour who has been given sadaqah and gives a present to the rich man.
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Acts of begging are lacerations with which a man disfigures his face, so he who wishes may preserve his self-respect, and he who wishes may abandon it; but this does not apply to one who begs from a ruler, or in a situation which makes it necessary.
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
A man of the Ansar came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and begged from him.
He (the Prophet) asked: Have you nothing in your house? He replied: Yes, a piece of cloth, a part of which we wear and a part of which we spread (on the ground), and a wooden bowl from which we drink water.
He said: Bring them to me. He then brought these articles to him and he (the Prophet) took them in his hands and asked: Who will buy these? A man said: I shall buy them for one dirham. He said twice or thrice: Who will offer more than one dirham? A man said: I shall buy them for two dirhams.
He gave these to him and took the two dirhams and, giving them to the Ansari, he said: Buy food with one of them and hand it to your family, and buy an axe and bring it to me. He then brought it to him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) fixed a handle on it with his own hands and said: Go, gather firewood and sell it, and do not let me see you for a fortnight. The man went away and gathered firewood and sold it. When he had earned ten dirhams, he came to him and bought a garment with some of them and food with the others.
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then said: This is better for you than that begging should come as a spot on your face on the Day of Judgment. Begging is right only for three people: one who is in grinding poverty, one who is seriously in debt, or one who is responsible for compensation and finds it difficult to pay.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If one who is afflicted with poverty refers it to me, his poverty will not be brought to an end; but if one refers it to Allah, He will soon give him sufficiency, either by a speedy death or by a sufficiency which comes later.
Narrated Ibn al-Firasi:
Al-Firasi asked the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him): May I beg, Apostle of Allah? The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: No, but if there is no escape from it, beg from the upright.
Narrated Malik ibn Nadlah:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Hands are of three types: Allah's hand is the upper one; the bestower's hand is the one near it; the beggar's hand is the lower one. So bestow what is surplus, and do not submit yourself to the demand of your soul.
Narrated AbuRafi':
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) sent a man of the Banu Makhzum to collect sadaqah. He said to AbuRafi': Accompany me so that you may get some of it. He said: (I cannot take it) until I go to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and ask him. Then he went to him and asked him. He said: The sadaqah is not lawful for us, and the client of a people is treated as one of them.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
My father sent me to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) to take the camels which he had given him from among those of sadaqah.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:
During the time of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) we used to consider ma'un (this of daily use) lending a bucket and cooking-pot.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) as saying something similar to this tradition. He (the narrator) said to AbuHurayrah: What is due on camels? He replied: That you should give the best of your camels (in the path of Allah), that you lend a milch she-camel, you lend your mount for riding, that you lend the stallion for covering, and that you give the milk (to the people) for drinking.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
When this verse was revealed: "And those who hoard gold and silver," the Muslims were grieved about it. Umar said: I shall dispel your care. He, therefore, went and said: Prophet of Allah, your Companions were grieved by this verse. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Allah has made zakat obligatory simply to purify your remaining property, and He made inheritances obligatory that they might come to those who survive you. Umar then said: Allah is most great. He then said to him: Let me inform you about the best a man hoards; it is a virtuous woman who pleases him when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives her a command, and guards his interests when he is away from her.
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A beggar has the right though he may be riding (a horse).
Narrated Umm Bujayd:
She took the oath of allegiance to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and said to him: Apostle of Allah, a poor man stands at my door, but I find nothing to give him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said to her: If you do not find anything to give him, put something in his hand, even though it should be a burnt hoof.
Narrated Buhaysah al-Fazariyyah:
My father sought permission from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). (When permission was granted and he came near him) he lifted his shirt, and began to kiss him and embrace him (out of love for him). He asked: Apostle of Allah, what is the thing which it is unlawful to refuse? He replied: Water. He again asked: Prophet of Allah, what is the thing which it is unlawful to refuse? He replied: Salt. He again asked: Prophet of Allah, what is the thing which it is unlawful to refuse? He said: To do good is better for you.
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Nothing but Paradise must be begged for Allah's sake.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone seeks protection in Allah's name, grant him protection; if anyone begs in Allah's name, give him something; if anyone gives you an invitation, accept it; and if anyone does you a kindness, recompense him; but if you have not the means to do so, pray for him until you feel that you have compensated him.
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:
While we were sitting with the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) a man brought him some gold equal in weight to an egg, and said: Apostle of Allah, I have got this from a mine; take it; it is sadaqah. I have no more than this. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) turned his attention from him. Then he came to him from his right side and repeated the same words. But he (the Prophet) turned his attention from him. He then came to him from his left side and repeated the same words. But he (again) turned his attention from him. He then came to him from behind. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) took it and threw it away. Had it hit him, it would have hurt him or wounded him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: One of you brings all that he possesses and says: This is sadaqah. Then he sits down and spreads his hand before the people. The best sadaqah is that which leaves a competence.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
A man entered the mosque. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) commanded the people to throw their clothes as sadaqah. Thereupon they threw their clothes (as sadaqah). He then asked him to take two clothes from them. He reprimanded him and said: Take your clothe.
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) commanded us one day to give sadaqah. At that time I had some property. I said: Today I shall surpass AbuBakr if I surpass him any day. I, therefore, brought half my property. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) asked: What did you leave for your family? I replied: The same amount. AbuBakr brought all that he had with him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) asked him: What did you leave for your family? He replied: I left Allah and His Apostle for them. I said: I shall never compete you in anything.
Narrated Sa'd ibn Ubadah:
Sa'd asked: Apostle of Allah, Umm Sa'd has died; what form of sadaqah is best? He replied: Water (is best). He dug a well and said: It is for Umm Sa'd.
Narrated AbuSa'id (al-Khudri):
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If any Muslim clothes a Muslim when he is naked, Allah will clothe him with some green garments of Paradise; if any Muslim feeds a Muslim when he is hungry, Allah will feed him with some of the fruits of Paradise; and if any Muslim gives a Muslim drink when he is thirsty, Allah will give him some of the pure wine which is sealed to drink.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There are forty characteristics; the highest of them is to give a goat on loan (for benefiting from its milk). If any man carries out any of those characteristics with the hope of getting a reward and testifying to the promise for it, Allah will admit him to Paradise for it.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) commanded to give sadaqah. A man said: Apostle of Allah, I have a dinar. He said: Spend it on yourself. He again said: I have another. He said: Spend it on your children. He again said: I have another. He said: Spend it on your wife. He again said: I have another. He said: Spend it on your servant. He finally said: I have another. He replied: You know best (what to do with it).
Narrated AbdurRahman ibn Awf:
I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: Allah the Exalted has said: I am Compassionate, and this has been derived from mercy. I have derived its name from My name. If anyone joins it, I shall join him, and if anyone cuts it off, I shall cut him off.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) preached and said: Abstain from avarice, for those who had been before you were annihilated due to avarice. It (avarice) commanded them to show niggardliness; it commanded them to cut off their relationship with their nearest relatives, so they cut off. It commanded them to show profligacy, so they showed it.
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
AbuMulaykah reported: Aisha counted a number of indigents. AbuDawud said: The other version has: She counted a number of sadaqahs. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Give and do not calculate, so calculation will be made against you.
Narrated Ubayy ibn Ka'b:
Suwayd ibn Ghaflah said: I fought along with Zayd ibn Suhan and Sulayman ibn Rabi'ah. I found a whip. They said to me: Throw it away. I said: No; if I find its owner (I shall give it to him); if not, I shall use it. Then I performed hajj; and when I reached Medina, I asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b.
He said: I found a purse which contained one hundred dinars; so I came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. I made it known for a year and then came to him. He then said to me: Make the matter known for a year. So I made it known for a year. I then (again) came to him. He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. Then I came to him and said: I did not find anyone who realises it. He said: Remember, its number, its container and its tie. If its owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise use it yourself.
He (the narrator Shu'bah) said: I do not know whether he said the word "make the matter known" three times or once.
Narrated Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was asked about a find. He said: Make it known for a year. If its seeker comes, deliver it to him, otherwise note its container and its string. Then use it; if its seeker comes, deliver it to him.
Narrated Iyad ibn Himar:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who finds something should call one or two trusty persons as witnesses and not conceal it or cover it up; then if he finds its owner he should return it to him, otherwise it is Allah's property which He gives to whom He will.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was asked about the hanging fruit. He replied: If a needy person takes some and does not take a supply away in his garment, he is not to be blamed, but he who carries any of it away is to be find twice the value and punished, and he who steals any of it after it has been put in the place where dates are dried is to have his hand cut off if its value reaches the price of a shield. Regarding stray camels and sheep he mentioned the same as others have done. He said: He was asked about finds and replied: If it is in a frequented road and a large town, make the matter known for a year, and if its owner comes, give it to him, but if he does not, it belongs to you. If it is in a place which has been a waste from ancient time, or if it is a hidden treasure (belonging to the Islamic period), it is subject to the payment of the fifth.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
Ali ibn AbuTalib found a dinar and he took it to Fatimah. She asked the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) about it. He said: This is Allah's provision. Then the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) ate out of the food (bought with it), and Ali and Fatimah also ate out of that food. But afterwards a woman came crying out about the dinar. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Pay the dinar, Ali.
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
Bilal ibn Yahya al-Absi said: Ali found a dinar and purchased some flour with it. The seller of the flour recognised him and returned the dinar to him. Ali took it, deducted two qirat (carat) from it, and purchased meat with it.
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) gave us licence to use (for our purpose) a stick, a rope, a whip and things of that type which a man picked up; he may benefit from them.
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who hides a stray camel shall pay a fine, and a like compensation with it.
Narrated Al-Mundhir ibn Jarir:
I accompanied Jarir at Bawazij. The shepherd brought the cows. Among them there was a cow that was not one of them. Jarir asked him: What is this? He replied: This was mixed with the cows and we do not know to whom it belongs. Jarir said: Take it out. I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: No one mixes a stray animal (with his animals) but a man who strays from right path.