إن الحمد لله نحمده، ونستعينه، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله . أما بعد:
BAB SADAQAT AL-TATAWWU’
Chapter on Voluntary Charity
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ . لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ . الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ۔﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “(O Prophet!) Guiding the people is not your responsibility; rather, Allah guides whom He wills. Whatever wealth you spend is for your own benefit, and you spend only seeking the Face of Allah. Whatever wealth you spend will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged. (Charity is) for the needy who are restricted in the cause of Allah and cannot move about the earth (to earn a living). The ignorant person thinks them wealthy because of their restraint from asking; you will recognize them by their faces. They do not beg of people persistently. And whatever wealth you spend, indeed Allah is Knowing of it. Those who spend their wealth by night and by day, secretly and openly, will have their reward with their Lord; there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”
وَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ . أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ.﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “Those who establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them. Those are the true believers. For them are degrees with their Lord, forgiveness, and an honorable provision.”
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ۔﴾
And Allah the Exalted said: “(O Prophet!) Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cleanse them, and pray for them. Indeed, your prayer is a comfort for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”
Charity given for show, prayer and fasting done for show are all shirk
Hadith: 1
«عن شداد بن أوس رضى الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من صلى يرائي فقد أشرك ، ومن صام يرائي فقد أشرك ، ومن تصدق يرائي فقد أشرك»
Hadrat Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Whoever prays for show has committed shirk, whoever fasts for show has committed shirk, and whoever gives charity for show has committed shirk.”
Allah does not accept charity or zakat given from unlawful wealth
Hadith 2:
«وعن أسامة بن عمير بن عامر رضى الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إن الله عز وجل لا يقبل صلاة بغير طهور ولا صدقة من غلول»
Hadrat Usamah ibn Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: Allah does not accept a prayer without wudu’ nor charity from unlawful wealth.
Allah multiplies the reward of a small charity given from halal earnings many times over
Hadith 3:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من تصدق بعدل تمرة من كسب طيب ، ولا يقبل الله إلا الطيب، وإن الله يتقبلها بيمينه ثم يربيها لصاحبه كما يربي أحدكم فلوه حتى تكون مثل الجبل»
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever gives charity equal to even a date from halal earnings, and Allah accepts only what is halal, Allah takes it in His right hand, then nurtures it for its giver just as one of you nurtures his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.”
Charity becomes a cause of Allah’s special grace and kindness
Hadith 4:
«وعنه رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: بينا رجل بفلاة من الأرض فسمع صوتا فى سحابة، اسق حديقة فلان، فتنحى ذلك السحاب فافرغ مائه فى حرة فإذا شرجة من تلك الشراج قد استوعبت ذلك الماء كله فتتبع الماء فإذا رجل قائم فى حديقته يحول الماء بمسحاته ، فقال له: يا عبد الله! ما اسمك؟ قال: فلان للاسم الذى سمع فى السحابة فقال له يا عبد الله! لم تسألني عن اسمي؟ فقال: إني سمعت صوتا فى السحاب الذى هذا ماؤه يقول: اسق حديقة فلان لاسمك ، فما تصنع فيها ، قال: أما إذ قلت هذا فإني أنظر إلى ما يخرج منها ، فأتصدق بثلثه ، وآكل أنا وعيالى ثلثا ، وارد فيها ثلثه»
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: A man was standing in a wilderness when he heard a voice from a cloud (someone calling out): “Water the garden of so-and-so.” So the cloud moved aside and poured its water onto a rocky land, and suddenly one of the channels gathered all the water. The man followed the water and saw a man standing in his garden, dividing the water around with his spade. The man said to him: “O servant of Allah, what is your name?” He said: “So-and-so,” the same name he had heard from the cloud. Then he asked him: “O servant of Allah, why do you ask my name?” He said: “I heard a voice from the cloud whose water this is, saying: ‘Water the garden of so-and-so,’ and it named you. (I want to know) what do you do in your garden?” He said: “Since you have asked, I will tell you: I give a third of what is produced in my garden in charity, I and my family eat a third, and I put a third back into it.”
Charity removes the anger of Allah
Hadith 5:
«و عن أبى سعيد رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: صدقة السر تطفئ غضب الرب، وصلة الرحم تزيد فى العمر وفعل المعروف يقي مصارع السوء»
And Hadrat Abu Sa’id (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Secret charity cools the anger of the Lord, maintaining the ties of kinship increases one’s lifespan, and doing good deeds protects from evil deaths.”
Charity protects from the fire of Hell
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ . أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ لَهُ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَأَصَابَهُ الْكِبَرُ وَلَهُ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَاءُ فَأَصَابَهَا إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَاحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ.﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “The example of those who spend their wealth seeking the pleasure of Allah and firming their souls is like a garden on a high ground: when heavy rain falls upon it, it yields its produce twofold; and if heavy rain does not fall upon it, then a light rain (suffices). And Allah sees well what you do. Would any of you wish to have a garden of date palms and grapevines, with rivers flowing beneath it, in which he has every kind of fruit, and then old age overtakes him while his offspring are weak, and then a whirlwind containing fire strikes it and it is burned to ashes? Thus Allah makes the signs clear to you, so that you may reflect.”
Hadith 6:
«وعن عدي بن حاتم رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: اتقوا النار ولو بشق تمرة»
Hadith of Adi ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Protect yourselves from the Fire, even by giving half a date.”
The best charity is providing water
Hadith 7:
«وعن سعد بن عبادة رضي الله عنه أنه قال: يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ! إن أم سعد ماتت فأى الصدقة أفضل؟ قال: الماء قال: فحفر بئرا، وقال: هذه لأم سعد»
“Sa’d ibn Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The mother of Sa’d has died, so which charity is best? He ﷺ said: Providing water. He then dug a well and said: This is for the mother of Sa’d (the reward of it).”
The one who intercedes for charity also receives reward
Hadith 8:
«وعن أبى بردة بن أبى موسى عن أبيه رضى الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا جائه السائل أو طلبت إليه حاجة قال: اشفعوا توجروا ويقضى الله على لسان نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم ما شاء»
“Abu Burdah narrated from his father Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that when a beggar came to the Prophet ﷺ, or a person presented a need to him, he ﷺ would say (to the people): Intercede, and you will be rewarded, and Allah will decree through the tongue of His Prophet whatever He wills.”
Giving charity does not decrease wealth
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِندَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ .﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “And whatever you give in usury so that it may increase within people’s wealth, it does not increase with Allah; and whatever you give in zakat seeking the Face of Allah, those are the ones who multiply (their reward).”
Hadith 9:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما نقصت صدقة من مال ، وما زاد الله عبدا بعفو إلا عزا، وما تواضع احد لله إلا رفعه الله»
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Charity does not decrease wealth, forgiveness increases a servant’s honour by Allah, and whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises his rank.”
One should hasten to give charity
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ .﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “And spend from what We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: My Lord, why did You not delay me for a short term, so that I could give charity and be among the righteous.”
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَاعَةٌ ۗ وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ﴾ .
And Allah the Exalted said: “O you who believe! Spend from what We have provided you, before there comes a Day on which there is no trade, nor friendship, nor intercession, and the disbelievers are the wrongdoers.”
Hadith 10:
«وعنه قال: جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يارسول الله أى الصدقة أعظم أجرا؟ قال: أن تصدق وأنت صحيح شحيح، تخشى الفقر وتأمل الغنى ، ولا تمهل حتى إذا بلغت الحلقوم قلت لفلان كذا، ولفلان كذا، وقد كان لفلان»
“Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah! Which charity is greatest in reward? He ﷺ said: That you give charity while you are healthy and miserly, fearing poverty and hoping for wealth, and do not delay until, when the soul reaches the throat, you say: such-and-such is for so-and-so, and such-and-such for so-and-so, when in fact the wealth already belongs to others.”
Birds eating from a Muslim’s field is also charity
Hadith 11:
«وعن أنس بن مالك رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من مسلم يغرس غرسا ، أو يزرع زرعا، فيأكل منه طير ، أو إنسان ، أو بهيمة ، إلا كان له به صدقة»
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whenever a Muslim plants a tree or cultivates a field, and then a bird, a person, or an animal eats from it, it is charity for him.”
A woman may give charity from her household expenses
Hadith 12:
«وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها ، قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا أنفقت المرأة من طعام بيتها غير مفسدة ، كان لها أجرها بما أنفقت ، ولزوجها أجره بما كسب، وللخازن مثل ذلك لا ينقص بعضهم أجر بعض شيئا»
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a woman gives charity from her household food, provided she does not intend corruption (of her husband’s affairs), she will have its reward, her husband will have the reward for his earnings, and the treasurer will have the same. The reward of one does not diminish the reward of another in any way.”
Taking back what was given in charity is a reprehensible act
Hadith 13:
«وعن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه يقول: حملت على فرس فى سبيل الله، فأضاعه الذى كان عنده، فأردت أن أشتريه، وظننت أنه يبيعه برخص ، فسألت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: لا تشتر ، ولا تعد فى صدقتك ، وإن أعطاكه بدرهم فإن العائد فى صدقته كالعائد فى قيئه»
“Hadrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he gave a horse for riding in the way of Allah. The person he had given it to neglected it (did not take full care of it), so I wanted to buy it, thinking that he would sell it cheaply. I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about this matter, and he said: Do not buy it, and do not take back your charity, even if he gives it to you for one dirham, for one who takes back his charity is like one who vomits and then licks it up.”
It is permissible to give charity on behalf of the deceased
Hadith 14:
«وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رجلا قال: يا رسول الله! إن أمي توفيت أفينفعها إن تصدقت عنها؟ قال: نعم قال: فإن لي مخرفا فأشهدك أني قد تصدقت به عنها»
Ahmad Shakir has declared it sahih.
“It is narrated from Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man said: O Messenger of Allah! My mother has passed away. Will it benefit her if I give charity on her behalf? He ﷺ said: Yes. He said: I have an orchard, so I make you a witness that I have given it in charity on her behalf.”
Every good deed is charity
Hadith 15:
«وعن حذيفة رضى الله عنه قال: قال نبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم كل معروف صدقة»
And Hadrat Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that your Prophet ﷺ said: “Every good deed is charity.”
Giving charity and zakat to one’s relatives and kin is superior
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “And give the close relative his right, and the needy and the wayfarer as well, and do not squander wastefully.”
Hadith 16:
«وعن سلمان بن عامر ، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إن الصدقة على المسكين صدقة، وعلى ذى الرحم ثنتان صدقة، وصلة»
And Hadrat Salman ibn Amir narrates from the Prophet ﷺ that he said: “Indeed, giving charity to a poor person is (simply) charity, while giving charity to a relative is both charity and the maintenance of kinship ties.”
If zakat or charity is mistakenly given to someone who is not entitled to it, the full reward is still obtained
Hadith 17:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: قال رجل: لأتصدقن الليلة بصدقة ، فخرج بصدقته ، فوضعها فى يد زانية، فأصبحوا يتحدثون تصدق الليلة على زانية ، قال: اللهم لك الحمد على زانية لأتصدقن بصدقة فخرج بصدقته فوضعها فى يد غني فأصبحوا يتحدثون تصدق على غني ، قال: اللهم لك الحمد على غني لأتصدقن بصدقة فخرج بصدقته فوضعها فى يد سارق فأصبحوا يتحدثون تصدق على سارق، فقال: اللهم لك الحمد على زانية ، وعلى غني وعلى سارق فأتي فقيل له أما صدقتك فقد قبلت ، أما الزانية فلعلها تستعف بها عن زناها ، ولعل الغنى يعتبر ، فينفق مما أعطاه الله، ولعل السارق يستعف بها عن سرقته»
“And Hadrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet ﷺ said: A man said: I will give charity tonight. He went out with his charity and placed it in the hand of an adulteress. In the morning the people began to talk: last night charity was given to an adulteress. He said: O Allah, all praise is for You; charity was given to an adulteress. He said: I will certainly give charity again tonight. He went out with his charity and gave it to a wealthy person. The people talked: last night charity was given to a wealthy person. He said: O Allah, all praise is for You; my charity fell into the hand of a wealthy person. I will give charity again today. He went out with his charity and placed it in the hand of a thief. In the morning the people began to say: last night someone gave charity to a thief. He said: O Allah, all praise is for You. My charity fell into the hands of an adulteress, a wealthy person and a thief. Then it was said to him (in a dream): All your charities have been accepted. As for the adulteress, perhaps she will refrain from adultery through it; as for the wealthy person, perhaps he will take heed and be admonished; and as for the thief, perhaps he will refrain from theft.”
Explanation of the obligation of zakat
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds, establish prayer and continually pay zakat, for them is their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِندَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ﴾
And Allah the Exalted said: “And whatever you give in usury so that it may increase within the wealth of people, it does not increase with Allah; and whatever you give in zakat, seeking the Face of Allah, those are the ones who will multiply (their wealth).”
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ. الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ.﴾
And Allah the Exalted said: “Say: I am only a human being like you; it is revealed to me that your God is only one God, so take a straight course toward Him and seek His forgiveness. And woe to the polytheists, who do not give zakat and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.”
Hadith 18:
«و عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: بنى الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله ، وإقام الصلاة ، وإيتاء الزكاة ، والحج، وصوم رمضان»
“And Hadrat Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Islam is built upon five things: ➊ testifying that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah. ➋ establishing prayer. ➌ paying zakat. ➍ Hajj. and ➎ fasting in Ramadan.”
Hadith 19:
«وعن جرير بن عبد الله رضى الله عنه قال: بايعت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم على إقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، والنصح لكل مسلم»
“And Hadrat Jarir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ to establish prayer, pay zakat, and wish well for every Muslim.”
Hadith 20:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال لما توفي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وكان أبو بكر رضي الله عنه وكفر من كفر من العرب ، فقال عمر رضي الله عنه: كيف تقاتل الناس؟ وقد قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يقولوا لا إله إلا الله ، فمن قالها فقد عصم مني ماله، ونفسه ، إلا بحقه وحسابه على الله . فقال: والله لأقاتلن من فرق بين الصلاة، والزكاة ، فإن الزكاة حق المال ، والله لو منعوني عناقا كانوا يؤدونها إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لقاتلتهم على منعها ، قال عمر رضي الله عنه: فوالله! ما هو إلا أن قد شرح الله صدر أبى بكر رضي الله عنه فعرفت أنه الحق»
“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away and Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became the caliph, some of the Arabs disbelieved (and refused to hand over zakat to the public treasury). Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: How can you fight these people, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has said: I have been commanded to fight people until they say «لا اله الا الله». When they say it, they have protected their wealth and their lives from me, except by right (of Islam), and their account is with Allah. Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah, I will surely fight whoever separates the prayer from the zakat, because zakat is the right of wealth. By Allah, if they withhold from me even a young goat which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I will fight them over withholding it. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah, Allah had opened Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) chest, and I knew that it was the truth.”
The Virtue of Zakat
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ . يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ.﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “O you who believe! Indeed, many of the rabbis and monks unjustly consume the wealth of people and hinder them from the path of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them the news of a painful punishment. On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell, and their foreheads, their sides and their backs will be branded with it (and it will be said): This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.”
Hadith 21:
«وعن خالد بن أسلم قال: خرجنا مع عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما فقال: أعرابي: أخبرني عن قول الله: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ﴾ قال ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما ، من كنزها فلم يؤد زكاتها فويل له ، إنما كان هذا قبل أن تنزل الزكاة ، فلما أنزلت جعلها الله طهرا للأموال»
“Hazrat Khalid bin Aslam (may Allah be pleased with him) says: We went out with Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), and a Bedouin said: Inform me about the saying of Allah: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ﴾. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Whoever hoards it and does not pay its zakat, woe to him. This verse was before the revelation of zakat. When zakat was made obligatory, Allah made it a means of purifying wealth.”
The Importance of Zakat
Hadith 22:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من صاحب ذهب ولا فضة لا يؤدى منها حقها إلا إذا كان يوم القيامة صفحت له صفائح من نار فأحمي عليها فى نار جهنم، فيكوى بها جنبه ، وجبينه، وظهره، كلما بردت أعيدت له فى يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة حتى يقضى بين العباد فيرى سبيله ، إما إلى الجنة، وإما إلى النار، قيل: يا رسول الله ! فالإبل قال: ولا صاحب إبل لا يؤدى منها حقها ، ومن حقها حلبها يوم وردها إلا إذا كان يوم القيامة بطح لها بقاع قرقر أوفر ما كانت لا يفقد منها فصيلا واحدا تطوه بأخفافها وتعضه بأفواهها، كلما مر عليه أولاها رد عليه أخراها فى يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة حتى يقضى بين العباد، فيرى سبيله إما إلى الجنة ، وإما إلى النار»
“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever owns gold and silver but does not pay its right (i.e., zakat), on the Day of Resurrection sheets of it will be made from fire. Then they will be heated in the fire of Hell, and his side, forehead and back will be branded with them. Whenever they cool, they will be returned to him, to be heated again (to punish him). This will continue for a day whose length is fifty thousand years, until judgment is passed among the people. Then he will see his path, either to Paradise or to Hell. It was asked: O Messenger of Allah! What about camels? He ﷺ said: Whoever owns camels and does not pay their right, and their right includes milking them on the day of watering (and according to the custom of the Arabs, giving this milk to the needy), he will be laid face down on a level plain on the Day of Resurrection, and the camels will come, very fat and healthy, not one of them missing a young one. They will trample him with their hooves and bite him with their mouths. Whenever the first passes, the last will return. This will continue for a day whose length is fifty thousand years, until judgment is passed among the people. Then he will see his path, either to Paradise or to Hell. It was asked: O Messenger of Allah! What about cows and goats? He said: No owner of cows and goats who does not pay their right (zakat) will be spared; on the Day of Resurrection he will be laid face down on a level ground, and none of those cows and goats will be missing (all of them will come), and none of them will be hornless, nor with broken horns, nor with a bent horn. They will gore him with their horns and trample him with their hooves. Whenever the first passes, the last will come back (i.e., they will keep coming continuously). This will continue for a day whose length is fifty thousand years, until judgment is passed among the servants. Then he will see his path, either to Paradise or to Hell.”
Hadith 23:
«وعن الأحنف بن قيس رضى الله عنه قال: كنت فى نفر من قريش ، فمر أبو ذر رضي الله عنه وهو يقول: بشر الكانزين بكي فى ظهورهم ، يخرج من جنوبهم، وبكي من قبل أقفائهم يخرج من جباههم ، قال: ثم تنحى فقعد، قال: قلت: من هذا؟ قالوا: هذا أبوذر ، قال: فقمت إليه، فقلت: ما شيء سمعتك تقول قبيل، قال: ما قلت إلا شيئا قد سمعته من نبيهم صلى الله عليه وسلم»
“Sayyidna Ahnaf ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I was sitting with a group of the Quraysh when Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by, saying: Give good news to those who hoard wealth of a brand on their backs, which will come out through their sides, and a brand on their necks, which will come out through their foreheads. He then moved aside and sat down. I asked (the people): Who is this? They said: This is Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him). So I went to him and said: What was that which I just heard you say? He said: I only said what I heard from the Prophet of them (the Muslims), may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.”
Hadith 24:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من آتاه الله مالا فلم يؤد زكاته مثل له ماله يوم القيامة شجاعا أقرع له زبيبتان يطوقه يوم القيامة ، ثم يأخذ بلهزمتيه يعني بشدقيه ، ثم يقول: أنا مالك ، أنا كنزك ، ثم تلا ﴿لَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ﴾ الآية»
“Sayyidna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever Allah has given wealth and he does not pay its zakat, his wealth will be made on the Day of Resurrection into a bald poisonous snake with two spots over its eyes, which will be hung around his neck as a collar. Then it will seize him by his two cheeks and say: I am your wealth, I am your treasure. Then the Prophet ﷺ recited this verse (whose translation is): Those whom Allah has given of His bounty and who are miserly should not think that this is good for them; rather it is bad for them. Soon what they were miserly with will be hung around their necks as a collar on the Day of Resurrection.”
Hadith 25:
«وعنه سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، يقول: ” إن ثلاثة فى بني إسرائيل ابرص واقرع واعمى بدا لله عز وجل ان يبتليهم فبعث إليهم ملكا فاتى الابرص، فقال: اي شيء احب إليك، قال: لون حسن وجلد حسن قد قذرني الناس، قال: فمسحه فذهب عنه فاعطي لونا حسنا وجلدا حسنا، فقال: اي المال احب إليك، قال: الإبل او، قال: البقر هو شك فى ذلك إن الابرص والاقرع، قال: احدهما الإبل، وقال: الآخر البقر فاعطي ناقة عشراء، فقال: يبارك لك فيها واتى الاقرع، فقال: اي شيء احب إليك، قال: شعر حسن ويذهب عني هذا قد قذرني الناس، قال: فمسحه فذهب واعطي شعرا حسنا، قال: فاي المال احب إليك، قال: البقر، قال: فاعطاه بقرة حاملا، وقال: يبارك لك فيها واتى الاعمى، فقال: اي شيء احب إليك، قال: يرد الله إلى بصري فابصر به الناس، قال: فمسحه فرد الله إليه بصره، قال: فاي المال احب إليك، قال: الغنم فاعطاه شاة والدا فانتج هذان وولد هذا فكان لهذا واد من إبل ولهذا واد من بقر ولهذا واد من غنم ثم إنه اتى الابرص فى صورته وهيئته، فقال: رجل مسكين تقطعت بي الحبال فى سفري فلا بلاغ اليوم إلا بالله، ثم بك اسالك بالذي اعطاك اللون الحسن والجلد الحسن والمال بعيرا اتبلغ عليه فى سفري، فقال له: إن الحقوق كثيرة، فقال له: كاني اعرفك الم تكن ابرص يقذرك الناس فقيرا فاعطاك الله، فقال: لقد ورثت لكابر عن كابر، فقال: إن كنت كاذبا فصيرك الله إلى ما كنت واتى الاقرع فى صورته وهيئته، فقال له: مثل ما، قال: لهذا فرد عليه مثل ما رد عليه هذا، فقال: إن كنت كاذبا فصيرك الله إلى ما كنت واتى الاعمى فى صورته، فقال: رجل مسكين وابن سبيل وتقطعت بي الحبال فى سفري فلا بلاغ اليوم إلا بالله ثم بك اسالك بالذي رد عليك بصرك شاة اتبلغ بها فى سفري، فقال: قد كنت اعمى فرد الله بصري وفقيرا فقد اغناني فخذ ما شئت فوالله لا اجهدك اليوم بشيء اخذته لله، فقال: امسك مالك فإنما ابتليتم فقد رضي الله عنك وسخط على صاحبيك»
“Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say: Among the Children of Israel there were three men: a leper, a bald man, and a blind man. Allah wished to test them, so He sent an angel to them. He came to the leper and said: What do you love most? He said: A good color and good skin, and to be rid of that which causes people to loathe me. The Prophet ﷺ said: The angel wiped over him, and the filth left him, and he was given a good color and good skin. Then the angel asked: Which wealth do you love most? He said: Camels, or he said: cows. (The narrator Ishaq is unsure; one of the leper and the bald man said camels and the other said cows.) The Prophet ﷺ said: He was given a pregnant she-camel, and it was said: May Allah bless you in it. The Prophet ﷺ said: Then the angel came to the bald man and said: What do you love most? He said: Good hair, and to be rid of that which causes people to loathe me. The Prophet ﷺ said: The angel wiped over him, his baldness left him, and he was given good hair. The angel asked: Which wealth do you love most? He said: Cows. So he was given a pregnant cow, and the angel said: May Allah bless you in it. The Prophet ﷺ said: Then the angel came to the blind man and said: What do you love most? He said: That Allah return my sight to me so that I may see the people. The Prophet ﷺ said: The angel wiped over him, and Allah returned his sight. The angel asked: Which wealth do you love most? He said: Sheep. So he was given a pregnant ewe. The offspring of these two grew, and the leper had a valley of camels, the bald man had a valley of cows, and the blind man had a valley of sheep. The Prophet ﷺ said: Then the angel came to the leper in his former form and appearance and said: I am a poor man whose provisions have been cut off on my journey, and today I cannot reach my destination except by Allah and then by you. I ask you, by the One who gave you a good color, good skin and wealth, for one camel by which I may complete my journey. He said: The rights (claims) are many. The angel said: It seems to me that I know you. Were you not a leper whom people loathed, a poor man whom Allah enriched? He said: I inherited this wealth from my forefathers, generation after generation. The angel said: If you are lying, may Allah return you to what you were. The Prophet ﷺ said: The angel came to the bald man in his former form and said to him what he had said to the other, and he replied as the other had replied. The angel said: If you are lying, may Allah return you to what you were. The Prophet ﷺ said: Then the angel came to the blind man in his form and said: I am a poor man and a traveler, whose provisions have been cut off on my journey, and today I cannot reach my destination except by Allah and then by you. I ask you, by the One who returned your sight, for one sheep by which I may complete my journey. He said: I was blind, and Allah returned my sight to me, and I was poor, and Allah has made me rich. Take whatever you wish, and by Allah, I will not hinder you today from anything you take for the sake of Allah. The angel said: Keep your wealth; you were only being tested. Allah is pleased with you, and He is angry with your two companions.”
Hadith 26:
«وعن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: مانع الزكاة يوم القيامة فى النار»
“Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: One who withholds zakat will be in the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”
Hadith 27:
«وعن بريدة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما منع قوم الزكاة إلا ابتلاهم الله بالسنين»
“Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When a people do not pay zakat, Allah afflicts them with drought.”
Hadith 28:
«وعن على رضي الله عنه قال: لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا ، وموكله، وشاهده، وكاتبه، والواشمة والمستوشمة ومانع الصدقة والمحلل ، والمحلل له»
“Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who consumes usury, the one who feeds it, its witness, and its scribe; the one who tattoos and the one who gets tattooed; the one who withholds zakat; and the one who performs tahlil (the muhallil) and the one for whom tahlil is performed.”
Conditions of Zakat
قَالَ الله تَعَالَى: ﴿فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ ۗ وَنُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “So if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat, then they are your brothers in religion. And We detail the verses for a people who know.”
Hadith 29:
«وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بعث معاذا رضي الله عنه إلى اليمن ، فقال: ادعهم إلى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فإن هم أطاعوا لذلك ، فأعلمهم أن الله قد افترض عليهم خمس صلوات فى كل يوم وليلة ، فإن هم أطاعوا لذلك ، فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم صدقة فى أموالهم ، تؤخذ من أغنيائهم ، وترد على فقرائهم»
“And Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ sent Hadrat Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen, and said: Invite them first to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in this, then inform them that Allah has made five prayers obligatory upon them every day and night. If they obey you in this, then inform them that Allah has made charity (zakah) obligatory upon them in their wealth, to be taken from their wealthy and given to their poor.”
Hadith 30:
«وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من استفاد مالا فلا زكاة عليه حتى يحول عليه الحول عند ربه»
“And Hadrat Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever acquires wealth, no zakah is due on it until a full year has passed over it in its owner’s possession.”
The Etiquette of Taking and Giving Zakah
Hadith 31:
«وعن أبى بن كعب رضي الله عنه قال: بعثني النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم مصدقا فمررت برجل فلما جمع لي ماله لم أجد عليه فيه إلا ابنة مخاض ، فقلت له: أد ابنة مخاض فإنها صدقتك ، فقال: ذاك ما لا لبن فيه ، ولا ظهر ولكن هذه ناقة فتية عظيمة سمينة فخذها ، فقلت له: ما أنا بآخذ ما لم أومر به ، وهذا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم منك قريب ، فإن أحببت أن تأتيه فتعرض عليه ما عرضت على ، فافعل ، فإن قبله منك قبلته ، وإن رده عليك رددته، قال: فإني فاعل، فخرج معي وخرج بالناقة التى عرض على حتى قدمنا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال له: يا نبي الله! أتاني رسولك ليأخذ منى صدقة مالي وايم الله ما قام فى مالى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا رسوله قط قبله ، فجمعت له مالي فزعم أن ما على فيه ابنة مخاض وذلك ما لا لبن فيه ولا ظهر وقد عرضت عليه ناقة فتية عظيمة ليأخذها فأبى علي، وها هي ذه قد جئتك بها يا رسول الله ! خذها ، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ذاك الذى عليك فإن تطوعت بخير أجرك الله فيه وقبلناه منك، قال: فها هي ذه يا رسول الله قد جئتك بها فخذها ، قال: فأمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بقبضها ودعا له فى ماله بالبركة»
“And Hadrat Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet ﷺ sent me to collect charity. I came to a man, and he presented his wealth before me. His wealth amounted only to what required a one-year-old she-camel to be paid. I said to him: Give a one-year-old female. He said: She neither gives milk nor is fit for riding; rather, this is my she-camel, young, fat and strong, so take it. I said: I cannot take it without the command of the Prophet ﷺ; however, the Prophet ﷺ is near you (in Madinah). If you wish, present to him the she-camel you have offered me. If he accepts it from you, I will accept it too; but if he refuses it, I will not accept it either. So he agreed, set out with me, and took the she-camel with him. When we came into the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, he said: O Prophet of Allah! Your collector came to me to collect charity from my wealth. By Allah, this is the first time that a messenger of yours has come to me for charity. I presented my wealth before him, and he said to give a one-year-old female, though she neither gives milk nor is fit for riding. (I said) This she-camel is young, fat and strong, so take it, but he refused. Now I have brought it to you so that you may accept it. The Prophet ﷺ said: What was obligatory upon you was only this much; but if you do good willingly, Allah will reward you for it, and we will accept it. He said: This she-camel is present, so accept it. Then the Prophet ﷺ ordered that it be taken, and he prayed for blessing in his wealth.”
Hadith 32:
«وعن عبادة بن صامت رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعثه على الصدقة فقال: يا أبا الوليد اتق الله ، لا تاتي يوم القيامة ببعير تحمله له رغاء ، او بقرة لها خوار ، او شاة لها ثغاء. قال: يا رسول الله! إن ذلك لكذلك؟ قال: أى والذي نفسي بيده . قال: فوالذي بعثك بالحق لا أعمل لك على شيء أبدا»
“And Hadrat Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ appointed him to collect zakah and said: O Abu al-Walid! Fear Allah regarding the zakah wealth. Do not come on the Day of Resurrection carrying a camel that bellows on your shoulders, or a cow that lows, or a sheep that bleats (and ask me to intercede). Hadrat Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! Will the outcome of embezzling zakah wealth be this? The Prophet ﷺ said: Yes, by the One in whose hand is my soul (this will be the outcome). Hadrat Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By the One who sent you with truth, I will never work as your collector.”
The Items on Which Zakah Is Obligatory
قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ . يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ.﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “O you who believe! Indeed, many of the scholars and ascetics devour the wealth of people unjustly and turn them away from the way of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them the news of a painful punishment. On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell, and their foreheads, their sides and their backs will be branded with it (and it will be said): This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.”
Hadith 33:
«وعن عمرو بن شعيب عن أبيه عن جده رضي الله عنه أن امرأة أتت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ومعها ابنة لها، وفي يد ابنتها مسكتان غليظتان من ذهب ، فقال لها . أتعطين زكاة هذا؟ قالت: لا ، قال: أيسرك أن يسورك الله بهما يوم القيامة سوارين من نار . قال: فخلعتهما فألقتهما ، إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم وقالت: هما لله عزوجل ولرسوله»
“Amr ibn Shu’ayb narrates from his father, from his grandfather (may Allah be pleased with him), that a woman came to the Prophet ﷺ, and with her was her daughter, and on her daughter’s hands were two thick gold bangles. He ﷺ said to her: Do you pay the zakat on this? She said: No. He ﷺ said: Would you like Allah to adorn you with two bangles of fire on the Day of Resurrection in exchange for them? She then removed both bangles and placed them before the Prophet ﷺ, saying: They are for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and for His Messenger.”
Hadith 34:
«وعن أنس رضى الله عنه ، ان ابا بكر رضى الله عنه كتب له هذا الكتاب لما وجهه إلى البحرين، ” بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم هذه فريضة الصدقة التى فرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على المسلمين والتي امر الله بها رسوله، فمن سئلها من المسلمين على وجهها فليعطها، ومن سئل فوقها فلا يعط فى اربع وعشرين من الإبل فما دونها من الغنم من كل خمس شاة إذا بلغت خمسا وعشرين إلى خمس وثلاثين ففيها بنت مخاض انثى فإذا بلغت ستا وثلاثين إلى خمس واربعين ففيها بنت لبون انثى، فإذا بلغت ستا واربعين إلى ستين ففيها حقة طروقة الجمل، فإذا بلغت واحدة وستين إلى خمس وسبعين ففيها جذعة، فإذا بلغت يعني ستا وسبعين إلى تسعين ففيها بنتا لبون، فإذا بلغت إحدى وتسعين إلى عشرين ومائة ففيها حقتان طروقتا الجمل، فإذا زادت على عشرين ومائة ففي كل اربعين بنت لبون وفي كل خمسين حقة، ومن لم يكن معه إلا اربع من الإبل فليس فيها صدقة إلا ان يشاء ربها، فإذا بلغت خمسا من الإبل ففيها شاة وفي صدقة الغنم فى سائمتها إذا كانت اربعين إلى عشرين ومائة شاة، فإذا زادت على عشرين ومائة إلى مائتين شاتان، فإذا زادت على مائتين إلى ثلاث مائة ففيها ثلاث شياه، فإذا زادت على ثلاث مائة ففي كل مائة شاة، فإذا كانت سائمة الرجل ناقصة من اربعين شاة واحدة فليس فيها صدقة إلا ان يشاء ربها وفي الرقة ربع العشر فإن لم تكن إلا تسعين ومائة فليس فيها شيء إلا ان يشاء ربها»
“Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed him as the ruler of Bahrain and wrote these instructions for him (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate). This is the zakat that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed for the Muslims and which Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ to give. So whichever Muslim is asked for it in accordance with this command should pay it, and whoever is asked for more than this should not give it. For every five camels up to twenty-four camels, one sheep is due. Nothing is due for fewer than five. When there are twenty-five camels up to thirty-five, a one-year-old female camel is due. When there are thirty-six camels up to forty-five, a two-year-old female camel is due. When there are forty-six camels up to sixty, a three-year-old female camel fit for mating is due. When there are sixty-one camels up to seventy-five, a four-year-old female camel is due. When there are seventy-six camels up to ninety, two two-year-old female camels are due. When there are ninety-one camels up to one hundred and twenty, two three-year-old female camels fit for mating are due. When the camels exceed one hundred and twenty, then for every forty camels a two-year-old female camel is due, and for every fifty a three-year-old female camel is due. Whoever has only four camels, nothing is due on them unless the owner gives willingly. When there are five camels, one sheep is due. When grazing sheep number forty up to one hundred and twenty, one sheep is due. When they exceed one hundred and twenty up to two hundred, two sheep are due. When they exceed two hundred up to three hundred, three sheep are due. When they exceed three hundred, then for every hundred one sheep is due. If a person’s grazing sheep are fewer than forty, nothing is due on them unless the owner gives willingly. For silver, one-fortieth is due as zakat (provided there are two hundred dirhams or more of silver). But if there are one hundred and ninety dirhams (or one hundred and ninety-nine) worth of silver, no zakat is due, unless the owner wishes to give willingly (he may give).”
Rules on the Disbursement of Zakat
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾
Allah the Exalted said: “Zakat is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for freeing captives and debtors, in the way of Allah, and for the wayfarer (as an obligation from Allah); and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
Hadith 35:
«وعن زياد بن الحارث الصدائي رضي الله عنه قال: أتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فبايعته فذكر حديثا طويلا قال: فأتاه رجل فقال: أعطني من الصدقة فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن الله تعالى لم يرض بحكم نبي ولا غيره فى الصدقات حتى حكم فيها هو ، فجزأها ثمانية أجزاء ، فإن كنت من تلك الأجزاء أعطيتك حقك»
“Ziyad ibn al-Harith al-Sada’i (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I came to the Prophet ﷺ and gave him the pledge of allegiance. Ziyad, narrating a long hadith, says: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: Give me something from the charity. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: Allah did not accept the judgement of any prophet or anyone else concerning zakat, until He Himself judged it and specified eight categories of its recipients. So if you are among those eight, I will give you your due (otherwise not).”
Hadith 36:
«وعن قبيصة بن مخارق الهلالي رضي الله عنه قال: تحملت حمالة ، فاتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أسأله فيها ، فقال: أقم حتى تاتينا الصدقة ، فنامر لك بها ، قال: ثم قال: يا قبيصة! إن المسألة لا تحل إلا لاحد ثلاثة رجل: تحمل حمالة فحلت له المسألة حتى يصيبها ثم يمسك، ورجل أصابته جائحة اجتاحت ماله فحلت له المسئلة حتى يصيب قواما من عيش ، أو قال: سدادا من عيش ، ورجل أصابته فاقة حتى يقوم ثلاثة من ذوي الحجي من قومه لقد أصابت فلانا فاقة فحلت له المسئلة حتى يصيب قواما من عيش ، أو قال: سدادا من عيش ، فما سواهن من المسئلة، يا قبيصة سحت يأكلها صاحبها سحتا»
“Qabisah ibn Mukhariq al-Hilali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he became a guarantor (took on a debt), so he came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to ask him about it. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Stay until the charity comes to us, and we will order that some be given to you from it.’ Then he said: ‘O Qabisah! Begging is not lawful except for three people: a man who has taken on a guarantee (a debt), for whom begging is permitted until he pays it off, and then he should refrain from begging; a man whom a calamity struck and destroyed his wealth and possessions, for whom begging is permitted until he obtains enough to meet his needs, or he said: to remove his poverty; and a man who suffered severe hunger, until three intelligent men from his people testify that such-and-such a person has suffered severe hunger, so begging is permitted for him until he obtains enough to meet his needs, or he said: to remove his poverty. Apart from these three cases, O Qabisah, begging is forbidden, and the one who begs eats unlawful gain.'”
Hadith 37:
«وعن أبى سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: أصيب رجل فى عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى ثمار ابتاعها، فكثر دينه، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: تصدقوا عليه فتصدق الناس عليه ، فلم يبلغ ذلك وفاء دينه ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لغرمائه: خذوا ما وجدتم ، وليس لكم إلا ذلك»
“Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a man suffered a loss in the orchards he had bought, and so he became heavily indebted. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Give charity to him.’ People gave him charity, but it did not cover his debt. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to his creditors: ‘Take whatever you find, and you have nothing other than that.'”
Hadith 38:
«وعنه رضي الله عنه قال: بعث على رضي الله عنه وهو باليمن بذهبة فى تربتها إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقسمها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بين أربعة نفر: الأقرع بن حابس الحنظلي ، وعيينة بن بدر الفزاري، وعلقمة بن علاثة العامري ثم أحد بني كلاب وزيد الخير الطائي ، ثم أحد بني نبهان قال: فغضبت قريش فقالوا: أتعطى صناديد نجد ، وتدعنا ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إني إنما فعلت ذلك لأتألفهم»
“Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), while he was in Yemen, sent some gold ore in its soil to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ distributed it among four men: ➊ al-Aqra’ ibn Habis al-Hanzali, ➋ Uyaynah ibn Badr al-Fazari, ➌ Alqamah ibn Ulathah al-Amiri, one of Bani Kilab, ➍ Zayd al-Khayr al-Ta’i, one of Bani Nabhan. Upon this, the Quraysh became very angry and said: ‘You give to the chiefs of Najd and leave us out.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘I only do this so that love of Islam may be created in their hearts.'”
Hadith 39:
«وعن البراء رضي الله عنه قال: جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله دلني على عمل يقربني من الجنة، ويبعدني من النار ، فقال له: اعتق النسمة وفك الرقبة ، فقال: يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ! أو ليسا بواحدة؟ قال: لا عتق النسمة أن تفرد بعتقها ، وفك الرقبة أن تعين بثمنها»
Shaykh Hamzah Zayn said its chain is Sahih.
“Al-Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘Guide me to an action that will bring me close to Paradise and keep me far from Hell.’ He said: ‘Free a soul and release a slave.’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, are these not one and the same?’ He said: ‘No. Freeing a soul means that you free him alone; releasing the slave means that you help in paying his price.'”
Hadith 40:
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: بينما نحن جلوس عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ جاءه رجل، فقال: يا رسول الله! هلكت، قال: ما لك؟ قال وقعت على امرأتي ، وأنا صائم، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: هل تجد رقبة تعتقها؟ قال: لا ، قال فهل تستطيع أن تصوم شهرين متتابعين؟ قال: لا ، فقال: فهل تجد إطعام ستين مسكينا؟ قال: لا ، قال: فمكث النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فبينا نحن على ذلك أتي النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بعرق فيها تمر، والعرق المكتل، قال: أين السائل؟ فقال: أنا ، قال: خذها ، فتصدق به ، فقال الرجل: أعلى أفقر منى يا رسول الله! فوالله! ما بين لابتيها، يريد الحرتين ، أهل بيت أفقر من أهل بيتي ، فضحك النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى بدت أنيابه، ثم قال: أطعمه أهلك»
“Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: We were sitting with the Prophet ﷺ when a companion came and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I am ruined!’ The Prophet ﷺ asked: ‘What is the matter?’ He said: ‘I had intercourse with my wife while fasting.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked: ‘Can you free a slave?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Prophet ﷺ asked again: ‘Can you fast two consecutive months?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Prophet ﷺ asked again: ‘Can you feed sixty poor people?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Then sit down.’ The Prophet ﷺ paused briefly, and while we were still sitting in that state, a basket (‘araq) of dates (from zakat) was brought to the Prophet ﷺ; ‘araq is the name for a large basket. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Take these dates and give them in charity.’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, should I give charity to people more in need than myself? By Allah, there is no household in all of Madinah more in need than my household.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ laughed until his canine teeth became visible, then said: ‘Go, and feed your family with it.'”
The Condemnation of Begging
Hadith 41:
«وعن حكيم بن حزام رضي الله عنه ، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: اليد العليا خير من اليد السفلى ، وابدأ بمن تعول، وخير الصدقة عن غنى ، ومن يستعفف يعفه الله، ومن يستغن يغنه الله»
“Hakim ibn Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Prophet ﷺ: The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Begin with those you are responsible for, and the best charity is that which leaves the giver wealthy. Whoever seeks to abstain from begging, Allah will keep him from it, and whoever seeks to be self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient.”
وصلى الله تعالى على خير خلقه محمد وآله وصحبه أجمعين
