The Book of Zakat
كتاب الزكاة
Chapter 23: The Likeness of the giver and the miser
. The similitude of a miserly man and the giver of charity is that of two persons with coats of mail over them; when the giver of charity intends to give charity, it expands over him (to much so) that the footprints are also obliterated. And when the miserly man intends to give charity, it contracts over him, and his hands are tied up to his collar bone, and every ring is fixed up to another. He (the narrator) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: He would try to expand it. but he would not be able to do so.
Chapter 25: The reward of the Trustworthy Trustee, and if a woman gives charity from her husband's house without causing any damage, with his explicit or implicit permission
When a woman spends (something as Sadaqa) out of the household of her husband without causing any damage, there is a reward for her and for him too like it for whatever he earned, and for her (for the wife) because of her spending (for the sake of Allah), and for the trustee also (there is a reward like it), without any reduction from their rewards.
This hadith has been narrated by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.
Chapter 26: What a slave spends of his master's wealth
I was the slave (of Abi'l-Lahm). I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) if I could give some charity out of my master's wealth. He said: Yes, and the reward is half and half between you two.
My master commanded me to cut some meat in strips; (as I was doing it) a poor man came to me and I gave him some of it to eat. My master came to know of that, and he beat me. I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and narrated it to him. He (the Holy Prophet) summoned him and said: Why did you beat him? He (Abi'l-Lahm) said: He gives away my food without being commanded to do so. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: The reward would be shared by you two.
Chapter 28: Encouragement to spend, and it is disliked to count how much
Apostle of Allah, I have nothing with me, but only, that which is given to me by Zubair (for household expenses). Is there any sin for me if I spend out of that which is given to me (by Zabair)? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: Spend according to your means; and do not hoard, for Allah will withhold from you.
Chapter 30: The virtue of concealing (what is given in) charity
This hadith has been narrated, on the authority, of Abu Huraira (with this change of words)." A person whose heart is attached to the mosque when he goes out of it till he returns to it."
Chapter 31: The best of charity is that which is given when one is healthy and inclined to be stingy
Messenger of Allah, which charity is the best? Upon this he said: That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted, one haunted by the fear of poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would he saying: This is for so and so, and this is for so and so. Lo, it has already come into (the possession of so and so).
Messenger of Allah, which charity is the greatest in reward? (The Prophet said): By your father, beware, you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted, haunted by the fear of poverty, and still hoping to live (as rich). And you must not defer charity (to the time) when you are about to die, and would then say:" This is for so and so, and this for so and so." It has already become the possession of so and so.
Chapter 32: The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and the upper hand is the one that gives and the lower hand is the one that receives
O son of Adam, it is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold means necessary) for a living. And begin (charity) with your dependents; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand.
Chapter 33: The prohibition of Begging
I went to his house in San'a' and he offered me nuts grown in his house to eat. And his brother said: I heard Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan saying that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying, and then he made a mention (of a hadith) like one mentioned above.
Chapter 34: The poor person who cannot find enough to make him independent of means, but the people do not realize that he is in need, so they do not give Charity to him
This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.
Chapter 35: It is disliked to beg from people
The person would continue begging from people till he would come on the Day of Resurrection and there would be no flesh on his face.
He who begs the riches of others to increase his own is asking only for live coals, so let him ask a little or much.
It is better for one among you to bring a load of firewood on his back and give charity out of it (and satisfy his own need) and be independent of people, than that he should beg from people, whether they give him anything or refuse him. Verily the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin (charity) with your dependents.
We came to Abu Huraira and he told Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this: By Allah, (it is better) that one among you should go and bring a load of firewood on his back and he should sell it, and the rest of the hadith was narrated (like the previous one).
It is better for any one of you to tie a bundle of firewood and carry it on his back and sell it than to beg a person, he may give or may refuse.
Chapter 36: The one for whom it is permissible to ask for help
I was under debt and I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and begged from him regarding it. He said: Wait till we receive Sadaqa, so that we order that to be given to you. He again said: Qabisa, begging is not permissible but for one of the three (classes) of persons: one who has incurred debt, for him begging is permissible till he pays that off, after which he must stop it; a man whose property has been destroyed by a calamity which has smitten him, for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support life, or will provide him reasonable subsistence; and a person who has been smitten by poverty. the genuineness of which is confirmed by three intelligent members of this peoples for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support him, or will provide him subsistence. Qabisa, besides these three (every other reason) for begging is forbidden, and one who engages in such consumes that what is forbidden.
Chapter 37: It is permissible to take without asking for it or hoping for it
'Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) appointed me as a collector of Sadaqa. When I had finished that (the task assigned to me) and I handed over that to him (to 'Umar), he commanded me to (accept) some remuneration (for the work). I said: I performed this duty for Allah and my reward is with Allah. He said: Take whatever has been given to you, for I also performed this duty during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He assigned me the task of a collector and I said as you say, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: When you are given anything without your begging for it, (then accept it), eat it and give it in charity.
Chapter 39: If the Son of Adam had two valleys, he would desire a third
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying this, but I do not know whether this thing was revealed to him or not, but he said to.