Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 9148 — Alqamah bin Qays asked Sayyiduna Abdullah

Humayd bin Abdullah al-Thaqafi narrates that Alqamah bin Qays asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) for a loan of one thousand dirhams, and he lent it to him. When the stipend (from the treasury) was issued, he brought him one thousand dirhams and said: This is your money. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Bring it." So he took it, then said: "Had I not disliked going against you, I would have held back the money." Then Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We are more entitled to it." Then they sat talking for a while, and then Alqamah got up and left. When he reached the place of the coffin makers, Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) sent someone after him and called him back, and asked: "Are you in need?" He said: Yes. He said: "Take the money." When he took it, Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "To lend money twice is dearer to me than to give it in charity once."