My grandfather, my father and I gave the pledge of allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) got me engaged and then got me married. One day I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) with a complaint. My father Yazid had taken some gold coins for charity and kept them with a man in the mosque (to give them to the poor) But I went and took them and brought them to him (my father). My father said, "By Allah! I did not intend to give them to you. " I took (the case) to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . On that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Yazid, you will be rewarded for what you intended. O Ma'n, whatever you have taken is yours."
Hadith Text Analysis
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1422 demonstrates profound principles of Islamic jurisprudence regarding intentions and ownership rights. The Prophet's ﷺ ruling establishes that reward is based on intention (niyyah), while material rights follow actual possession and transfer.
Scholarly Commentary on Intentions
Imam al-Nawawi explains that Yazid's intended charity, though not properly executed, still earns divine reward. This confirms the hadith "Actions are but by intentions" - spiritual rewards correspond to sincere intentions in worship and charity.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that charity requires both intention and proper transfer to recipients. Yazid's failure to complete the transfer meant the coins remained his property, thus his son's taking them constituted permissible inheritance-like acquisition.
Juridical Principles Established
The ruling establishes that unfulfilled charitable intentions don't transfer ownership. The coins remained Yazid's property until properly given to the poor.
Ma'n's action, while technically taking charity funds, was validated since the transfer was incomplete and he was a rightful heir. This case illustrates the separation between spiritual rewards and legal ownership in Islamic law.
Contemporary Application
This hadith guides modern Zakat administration: intended charity must be properly delivered to recipients for both reward and legal transfer. Mere intention to give Zakat doesn't relieve one of obligation until actual payment occurs.
Financial institutions managing Zakat funds must ensure proper transfer to eligible recipients to complete the religious obligation and transfer ownership rights.