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."
Hadith Text and Context
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1411 describes the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) addressing his companions about the importance of timely charity. The hadith serves as a profound warning about future times when opportunities for righteous deeds will diminish.
Scholarly Commentary on the Warning
Imam al-Nawawi explains that this prophecy refers to the Last Days when faith will weaken and people will neglect religious obligations. The wandering person represents the sincere believer seeking reward through charity.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari clarifies that the rejection occurs not because wealth becomes abundant, but because hearts harden and religious consciousness fades. People will delay accepting charity until their immediate need arises.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
Scholars derive from this hadith the urgency of performing good deeds before obstacles arise. The "yesterday" metaphor emphasizes that deferred charity may become invalid if the recipient's circumstances change.
This narration particularly applies to Zakat, where timely distribution is obligatory once the haul (one lunar year) completes and conditions are met. Delaying without valid reason is prohibited.
Practical Application
The hadith teaches Muslims to seize opportunities for charity when recipients are available and willing. It warns against procrastination in fulfilling financial worship.
Contemporary scholars note this includes modern scenarios where charitable organizations may reject donations due to administrative constraints or changing needs - reflecting the prophetic vision.