Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

Lady Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, narrated that I was in the Prophet’s Mosque when I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: “Give charity, even if it is from your jewelry.” Lady Zainab used to spend her charity on her husband, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and on some orphans who were under her care. Therefore, she said to her husband: “Ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) whether the charity I spend on you and on those orphans under my care will suffice for me (as charity)?” But Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “You go yourself and ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” So, in the end, I myself went to the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). At that time, I found an Ansari woman at your door who had come with a need similar to mine (she was Zainab, the wife of Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him). Then Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by us, so we said to him: “Ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about this issue: will the charity I spend on my husband and the orphans under my care suffice for me (as charity)?” We also said to Bilal: “Do not mention our names.” He went inside and presented the matter to the Prophet, saying: “Two women are asking about an issue.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Who are these two?” Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “One of them is named Zainab.” The Prophet said: “Which Zainab?” Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The wife of Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him).” The Prophet said: “Yes, indeed, it is correct, and she will have a double reward: one for maintaining kinship and the other for giving charity.”