Mishkat al-Masabih 1876

Abu Huraira said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told of a man who said, ‘I will surely give charity.’ He went out with his charity and placed it in a thief’s hand. In the morning, people were saying, ‘Last night charity was given to a thief.’ He said, ‘O Allah, praise belongs to You—even though it went to a thief!’ He said, ‘I will surely give charity.’ He went out with his charity and placed it in a woman’s hand. In the morning, people were saying, ‘Last night charity was given to a woman.’ He said, ‘O Allah, praise belongs to You—even though it went to a woman!’ He said, ‘I will surely give charity.’ He went out with his charity and placed it in a rich man’s hand. In the morning, people were saying, ‘Last night charity was given to a rich man.’ He said, ‘O Allah, praise belongs to You—for a thief, a woman, and a rich man!’ Someone then came to him and said, ‘As for your charity to the thief, perhaps it will keep him from stealing; as for the woman, perhaps it will keep her from fornication; and as for the rich man, perhaps he will take heed and spend from what Allah has given him.’ This is agreed upon, and the wording is al-Bukhari’s.