Rare Ahadith about Charity

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a time will come when people who ask for help will survive, and those who do not ask for help will die. I then asked, ‘What shall I do if I find myself in such a time?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Help people by means of what you have and strive hard if you do not have anything.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The most virtuous charity is that which is given from someone without need (wealthy).’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The best charity is that which is out of surplus in (one’s) hands.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘feed the despondent poor one . . .’ (22:29) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Such a time is when he is unable to go out for help due to his illness.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘. . . As far as the one who gives (charity), observes piety and believes in good words (receiving good rewards from Allah). . . .’, Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘To such people Allah gives a tenfold reward or up to one hundred and even more.’ ‘. . . We make it easy for his comfort . . .’ the Imam said, ‘He does not do anything but that Allah makes it easy for him to achieve.’ ‘. . . As far the one who is stingy and rich . . .’ the Imam said, ‘He is stingy in what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has granted him.’ ‘. . . and rejects the good words (receiving rewards from Allah) . . . ’ the Imam said, ‘It is Allah’s promise of tenfold reward for giving charity up to one hundred thousand or even more.’ ‘. . . We will soon make it difficult for him . . .’ the Imam said, ‘Whatever evil things he wants is made easy for him.’ ‘. . . His wealth does not help him when he falls . . .’ (92:4-11), the Imam said, ‘This is not a fall into a well, from the top of a mountain, or from a wall. It is a fall into hellfire.””

"Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says: 'There is nothing for which I have not appointed someone to take it, except charity, for I personally receive it with My own hand. Even when a person gives a date or a piece of a date in charity, I nurture it for him as a man nurtures his foal or his young camel, until it comes on the Day of Judgment as large as Mount Uhud or even greater.'"

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man once came to al-Hassan and al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, when the two of them were sitting on al-Safa’ (the small hill in Makkah). He asked them for charity and they said, ‘Charity can only be paid to one who suffers from a troubling debt, a disgracing loss or severe poverty. Do you have any one of such conditions?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I do.’ They then gave him something. He had asked ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar and ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Bakr for charity, and they had given him something without asking him any questions. He then went back to them and asked, ‘Why did you not ask me any questions as al-Hassan and al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have done?’ He informed them about what al-Hassan and al-Husayn had asked. They replied, ‘They (al-Hassan and al-Husayn) are being fed with a great deal of knowledge.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Do not ask my followers for charity in their gatherings, because you may make them seem stingy.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Believers, give charity of good quality things that you have earned and of what We make to grow for you from the land. You must not aim at less valuable things to give for charity. . . .’(2:267) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, wanted people to pay zakat of dates, they would bring all kinds of dates, including undesirable quality dates to pay for zakat. Of such dates was a kind called al-Ju‘rur and al-Mi‘afarah, which has very little fruit, but has a large stone inside. Certain people would bring this kind of date to give for zakat instead of a good quality date. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, asked them not to bring such dates to give for zakat, and the above-mentioned verse of the Holy Quran was revealed about this case. “Believers, give charity of good quality things that you have earned and of what We make to grow for you from the land. You must not aim at less valuable things which even you do not accept, unless you overlook to give for charity.” (2:264) “Overlook” means giving in charity of very inferior quality goods like the two kinds of dates just mentioned.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Pay charity out of good things you have earned. . . .’ (2:264) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘people before Islam had made loathsome earnings. After accepting Islam they wanted to pay such earnings for zakat, but Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, refused to accept such payments instead of payment out of their good quality earnings.’”

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘I am an old man with a large family to feed, of weak health and poor. Is there any help to overcome my difficulties?’ The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, looked to his companions and his companions looked at him. He said, ‘He made us and you to hear his words.’ A man then stood up and said, ‘Yesterday I was like you.’ He then took him to his house and gave him a bar of gold that they used instead of currency for buying and selling. The old man then asked, ‘Is all this for me?’ He said, ‘Yes, all of it is for you.’ The old man said, ‘I accept your bar of gold, but I am not a Jinny or a human being. I am a messenger of Allah to test you. I have found you a thankful person. May Allah grant you good reward.’”

“Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in Mina (a place in Makkah). We were eating grapes when a man came asking for help. Imam told someone to give him a bunch. The man said, ‘I do not need this. I need dirhams.’ The Imam said, ‘May Allah grant you a great deal.’ The man went away and then came back saying, ‘Give me that bunch of grapes.’ The Imam said, ‘May Allah give you a great deal and did not give him anything.’ Soon, another man came and asked for help. The Imam offered him just three pieces of grape that he accepted and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds who has granted me sustenance.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Wait,’ filled up both of his hands with grapes and gave it to him. The man took the grapes from the Imam and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Wait,’ and he (the Imam) asked his servant, saying, ‘How many dirhams do you have with you?’ We estimated there were about twenty dirhams with the servant. He gave them to the man, who took them and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah. This is from You alone and You have no partners.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Wait,’ and he (the Imam) took off his shirt and said, ‘Wear this.’ The man took the shirt and said, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah, all praise belongs to Allah who has granted me clothes and covering.’ Or he said, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah, may Allah grant you good rewards. Nothing except this is left with abu ‘Abd Allah.’ He then left. We thought had he not prayed for ‘Abd Allah, he would keep giving him something as long as he kept praising Allah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if it becomes difficult for one of you, you should inform your brother (in belief) while you are unable to help yourself.”

“In one of his speeches, ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘The best deed is protecting one’s dignity by means of wealth.’”

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘There are three things which would help lengthen his life if a believing person comes to know them and make his wealth more durable.’ I then asked, ‘What are those things?’ The Imam replied, ‘They are remaining in Ruku’ for a long time, as well as in his Sajdah during prayer (Salat), his sitting for a long time on the table when feeding people, and those providing Benevolent Assistance to properly deserving people.’”

“Once I explained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a people who are affluent, but have certain ones among them who are extremely needy. Zakat is not enough for them. ‘Can these affluent people live satisfied while their people suffer from hunger in such a difficult time?’ The Imam said, ‘The Muslims are each other’s brothers (in belief). It is not permissible for them to do injustice to each other, betray or deprive one another. It is necessary for a Muslim to strive hard and maintain good relations, cooperation and sympathy with the needy ones. It is showing kindness to each other about which Allah has issued His commanded on you to follow, ‘. . . They are kind to each other. . . ( 48 : 29 )’”