The Book of Zakah
كتاب الزكاة
Chapter 53: Giving Charity When You Are Self-Sufficient
"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."
Chapter 54: Explanation Of That
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Give charity.' A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I have a Dinar.' He said: 'Spend it on yourself.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'Spend it on your wife.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'Spend it on your son.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'Spend it on your servant.' He said: 'I have another.' He said: 'You know best (what to do with it)."'
Chapter 55: If A Person Gives Something In Charity And He Is In Need Of It, Can It Be Returned To Him?
a man entered the Msjid on a Friday when the Messenger of Allah was delivering the Khutbah, and he said: "Pray two Rak'ahs." Then he came on the following Friday, when the Prophet was delivering the Khutbah and he said: "Pray two Rak'ahs." Then he came on the third Friday, when the Prophet was delivering Khutbah and he said: "Pray two Rak'ahs." Then he said: "Give in charity." So they gave in charity, and he gave him (that man) two garments. Then he said: "Give in charity" and (that man) threw one of his two garments. The Messenger of Allah said: "Have you not seen this man? He entered the Masjid in scruffy clothes and I hoped that you would notice him, and give charity to him, but you did not do that, So I said, 'Give in charity.' You gave in charity, and I gave him two garments, then I said; 'Give in charity' and he threw one of his two garments. Take your garment." And he rebuked him.
Chapter 56: The Charity Of A Slave
'Umair, the freed slave of commanded me to cut up some meat, then a poor man came so I gave him some. When my master fund out about that, he beat me, so I went to the Messenger of Allah and he came to him and said: 'Do not beat him.' He said: 'He gave away my food without me telling him to.' He said: 'The reward will be shared between you both."'
"Every Muslim must give charity." It was said: "What if he cannot find (anything to give)? "He said: "Let him work with his hands and benefit himself and give in charity." It was said: "What if he cannot do that?" He said: "Let him help someone who is in desperate need." It was said: "What if he cannot do that?" He said: "Let him enjoin good." It was said: "What if he cannot do that? He said: "Let him refrain from doing evil, for that is an act of charity."
Chapter 57: A Woman Giving Charity From Her Husband's House
"When a woman give charity from her husband's house, she will have a reward, and her husband will have a similar reward, and the storekeeper will have a similar reward, without the reward of any of them detracting from the reward of the others in the slightest. The husband will be rewarded for what he earned and she will be rewarded for what she spent."
Chapter 58: A Woman Giving (Charity) Without Her Husband's Permission
"When the Messenger of Allah conquered Makkah, he stood up to address the people and said in his Khutbah; 'It is not permissible for a woman to give anything without her husband's permission."' (He narrated it) in abridged from.
Chapter 59: The Virtue Of Charity
"Which of us will be the first to following you (in death)?" He said: "The one of you who has the longest arms." They took a stick and started to measure their arms. But Sawdah was the first one to follow him. She was the one who had the longest arms, because she used to give in charity a great deal.
Chapter 60: Which Kind Of Charity Is Best?
"A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which kind of charity is best? He said: 'Giving charity when you are in good health, and feeling stingy, hoping for a long life and fearing poverty."'
"The Messenger of Allah said: "The best kind of charity is that which is given when you are rich, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."'
"The Messenger of Allah said: "The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and start with those for whom you are responsible."'
"When a man spends on his family, seeking reward for that, that is an act of charity on his part."
"A man from Banu 'Udhrah declared that a slave of his would become free after he died. News of that reached the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Do you have any property besides him?' He said: 'No.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Who will buy him from me?' Nu'aim bin 'Abdullah Al-Adawi bought him for eight hundred Dirhams. The Messenger of Allah brought it (the money) and gave it to him, then he said: 'Start with yourself and if there is anything left, give it to our family. If there is anything left after your family (has been taken care of), then give it to your relatives. If there is anything left after your relatives (have been taken care of), then (give it) to such and such, saying: 'In front of you and to your right and to your left."' (Shih)
Chapter 61: The Charity Of A Miser
"The Messenger of Allah said: "The parable of the one who spends and give in charity, and the one who is miserly, is that of two men wearing coats of mail, with their hands pressed closely to their breasts and their collarbones. When the one who spends wants to give charity, the (coat of mail) expends so much that it covers his fingertips and obliterates his traces. But when the miser wants to give, the (coat of mail) contracts and every ring grips the place where it is, and his hands are tied up to his collarbone."'Abu Hurairah says: 'I swear that he saw the Messenger trying to expand it but it did not." Tawus said: "I heard Abu Hurairah said: "I heard Abu Hurairah illustrating with his hand trying to expand it but it did not." (Sahaih)
"The parable of the miser and the one who gives in charity is that of two men wearing coats of mail with their hands tied to their collarbones. Every time the one who gives thinks of giving in charity, the (coat of mail) expands until it obliterates his traces, and every time the miser thinks of giving charity, every circle (of the coat of mail) contracts and sticks to him, and his hand is tied up to his collarbones." I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "He tries to expand it, but he cannot."
Chapter 62: Counting What One Give In Charity
"One day we were sitting in the Masjid with a group of the Muhajirin and Ansar, We sent a man to 'Aishah to ask permission to come to her. She said: 'A beggar came in to me one day when the Messenger of Allah was present, and I ordered that he be given something, then I called for it and looked at it. The Messenger of Allah said: Do you want that nothing should enter or leave your house without your knowledge? I said: 'Yes.' He said: "Don't be hasty, O 'Aishah. Do not count what you give, otherwise Allah will count what He gives to you."'
"Do not count what you give, otherwise Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will count what He gives to you."
"O Prophet of Allah, I do not have anything but that which Az-Zubair brings to me. Is there any sin on me if I give a small amount of that which he brings to me?" He said: Give whatever you can, and do not withhold what you have, lest Allah withhold provision from you."
Chapter 63: The Small Amount Of Charity
"Protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date."
"The Messenger of Allah mentioned the Fire, and he turned his face away (as if seeing it), and sought refuge with Allah from it." (One of the narrators) Shu'bah said: "He did that three times, then he said: 'Protect yourselves from the Fire even with half a date, and if you cannot find that, then with a good word."'