Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger told of a man who expressed his intention to give sadaqa, and who when he took it out placed it in a thief’s hand. In the morning the people were talking and saying, “Sadaqa was given to a thief last night.” The man said, “O God, to Thee be the praise—to a thief!’’ He then expressed his intention to give sadaqa and when he took it out he placed it in a prostitute’s hand. In the morning the people were talking and saying, “Sadaqa was given to a prostitute last night." The man said, "O God, to Thee be the praise— to a prostitute!" He then expressed his intention to give sadaqa and when he took it out he placed it in a rich man’s hand. In the morning the people were talking and saying, “Sadaqa was given to a rich man last night." The man said, “O God, to Thee be the praise—to a thief, a prostitute and a rich man!” He then had a vision in which he was told that his sadaqa to a thief might result in his refraining from his theft, the prostitute might perhaps refrain from her immorality, and the rich man might perhaps pay heed and spend from what God had given him. (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.)

A client of ‘Uthman said that Umm Salama was presented with a piece of meat, and because the Prophet liked meat she told the servant to put it in the house as the Prophet might perhaps eat it. She put it in the window ledge in the house. A beggar came and stood at the door and said, “Give alms, may God bless you," and when they replied, “God bless you,"* the beggar went away. Then the Prophet entered and asked Umm Salama whether she had anything for him to eat. She replied that she had, and told the servant to go and bring God's messenger that meat, but when she went she found only a piece of flint in the window ledge. The Prophet then said, “That meat changed into flint because you did not give it to the beggar." Baihaqi transmitted it in Dalail an-nubuwa.* A pious remark used to indicate that there is no intention of giving anything. The most common phrase in such circumstances is Allah karim (God is generous).

‘Uqba b. al-Harith said that on an occasion when he had prayed the afternoon prayer in Medina behind the Prophet, he got up quickly after uttering the salutation and, stepping over the people, went to one of the rooms of his wives. The people were startled at his haste, and when he came out and saw their astonishment at his quick movement he said, “I remembered some gold which we had and did not want to be under its thrall, so I gave orders that it should be distributed.” Bukhari transmitted it. In a version by him he said, “I had left some gold belonging to the sadaqa in the house, and did not wish to keep it till night.”

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet once visited Bilal and saw he had a heap of dates, he asked him what it was. One his replying, “It is something I have stored up for tomorrow,” he said, “Are you not afraid that tomorrow you may see on account of it steam in the fire of jahannam on the day of resurrection? Spend it, Bilal, and do not fear poverty from the Lord of the Throne.”Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone gives as sadaqa the equivalent of a date from something lawfully earned, for God accepts only what is lawful, God will accept it with His right hand, then foster it for the one who gave it as one of you fosters his colt, till it becomes like a mountain.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sadaqa does not reduce property; God increases the honour of him who forgives another; and no one will humble himself for God’s sake without God exalting him.” Muslim transmitted it.

Aba Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “In every ascription of glory to God, every declaration of His greatness, every utterance of praise to Him, every declaration that He is the only God, in enjoining what is reputable, in forbidding what is objectionable, and in a man’s sexual intercourse there is sadaqa.”On being asked whether a reward would be given for satisfying one’s passion, he said, “Tell me; if he were to devote it to something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to devote it to something lawful, he would have a reward.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Forgiveness was granted to an unchaste woman who coming upon a dog panting and almost dead with thirst at the mouth of a well, took off her shoe, tied it with her head-covering, and drew some water for it. On that account she was forgiven.” He was asked whether people received a reward for what they did to animals, and replied, “A reward is given in connection with every living creature.”*(Bukhari and Muslim.)* Literally, everything possessed of a moist liver.

Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A woman was punished on account of a cat which she kept shut up till it died of hunger. She did not feed it or let it out so that it might eat things creeping on the earth.”(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A man who came upon a branch of a tree overhanging a road and decided to move if from the way of Muslims to keep it from annoying them was brought into paradise." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sadaqa appeases the Lord’s anger and averts an evil death." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every act of kindness is sadaqa, and kindness includes meeting your brother with a cheerful face and pouring water from your bucket into your brother’s vessel." Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Fatima daughter of Qais reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is something due on property apart from zakat.”* He then recited, “It is not piety that you should turn your faces to the east and west. . .”** Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.* This is said to include such acts as generosity to a beggar, readiness to lend money or goods to one who asks, and ordinary hospitality.** Quran 2:177.

Buhaisa quoted her father as saying that he asked God’s messenger what was the thing which it is unlawful to refuse and was told that it was water. He repeated the question to God’s Prophet and was told that it was salt. When he asked God’s Prophet a third time he received the reply, “To do good is better for you.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Al-Bara’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone lends an animal for milking, or silver coins, or shows someone the way, it will be equivalent to his having emancipated a slave.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn 'Abbas said he heard God’s messenger say, “Any Muslim who gives a Muslim a garment to wear will be in God’s safe keeping as long as a shred of it remains on him.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Marthad b. ‘Abdallah said one of the companions of God’s messenger told him that he had heard him say, “The believer's shade on the day of resurrection will be his sadaqa.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one who is afflicted by poverty refers it to men, his poverty will not be brought to an end; but if one refers it to God, He will soon give him sufficiency, either by a speedy death or by a sufficiency which comes later.”Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Umar employed me to collect the sadaqa, and when I finished doing so and gave it to him he ordered payment to be given me, but I said, “I did it only for God’s sake, and my reward will come from God.” He replied, “Take what you are given, for I acted as a collector in the time of God’s messenger, and when he assigned me a payment I said the same kind of thing as you have said, to which he replied that when I was given something without asking for it I should use it for my own purposes and as sadaqa.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

'Umar said, "You people must know that covetousness is poverty, despair is wealth, and that when a man despairs of anything he can dispense with it.”. Razin transmitted it.