Abu Dawud

1654. Commentary: Allamah Khattabi says that there is no doubt that charity (sadaqah) was forbidden for Hazrat Abbas radi Allahu anhu... and due to the brevity of the narration, the reason for which these camels were given to him is not mentioned. Perhaps it is that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had borrowed some camels from him, and when they were returned, in reality, they were from the charity (sadaqah). And Imam Bayhaqi rahimahullah also says the same—that this narration has two possible meanings... It is possible that this incident occurred before the prohibition of charity, and the prohibition of charity for the family of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was revealed later. And the second meaning could be that perhaps the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had borrowed camels from Hazrat Abbas radi Allahu anhu for the needy (masakin), which were later returned from the camels of charity (sadaqah). (Awn al-Ma‘bud)