The Book of Zakat
كتاب الزكاة
Chapter 20: Encouragement to give charity even if it is with half a date or a kind word. And charity is a shield against the fire.
While we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the early hours of the morning, some people came there (who) were barefooted, naked, wearing striped woollen clothes, or cloaks, with their swords hung (around their necks). Most of them, nay, all of them, belonged to the tribe of Mudar. The colour of the face of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) underwent a change when he saw them in poverty. He then entered (his house) and came out and commanded Bilal (to pronounce Adhan). He pronounced Adhan and Iqima, and he (the Holy Prophet) observed prayer (along with his Companion) and then addressed (them reciting verses of the Holy Qur'an): '" 0 people, fear your Lord, Who created you from a single being" to the end of the verse," Allah is ever a Watcher over you" (iv. 1). (He then recited) a verse of Sura Hashr:" Fear Allah. and let every soul consider that which it sends forth for the morrow and fear Allah" (lix. 18). (Then the audience began to vie with one another in giving charity.) Some donated a dinar, others a dirham, still others clothes, some donated a sa' of wheat, some a sa' of dates; till he (the Holy Prophet) said: (Bring) even if it is half a date. Then a person from among the Ansar came there with a money bag which his hands could scarcely lift; in fact, they could not (lift). Then the people followed continuously, till I saw two heaps of eatables and clothes, and I saw the face of the Messenger (ﷺ) glistening, like gold (on account of joy). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it subsequently, without any deduction from their rewards; and he who sets in Islam an evil precedent, there is upon him the burden of that, and the burden of him also who acted upon it subsequently, without any deduction from their burden.
Chapter 21: Carrying goods for payment and giving charity out of one's wages, and the stern prohibition of belittling the one who gives something small in charity
We were commanded to give charity (despite the fact.) that we were coolies. Abu 'Aqil donated half a sa'. And there came another man with more than this. The hypocrites said: Verily Allah does not stand in need of the charity of this, and the second one has done nothing but only made a show (of his charity). Then this verse was revealed." Those who scoff at the voluntary givers of charity among the believers as well as those who cannot find anything (to give) but with their hard labour" (ix. 80). And Bishr did not utter the word Muttawwi'in.
Chapter 22: The virute of giving gifts
He who gives a she-camel as a gift, for him is the reward (of the gift) both morning and evening - a reward for drinking milk in the morning and a reward for drinking milk in the evening.
Chapter 23: The Likeness of the giver and the miser
(The miserly man) tries to expand it (the coat-of-mail) but it does not expand.
Chapter 27: The virtue of the one who does other kinds of good deeds in addition to giving charity
If anyone contributes a pair of anything for the sake of Allah, he would be invited to enter Paradise (with these words): O servant of Allah, it is good (for you). Those who engage in prayer will he invited to enter by the gate of prayer; those who take part in Jihad will be invited to enter by the gate of Jihad; those who give charity will be invited to enter by the gate of charity; and those who observe fast will be invited to enter by the gate ar-Rayyan. Abu Bakr Siddiq said: Messenger of Allah, is it necessary that a person be invited through one of these gates? Will anyone be invited to enter by all those gates? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Yes, and I hope you will be one of them.
Chapter 29: Encouragement to give in charity even if it is a little, and a little should not be withheld because one thinks it is too little
O Muslim women, none of you should consider even a sheep's trotter too insignificant to give to her neighbour.
Chapter 30: The virtue of concealing (what is given in) charity
Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but that of Him (i. e. on the Day of Judgment, and they are): a just ruler, a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful woman of high rank seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying):" I fear Allah" ; a person who gives charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the right hand does not know what the left has given: and a person who remembered Allah in privacy and his eyes shed tears.
Chapter 31: The best of charity is that which is given when one is healthy and inclined to be stingy
" Which charity is most excellent?"
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
The upper hand is better than the lower one, the upper being the one which bestows and the lower one which begs.
The most excellent Sadaqa or the best of Sadaqa is that after giving which the (giver) remains rich and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin from the members of your household.
Chapter 33: The prohibition of Begging
Do not press in a matter, for I swear by Allah, none of you who asks me for anything and manages to get his request while I disdain it, will he be blessed in that which I give him.
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
The poor man (miskin) is not the one who goes round to the people and is dismissed with one or two morsels. and one or two dates. They (the Prophet's Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, then who is miskin? He said: He who does not get enough to satisfy him, and he is not considered so (as to elicit the attention of the benevolent people), so that charity way be given to him. and he does not beg anything from people.
Chapter 35: It is disliked to beg from people
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of the brother of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters, but no mention has been made of the word" muz'a" (piece).
Chapter 37: It is permissible to take without asking for it or hoping for it
Messenger of Allah, give it to one who needs it more than I. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Take it; either keep it with you or give it as a charity, and whatever comes to you in the form of this type of wealth, without your being avaricious or begging for it, accept it, but in other circumstances do not let your heart hanker after it. And it was on account of this that Ibn 'Umar never begged anything from anyone, nor refused anything given to him.
Chapter 38: It is disliked to be eager to acquire worldly gains
The heart of an old person feels young for the love of two things: love for long life and wealth.
The son of Adam grows old, but two (desires) in him remain young: desire for wealth and desire for life.
Chapter 39: If the Son of Adam had two valleys, he would desire a third
If there were for the son of Adam a valley full of riches, he would long to possess another one like it. and Ibn Adam does not feel satiated but with dust. And Allah returns to him who returns (to Him). Ibn Abbas said: I do not know whether it is from the Qur'an or not; and in the narration transmitted by Zuhair it was said: I do not know whether it is from the Qur'an, and he made no mention of Ibn Abbas.
Chapter 44: Giving to those whose hearts have been inclined (towards Islam) and to those for whose faith there is fear if they are not given anything, and putting up with the one who asks rudely due to ignorance, and the Khawarij and rulings regarding them
Messenger of Allah, I swear by God, the others besides them were more deserving than these (to whom you gave charity). He said: They had in fact left no other alternative for me. but (that they should) either beg importunately from me or they would regard me as a miser, but I am not a miser.
Chapter 46: Giving to those whose hearts have been inclined (towards Islam) and urging those whose faith is strong to show patience
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik through another chain of transmitters.
Is there someone alien among you? They said: No, but only the son of our sister. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The son of the sister of the people is included among the tribe, and (farther) said: The Quraish have recently abandoned Jahillyya and have just been delivered from distress; I, therefore, intend to help them and conciliate them. Don't you feel happy that the people should return with worldly riches and you return with the Messenger of Allah to your houses? (So far as my love for you is concerned I should say) if the people were to tread a valley and the Ansar tread a narraw path (in a mountain) I would tread the narrow path of the Ansar.