Chapter 29. Book of Zakat

I. The obligation of zakat

The words of Allah Almighty, "Establish the prayer and pay the zakat." (2:43)

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Abu Sufyan related to me mentioning the hadith of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'He instructed us to pray, pay zakat, maintain ties of kinship and to be chaste.'"

1331. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said, 'Call on them to testify that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they comply with that, then let them know that Allah has made the five prayers obligatory on them every day and night. If they comply with that, then let them know that Allah has made the payment of zakat from their property obligatory on them, to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor.'"

1332. It is related from Abu Ayyub that a man said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 'Tell me an action which will ensure my entrance into the Garden. Someone said, 'What does he want? What is wrong with him?' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'What he wants is to know something. Worship Allah and do not associate anything else with him. Establish the prayer and pay the zakat and maintain ties of kinship.'"

This is related from Abu Ayyub. Abu 'Abdullah said, "I fear that Muhammad is unprotected. It is 'Amr."

1333. It is related from Abu Hurayra, "A bedouin came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'Tell me an action by which, if I do it, I will enter the Garden.' He said, 'Worship Allah and do not associate anything else with him. Perform the prescribed prayer and pay the obligatory zakat, and fast Ramadan.' He said, 'By the One who has my soul in His hand, I will do no more than this.' When he turned to go, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Anyone who wants to see one of the people of the Garden should look at this man.'"

This is related from Abu Zur'a from the Prophet.

1334. It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The delegation of 'Abdu'l-Qays came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'Messenger of Allah, this is the tribe of Rabi'a. We can only come to you in the sacred month since the unbelievers of Mudar are between us and you. Give us some clear instructions which we can take from you and invite those we left behind.' He said, 'I instruct you to do four things and forbid them to do four things.' He commanded them to believe in Allah and to testify that there is no god but Allah (and he made a fist of his hand like that), to establish the prayers, to pay the zakat, and to pay the khums (fifth) from booty you take.' I forbide you four things: dubba', hantam, naqir and muzaffat. [different kinds of wine vessels] '" Hammad said, "Belief in Allah is to testify that there is no god but Allah."

1335. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died and Abu Bakr became the khalif, some of the Arabs rejected Islam. 'Umar said, 'How can you fight these people when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I am commanded to fight people until they say: 'There is no god but Allah.' Whoever says that, his property and life are safe from me, except if there is a legal right, and his reckoning is up to Allah."' He said, 'I will fight anyone who makes any distinction between the prayer and zakat. Zakat is what is due from property. By Allah, if they refuse me as much as a she-goat which they used to pay to the Messenger of Allah, I will fight them for it.' 'Umar said, 'By Allah, the fact was that Allah had given Abu Bakr true insight and I recognised that he was right.'"

II: Allegiance accepted on the basis of payment of zakat.

"If they repent, and establish the prayer and pay the zakat, they are your brothers in religion." (9:5)

1336. It is related that Jarir ibn 'Abdullah said, "I gave allegiance to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on the basis of performing the prayer, paying the zakat and giving good counsel to every Muslim."

III: The wrong action of someone who refuses to pay zakat

The words of Allah Almighty, "As for those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them the news of a painful punishment, on the Day it is heated up in the fire of Hell and their foreheads, sides and backs are branded with it: 'This is what you hoarded for yourselves! So taste what you were hoarding!'" (9:34-35)

1337. It is related that Abu Hurayra said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Camels will come to their master in their prime and if he did not pay what was due on them, they will trample him with their hooves. Sheep will come to their master in their prime and if he did not pay what was due on them, they will trample him with their hooves and gore him with their horns. One of their rights is that they should be milked with water in front of them. May none of you come on the Day of Rising with a bleating sheep round his neck saying, 'O Muhammad!' For I will say, 'I can do nothing for you now. I conveyed the message. And may none of you come with a complaining camel round his neck saying, 'O Muhammad!' For I will say, 'I can do nothing for you now. I conveyed the message.'"

1338. It is related that Abu Hurayra said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If someone is given wealth by Allah and does not pay the zakat due on it, then on the Day of Rising it will appear to him in the form of a smooth-headed male viper with two black spots over its eyes. It will coil around his neck and strike at his cheeks saying, 'I am your wealth. I am your treasure."' Then he recited, 'Those who are tight-fisted with the bounty Allah has given them should not suppose...'" (3:180)

IV: That on which zakat is paid is not considered treasure

according to the words of the Prophet,may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "Zakat is not due on anything less than five uqiyas."

1339. Khalid ibn Aslam said, "We once went out with 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar and a bedouin asked, 'Tell me about the words of Allah, "Those who hoard up gold and silver, and do not spend it in the way of Allah." (9:34)' Ibn 'Umar said, 'Woe to all who hoard them up and do not pay the zakat due on them. This was before the obligation of zakat was revealed. Then when it was revealed, Allah made it something which purifies wealth.'"

1340. It is related that Abu Sa'id said, "No zakat is due on anything less than five uqiyas. No zakat is due on less than five camels. No zakat is due on less than five wasqs."

1341. It is related that Zayd ibn Wahb said, "I passed by ar-Rabadha and came upon Abu Dharr there. I said to him, 'What has brought you here?' He said, 'I was in Syria and Mu'awiya and I disagreed about the ayat, "Those who hoard up gold and silver, and do not spend it in the way of Allah." Mu'awiya said, "It was sent down about the People of the Book." I said, "It was sent down about us and them." We argued about that and and he wrote to 'Uthman to complain about me. 'Uthman wrote to me asking me to come to Madina so I went. A lot of people gathered round me as if they had never seen me before. I mentioned that to 'Uthman and he said to me, "If you wish, you can retire and live near here." That is why I am here in this place and even if an Abyssinian had commanded me, I would have heard and obeyed.'"

[ar-Rabadha is three stages from Madina.]

1342. It is related that al-Ahnaf ibn Qays said, "I was sitting with a group of Quraysh when a man with coarse hair, clothes and appearance came and stood over them, gave the greeting, and then said, 'Give good news to those who hoard up wealth of a stone which will be heated in Hellfire and then placed on their chests till it comes out through their shoulder blades and is then placed on their shoulder blades till it comes out through their chests, going backwards and forwards,' Then he turned and sat down by a column. I followed him and sat beside him, not knowing who he was. I said to him, 'I think the people disliked what you said.' He said, 'They do not understand anything that my friend has told me.' I asked, 'Who is your friend?' He said, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "O Abu Dharr! Can you see Uhud?" So I looked at the sun to see how much of the day was left thinking that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was going to send me to do something for him. I said, "Yes." He said, "I would not like to have the weight of Uhud in gold. I would give away all of it except for three dinars." Those people do not understand and amass the goods of this world. No, by Allah, I will not ask them for anything of this world nor will I seek any advice from them regarding the deen until I meet Allah the Mighty, the Glorious.'"

V: Spending wealth in the way it should be spent

1343. It is related that Ibn Mas'ud said, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'There can be no envy except in respect of two people: a man to whom Allah gives wealth and also the ability to spend it in the way it should be spent, and a man to whom Allah gives wisdom and who then makes decisions according to it and teaches it other people.'"

VI: Ostentation in giving sadaqa

With respect to His words, "You who believe! Do not nullify your sadaqa by demands for gratitude or insulting words" to "Allah does not guide the people of the unbelievers." (2:264) Ibn 'Abbas said, "'Saldan' refers to something that has nothing on it." 'Ikrima said, "Wabil means heavy rain and tall means dew."

VII: Allah does not accept sadaqa from dishonestly acquired property, only accepting it from honest earnings

According to His words, "Those who believe and do right actions and establish the prayer and pay zakat, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and know no sorrow." (2:276-277)

1344. It is related that Abu Hurayra said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever gives in sadaqa as much as a date from honest earnings - and Allah only accepts what is good - Allah will accept it in His right hand and will then increase it in size for the giver, just like one of you might rear a foal, until it is the size of a mountain."

It is corroborated from Ibn Dinar.

Two different isnads.

VIII: Giving sadaqa before it is rejected

1345. It is related that Haritha ibn Wahb was heard to say, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Give sadaqa. For a time will come when a man will go about with his sadaqa and not find anyone to accept it. People will say, 'If you had brought it yesterday, I would have accepted it. Today I have no need of it.'"

1346 It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The Hour will not come until there is so much wealth circulating among you that someone with wealth will be concerned about who will accept his sadaqa and until, when he offers it, the person to whom he offers it says, 'I do not need it.'"

1347. It is related that 'Adi ibn Hatim said, "I was with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when two men came to him. One of them complained of poverty and the other complained about highway robbery. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "As for highway robbery, soon there will come to you a time when a caravan will be able to set out for Makka without a guard. As for poverty, the Hour will not come until one of you goes about with his sadaqa unable to find anyone to accept it from him. Then he will stand before Allah and there will no veil, nor any interpreter to interpret for him, between him and Allah and He will say to him, "Did I not give you wealth?" He will say, "Yes." Then Allah will say, "Did I not send a Messenger to you?" and he will say, "Yes." Then he will look to his right and see nothing but the Fire and then to his left and see nothing but the Fire. Each of you should protect himself from the Fire, even if only with half a date, or, if he cannot manage even that, then with a good word.'"

1348. It is related from Abu Musa that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A time will come upon people when a man will go about with his sadaqa of gold and not find anyone to take it from him. A man will be seen being followed by forty women who seek his protection because of the lack of men and great superfluity of women."

IX: "Protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date" or a small amount of sadaqa

"The likeness of those who expend their wealth, seeking Allah's good pleasure, and to confirm themselves ...(to)...all manner of fruit." (2:265-266)

1349. It is related that Ibn Mas'ud said, "When the ayat of sadaqa was revealed, we were working as porters. A man came and gave a lot of sadaqa and they said, 'A show-off.' Another man came and gave only a sa' in sadaqa and they said, 'Allah does not need this sa'.' Then it was revealed: 'As for the people who find fault with the believers who spontaneously give sadaqa , and with those who can find nothing to give but their own effort, and deride them.' (9:79)"

1350. It is related that Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari said, "When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to instruct us to give sadaqa, we would go to the market and get work as porters to earn a mudd. Today some of us have a hundred thousand."

1351. It is related that 'Adi ibn Hatim said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with only half a date.'"

1352. It is related that 'A'isha said, "A woman came with her two daughters to beg and I had nothing but a date which I gave to her. She divided it between her two daughters, not eating any of it herself. Then she got up and left. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came in to us and I told him about this and he said, 'Anyone who is put to the test by these daughters in anything,they will be shield him from the Fire.'"

X: What is the best kind of sadaqa? Sadaqa given by a tight-fisted healthy person

According to Allah's words, "Spend of what We have provided you before that death comes upon one of you..." (63:10) and "You who believe! Give away some of what We have provided for you before a Day arrives on which there is no trading.." (2:254)

1353. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, which sadaqa has the greatest reward?' He said, 'That you give sadaqa while you are healthy yet tight-fisted, in fear of poverty and desiring wealth. Do not put it off until death is near and you say, "So-and-so should have this much and so-and-so this much,"' when it already belongs to someone else."

1354. It is related from 'A'isha, "The wives of the Prophet said to the Prophet,may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 'Which of us will be the first to join you?' He said, 'The one with the longest hand.' They began to measure their hands and Sawda had the longest hand. Later we understood that the one with the longest hand referred to giving sadaqa. She (Zaynab) was the first of us to meet him and she used to love to give sadaqa.'"

XI: Giving sadaqa openly with regard to Allah's words, "Those who expend their wealth night and day, secretly and in public"..to.."neither shall they sorrow." (2:274)

XII: Giving sadaqa in secret

Abu Hurayra said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A man who gives sadaqa, concealing it so that his left hand does not know what his right hand does..." Allah Almighty says, "If you conceal it, and give to the poor, that is better for you." (2:271)

XIII: When someone unknowingly gives sadaqa to a rich person

1355. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A man said, 'I must give some sadaqa,' and went out with his sadaqa, putting it in the hand of a thief. The next day people said he had given sadaqa to a thief. He said, 'O Allah, praise is Yours. I will again give sadaqa.' He went out with his sadaqa and this time put it in the hand of an adulteress. The next day people said that he had given sadaqa in the night to an adulteress. He said, 'O Allah, praise is Yours. I gave it to an adulteress. I will give more sadaqa.' He went out with his sadaqa and put it in the hand of a rich man. The next day people said he had given sadaqa to a rich man. He said, 'O Allah, praise is Yours. I have given sadaqa to a thief, an adulteress, and a rich man.' Then someone came and said to him, 'Your sadaqa to a thief might make him abstain from stealing. What you gave to the adulteress might make her abstain from her fornication. And what you gave to the rich man might make him reflect so that he will spend out from what Allah has given him.'"

XIV: When someone, without realising it, gives sadaqa to his son

1356. It is related that Ma'n ibn Yazid said, "I, my father and grandfather gave our allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he arranged and concluded my marriage. I once went to him with a complaint. My father Yazid had put aside some dinars to give as sadaqa and placed them in the care of a man in the mosque and then I came and took them and brought them to him. He said, 'By Allah, I did not mean you!' I took the case to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said, 'Yazid, for you what you intended, and for you, Ma'n, what you took.'"

XV: Giving sadaqa with the right hand

1357. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There are seven whom Allah will shade with His shade on the day when there is no shade but His shade: a just Imam, a youth who grows up worshipping Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosque, two men who love each other for the sake of Allah alone, meeting for that reason and parting for that reason, a man who refuses the advances of a noble and beautiful woman, saying, 'I fear Allah', a man who gives sadaqa and conceals it so that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives, and a man who remembers Allah when he is alone and his eyes overflow with tears."

1358. It is related that Haritha ibn Wahb was heard to say, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Give sadaqa. For a time will come when a man will go about with his sadaqa and not find anyone to accept it. People will say, 'If you had brought it yesterday, I would have accepted it. Today I have no need of it.'"

XVI: Someone commanding his servant to give sadaqa and not distributing it himself

Abu Musa said from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "He is one of those who give sadaqa."

1359. It is related that 'A'isha said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When a woman gives some of the food in her house which is not spoiled, she gets a reward for what she gives out, her husband for what he earned and the custodian the same. The reward of one in no way diminishes that of the others."

XVII: Sadaqa should only be given by the wealthy

Anyone who gives sadaqa when he or his family are in need or when he is in debt should know that debts take precedence over sadaqa, setting free slaves and giving presents. Such sadaqa should be returned to him. He has no right to ruin other people's property. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who take's people's property intending to ruin it will be ruined by Allah," unless he is known for his fortitude and prefers others to himself, even when in extreme need, as Abu Bakr did when he gave all his wealth as sadaqa and as the Ansar gave preference to the Muhajirun. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade wastage of wealth so a person has no right to ruin the property of other people by giving sadaqa.

Ka'b mentioned: "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance I want to give away all my property as sadaqa for Allah and His Messenger.' He said, 'It would be better for you to keep some of your property.' I replied, 'In that case I will keep my share from Khaybar.'"

1360. It is related from Abu Hurayra from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he said, "The best sadaqa is that given by the wealthy. Begin with your dependents."

1361. It is related from Hakim ibn Hizam that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Begin with your dependents. The best sadaqa is that given by the wealthy. Anyone who refrains [from asking], Allah will spare him the need to and anyone who seeks to be independent, Allah will give him independence."

Another isnad from Abu Hurayra.

1362. It is related from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said while he was on the minbar and talking about sadaqa and refraining from asking and begging, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is the one which spends and the lower is the beggar's."

XVIII: Someone who makes others feel indebted to him by what he gives

with reference to the words of Allah, "Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do follow up what they have spent..." (2:262)

XIX: Someone wanting to give sadaqa the same day [he gets it]

1363. It is related that 'Uqba ibn al-Harith said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, led us in 'Asr prayer. He got up hurriedly and entered the room. He came out immediately and I asked (or he was asked) about that. He said, 'I left a piece of gold of sadaqa in the room and I did not want it to be with me in the night so I distributed it.' "

XX: Encouraging people to give sadaqa and interceding for others to get it

1364. It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out on the Day of 'Id and prayed two rak'ats and did not pray before or after it. Then he went to the women with Bilal and warned them and commanded them to give sadaqa. So a woman began to give her ear-rings and rings."

1365. It is related that the father of Abu Burda ibn Abi Musa said, "When a beggar came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or something was requested from him, he said, 'Intercede on behalf of others and you will get the reward. Allah achieves what He will on the tongue of His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace."

1366. It is related that Asma' said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, 'Do not withhold or it will be withheld from you.'"

It is related from 'Abda, "And he said, 'Do not count up what you have or Allah will count up what you owe Him!'"

XXI: Giving as much sadaqa as possible

1367. It is related from Asma' bint Abi Bakr that she went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said, "Do not be retentive or Allah will be retentive in respect of you. Spend as much as you can."

XXII: Sadaqa wipes out wrong action

1368.It is related that Hudhayfa said, "'Umar said, 'Who among you remembers the hadith of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about the trials (fitna)?'" He said, "I said, 'I remember it as he said it.' He said, 'You are bold enough for it. How was it?'" He said, "I said, 'A man's trial regarding his wife, children and neighbours is wiped out by the prayer, sadaqa and doing what is right.' (Sulayman said that he used to say, 'prayer, sadaqa and commanding the right and forbidding the wrong.') 'Umar said, 'That is not what I meant. Rather I meant that which will spread like the waves of the sea.'" He said, "I said, 'You need not worry about it, Amir al-Mu'minin. There is a locked door between you and it.' He said, 'Will the door be broken down or opened?'" He said, "I said, 'No, it will be broken.' He said, 'When it is broken, it will never be closed again?'" He said, "I said, 'Yes.'" Abu Wa'il said, "We were afraid to ask him about the door and we said to Masruq, 'Ask him.'" He said, "He said, 'I asked him and he said, "'Umar."'" He said, "We said, 'Did 'Umar know who was meant?' He said, ''Yes, as there will be night before tomorrow.'" That is a hadith which he related to me without errors.

XXIII: Someone giving sadaqa while still an idolater and then becoming Muslim

1369. It is related that Hakim ibn Hizam said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, what do you say about the things such as sadaqa, freeing slaves and maintaining kinship which I used to do to purify myself in the time of Jahiliyya? Will there be any reward for them?' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, 'You became Muslim with all the good you did in the past.'"

XXIV: The reward of a servant when he gives sadaqa on the orders of his master which is not spoiled

1370. It is related that 'A'isha said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When a woman gives some of her husband's food in her house which is not spoiled, she gets a reward for what she gives out, her husband for what he earned and the custodian the same."

1371. It is related from Abu Musa that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The trustworthy Muslim custodian who carries out (and he may have said, "gives") what he is ordered to do fully, generously and cheerfully, and pays it to the person to whom he was ordered to pay it, is one of those who give sadaqa."

XXV: The reward of a woman when she gives sadaqa or feeds people from her husband's house without spoiling it

1372. It is related from 'A'isha from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he was referring to a woman giving sadaqa from her husband's house.

It is related from 'A'isha that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When a woman gives someone something to eat from the house of her husband which is not spoiled, she gets her reward and he gets the same and the custodian has the same again. Her husband gets it for what he earned and she for what she spent."

1373. It is related from 'A'isha that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When a woman spends something some food from her house which is not spoiled, she gets her reward and the husband gets what he earned and the custodian has the same again."

XXVI: The words of Allah Almighty, "As for him who gives out and is godfearing and confirms the Good, We will pave his way to Ease. But as for him who is stingy and self-satisfied, and denies the Good, We will pave his way to Difficulty." (92:5-10) "O Allah, refund the one who gives money."

1374. It is related that Abu Hurayra said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is no day which dawns on the slaves Of Allah without two angels descending and one of them saying, 'O Allah, refund those who give money' and the other saying, 'O Allah, ruin those who withhold it.'"

XXVII: The likeness of someone who gives sadaqa and a miser

1375. It is related that Abu Hurayra said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The likeness of the miser and someone who gives sadaqa is like two men wearing shirts of chain-mail."

It is related that Abu Hurayra heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "The likeness of the miser and the one who gives is like two men wearing shirts of chain-mail from their breasts to their collar bones. When the giver of sadaqa spends, his shirt expands over his body until it covers his fingertips and obliterates his footsteps. When the miser wants to spend anything, every link remains in its place. He tries to make it looser but it will not get looser."

Tawus corroborates "the two shirts of chain-mail."

Tawus said, "two shirts of chain-mail".

It is related from Abu Hurayra, "I heard Abu Hurayra the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "Two shirts of chain-mail."

XXVIII: Sadaqa from earnings and trade

with reference to the words of Allah Almighty, "O you who believe, spend of the good things you have earned...(to)..."Allah is Rich Beyond Need, Praiseworthy." (2:267)

XXIX: Every Muslim should give sadaqa. Anyone who has nothing to give should do what is right

1376. It is related from the grandfather of Abu Burda that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Every Muslim should give sadaqa." They said, "O Prophet of Allah, what about if someone has nothing to give?" He said, "He should get work and earn something and give sadaqa." They said, "And if he cannot get any?" He said, "He should help someone troubled by a need." They said, "If he cannot not find anyone?" He said, "He should do what is right and refrain from evil. That is sadaqa for him."

XXX: How much should be given in zakat and sadaqa. Someone who gives a sheep

1377. It is related that Umm 'Atiyya said, "A sheep was sent to Nusayba al-Ansariyya and she sent some of it to 'A'isha. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, 'Have you got anything?' I said, 'No, except what Nusayba sent from that sheep.' He said, 'Bring it. It has reached its place.'"

XXXI: The zakat on silver

1378. It is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "No zakat is due on anything less than five uqiyas. No zakat is due on less than five camels. No zakat is due on less than five wasqs.".

1379. This is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

XXXII: Paying zakat in other goods.

Tawus said that Mu'adh said to the people of Yemen, "Bring me small or second-hand garments for zakat instead of barley and millet. It will be easy for you and good for the Companions of the Prophet in Madina."

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Khalid has kept his chain-mail and weapons for fighting the way of Allah." The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Give sadaqa, even from your jewelry.' He did not distinguish the obligatory zakat from other sadaqa. A woman would begin to give her ear-rings and necklace. He did not make "goods" specific to gold and silver.

1380. It is related from Anas that Abu Bakr wrote to him concerning what Allah had instucted his Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to do in the case of someone whose sadaqa payment should have been a one year old she-camel, which he did not have, while he did have a two year old she-camel. It should be accepted from him and the zakat-collector would give him twenty dirhams or two sheep in compensation. If he had no one year old she-camel but did have a two year old male camel, it should be accepted from him and he would not receive anything in compensation."

1381. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas, "I am a witness to the fact that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did the prayer before giving the khutba. He thought that the women could not hear, so he went to them with Bilal, who was holding out his garment, and admonished them and commanded them to give sadaqa. A woman began to give." (Ayyub indicated his ears and neck.)

XXXIII: The wealth of individuals should not be combined nor shared wealth split up,

as is mentioned from Salim from Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

1382. It is related from Anas that Abu Bakr wrote to him about what had been made obligatory by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: that the wealth of individuals should not be combined, nor shared wealth split up, merely because of the fear of having to pay (more) zakat.

XXXIV: If there are two equal partners, they pay in equal parts between them

Tawus and 'Ata' said, "If the two partners know their individual shares, their property is not combined." Sufyan said, "It does not become obligatory until each of them has forty sheep."

1383. It is related from Anas that Abu Bakr wrote to him about what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had made obligatory, "If there are two equal partners, they pay in equal parts between them."

XXXV: The zakat of camels

Abu Bakr, Abu Dharr and Abu Hurayra mentioned it from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace/

1384. It is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, "A bedouin asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about hijra and he said, 'Woe to you! It is a hard business. Do you have any camels on which you pay zakat?" He said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Even though you work beyond the seas, Allah will not neglect any action you do.'"

XXXVI: Someone whose zakat is a two year old she-camel which he does not have

1385. It is related from Anas that Abu Bakr wrote to them about the obligatory zakat which Allah commanded His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to collect: "Anyone whose zakat is a four year old she-camel and who does not have one but does have a three year old she-camel, the three year old is accepted from him and he adds two sheep to it, if they are easily available to him, or alternatively twenty dirhams. Anyone whose zakat is a three year old she-camel and who does not have one, but does have a four year old she-camel, the four year old is accepted from him and the zakat-collector gives him twenty dirhams or two sheep. Anyone whose zakat is a three year old she-camel and who only has a two year old she-camel, the two year old is accepted from him and he adds two sheep or twenty dirhams. Anyone whose zakat is a two year old she-camel who has a three year old she-camel, it is accepted from him and the zakat-collector gives him twenty dirhams or two sheep. Anyone whose zakat is a two year old she-camel and who does not have one, but who does have a one year old she-camel, the one year old is accepted from him and he adds twenty dirhams or two sheep."

XXXVII: The zakat of sheep

1386. It is related from Anas that Abu Bakr wrote him this letter when he sent him to Bahrayn: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. This concerns the obligation of zakat which the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made obligatory for the Muslims and to which Allah commanded His Messenger. Any Muslim who is asked to pay the correct amount should pay it and anyone who is asked is asked for more than that should not pay it. For twenty-four camels or less it is paid in sheep, one sheep for every five camels. From twenty-five to thirty-five, it is a one year old she-camel. From thirty-six to forty-five, it is a two year old she-camel. From forty-six to sixty, it is a three-year old female fit for breeding. From sixty-one to seventy-five, it is a four year old she-camel. From seventy-six to ninety, it is two two year old she-camels. From ninety-one to one hundred and twenty, it is two three year old she-camels fit for breeding. If there are more than one hundred and twenty, it is a two-year old female for every forty and a three-year old for every fifty. If someone has only four camels, he does not have to pay any zakat unless he wishes to. When the camels reach five in number a sheep is owed for them.

"As for the zakat of grazing sheep, from forty to one hundred it is one sheep. If there are between one hundred and twenty and two hundred, it is two sheep. If there are between two hundred and three hundred it is three. If there are more than three hundred, it is one sheep for every hundred. If the man's flock is less than forty sheep, there is no zakat on them unless their owner wishes.

"For silver it is one-fortieth. If the amount is only one hundred and ninety dirhams, nothing is owed unless its owner wishes."

XXXVIII: Neither old animals, ones with defects nor rams should be taken as zakat unless the zakat-collector wishes to do so

1387. It is related from Anas that Abu Bakr wrote to him what Allah had commanded His Messenger , may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "Neither an old animal, one with a defect nor a ram is taken as zakat unless the zakat-collector wishes to do so."

XXXIX: Taking a young she-goat as zakat

1388. It is related from Abu Hurayra that Abu Bakr said, "If Allah, if they refuse a she-goat which they used to pay to the Messenger of Allah, I will fight them for it.' 'Umar said, 'By Allah, the fact was that Allah had given Abu Bakr true insight and I recognised that he was right.'"

XL: Not taking zakat from people's most prized property

1389. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said, "You are going to a people who have a Book. The first thing you call them to should be the worship of Allah. When they acknowledge Allah, then tell them that Allah has made the five prayers obligatory for them in a twenty-four day. When they do the prayer, inform them that Allah has made it obligatory for zakat to be taken from their property and given to their poor. If they obey you in that, take it from them but avoid people's most prized property."

XLI: There is no zakat on less than five camels

1390. It is related that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "No zakat is due on anything less than five wasqs of dates. No zakat is due on less than five uqiyas of silver. No zakat is due on less than five camels."

XLII: The zakat of cattle

Abu Humayd said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I would not wish to see a man coming before Allah with a mooing cow." It is said that khuwwar means lowing with their voices raised as cows low.

1391. It is related that Abu Dharr said, "I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said, 'By the One in whose hand my self is (or "By the One, there is no god but Him" or as he swore), every man who has camels, cattle or sheep whose due is not paid will be presented with them on the Day of Rising larger and fatter than they were and they will trample him with their hooves and gore him with their horns. Every time the last one leaves him the first comes back again, until all the judgements between people are decided."

It is related from Abu Hurayra from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

XLIII: Paying zakat to relative

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "He will have two rewards: that of kinship and that of sadaqa."

1392. It is related from Ishaq ibn 'Abdullah ibn Abi Talha that he heard Anas ibn Malik say, "Abu Talha had more property in palm trees than any of the Ansar in Madina. His favourite property was Bayruha' which was opposite the mosque. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to enter it and drink its sweet water." Anas said, "When this ayat was sent down: 'You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love,' (3:92) Abu Talha went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'Messenger of Allah, Allah, may He be blessed and exalted! says, "You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love." The property I love the best is Bayruha'. It is sadaqa for Allah whose goodness I hope for and I hope that it will be stored up for me with Allah. Messenger of Allah, dispose of it in whatever way Allah shows you is best.' The Messenger of Allah , may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Excellent! That is a profitable property. That is is a profitable property. I have heard what you have said and I think that you should give it to your relatives.' Abu Talha said, 'I will do that, Messenger of Allah!' So Abu Talha divided it among his relatives and cousins."

Rawh corroborated it. Malik said "ra'ih" (rather than rabih)

1393. It is related that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, set out to the place of prayer on the day of Ad-ha or Fitr and admonished the people and commanded them to give alms, saying, 'O people! Give alms!' Then he passed by the women. He said, 'O congregation of women! Give alms for I have seen that you will make up the majority of the inhabitants of the Fire!' They said, 'Why, Messenger of Allah?' He said, 'You call down too many curses and show ingratitude to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intellect or deen. Yet the mind of even a resolute man might be swept away by one of you. O company of women!' Then he left. When he reached his house, Zaynab, the wife of Ibn Mas'ud, came and asked permission to enter. It was said, 'Messenger of Allah, Zaynab is here.' He said, 'Which Zaynab?' He was told, 'The wife of Ibn Mas'ud.' He said, 'Yes, let her enter.' She said, 'Prophet of Allah. Today you instructed us to give sadaqa and I have some jewellery which I wanted to give as sadaqa but Ibn Mas'ud claimed that he and his children have more right to be given it as sadaqa.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, Ibn Mas'ud spoke the truth. Your husband and children are more entitled for it to be given as sadaqa to them.'"

XLIV: A Muslim not having to pay zakat on his horses

1394. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A Muslim does not have to pay zakat on his horse or slave."

XLV: A Muslim does not have to pay zakat on his slaves

1395. It is related from Abu Hurayra from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A Muslim does not have to pay zakat on his horse or slave."

XLVI: Giving sadaqa to orphans

1396. It is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, "One day the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on the minbar and we sat around him. He said, 'Part of what I fear for you after I have gone is the beauty and attraction of this world which will be opened up to you.' A man said, 'Messenger of Allah, can evil come from good?' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was silent. Then (the man) was told, 'What is wrong with you! You speak to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he is not speaking to you!' Then we saw that something was being revealed to him." He continued, "He wiped the sweat off and said, 'Where is the man who asked,' and it seemed as if he was praising him. He said, 'Evil does not come from good. New Spring verdure can cause illness or even death if the animals that eat the greenery do not, after eating their fill, then face towards the sun and defecate and urinate and then graze again. This wealth is verdant and sweet. Blessed is that wealth from which a Muslim gives to the poor, the orphan and the traveller.' Or as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said. 'Anyone who takes it without having any right to it is like someone who eats and is not satisfied. It will be a witness against him on the Day of Rising."

XLVII: Giving zakat to a spouse and orphans in one's care

Abu Sa'id reported that from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

1397. It is related that Zaynab, the wife of 'Abdullah, said, "I was in the mosque and heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Give sadaqa, even from your jewellery.'" Zaynab used to maintain 'Abdullah and some orphans in her care. 'Amr said, "She said to 'Abdullah, 'Ask the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, whether it will be enough sadaqa for me to maintain you and the orphans in my care.' He said, 'You ask the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' She said, 'So I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and found one of the women of the Ansar at the door whose situation was similar to mine. Bilal passed by us and we said, "Ask the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, if it is enough for me to maintain my husband and the orphans I have in my care." We said, "Do not say who we are." He went in and asked him and he said, "Who are they?" He said, "Zaynab." He said, "Which Zaynab?" He said, "The wife of 'Abdullah." He said, "Yes, she will have two rewards: the reward of kinship and the reward of sadaqa."'"

1398. It is related that Zaynab, the daughter of Umm Salama, said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, will I have a reward if I maintain the sons of Abu Salama when they are my sons?' He said, 'Maintain them. You will have a reward for everything you spend on them.'"

XLVIII: The words of Allah Almighty, "for the ransoming of slaves, debtors and in the way of Allah." (9:60)

It is mentioned from Ibn 'Abbas that someone can free slaves with the zakat on his property and pay for someone to go on hajj. Al-Hasan said, "It is allowed for someone to free his father out of the zakat and to give it to people doing jihad and people who have not yet done hajj." Then he recited, "Zakat is for the poor..." "Anyone who gives to them, will be rewarded."

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Khalid has kept his armour for fighting in the way of Allah." It is mentioned from Abu Las, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mounted us on zakat camels when we went on hajj."

1399. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered the collection of zakat and was told that Ibn Jamil, Khalid ibn al-Walid and 'Abbas ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib refused to pay. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Why does Ibn Jamil not want to pay when he was poor and Allah and His Messenger made him rich. As for Khalid, you wrong him. He has kept his armour and weapons for fighting in the way of Allah. As for al-'Abbas ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib, he is the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and must pay his zakat and the same again with it."

Ibn Abi'z-Zinad corroborated it from his father.

It is related from Ibn Abi'z-Zinad, "It is due from him and its like with it."

XLIX: Refraining from begging

1400. It is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, "Some of the people of the Ansar asked something from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he gave it to them. Then they asked him again and he gave to them until he had used up everything he had. He said, 'If I had anything more, I would not withhold it from you. Whoever refrains, Allah will spare him from needing to ask. Whoever wants to be independent, Allah will make him so. Whoever shows fortitude, Allah will increase him in it. No one can be given any better and greater gift than fortitude.'"

1401. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "By the One in whose hand my self is, it is better for one of you to take a rope and carry firewood on his back than for him to go to a man to beg from him who then gives to him or refuses to."

1402. It is related from az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is better for one of you to take a rope and bring a faggot of firewood on his back and sell it so that Allah gives him what he needs than for him to ask people who then give to him or refuse."

1403. It is related that Hakim ibn Hizam said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he gave to me and then I asked him and he gave to me and then I asked him again and he gave to me. Then he said, 'Hakim, wealth is verdant and sweet. Anyone who takes it in a generous spirit will be blessed in it but anyone who takes it in an avaricious way will not be blessed in it, like someone who eats and is not satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower hand.'" Hakim said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, by the One who sent you with the Truth, I will never again ask anyone for anything until I leave this world.'" Abu Bakr called Hakim to take his share and he refused to take it from him. Then 'Umar called him to give to him and he refused to accept anything from him either. 'Umar said, "I call on you to testify, company of Muslims, that I offered Hakim his share of this booty and he refused to take it. Hakim did not take anything from any person after the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, until he died.

L: The one to whom Allah gives something without his asking or being greedy

1404. It is related that 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to give me a gift and I would say, 'Give it to someone who is poorer and more in need of it than I am.' He said, 'Take it. When some property comes to you without your being greedy for it nor asking for it, then take it. But if you are not given anything, do not run after it.'"

LI: Someone asking from people in order to increase his wealth

1405. It is related from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A man will continue to ask from other people until on the Day of Rising he does not have a single piece of flesh on his face." He said, "The sun will draw near on the Day of Rising until people's sweat reaches half way up their ears. When they are in that state, they will seek help first from Adam, then from Musa and then from Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace."

Ibn Abi Ja'far added, "He will intercede for Allah to judge between His creatures. He will go on until he takes hold of the ring of the door and then Allah will raise him to a praiseworthy station and all the people of the Gathering will praise him."

Ibn 'Umar related it about asking from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

LII: The words of Allah Almighty, "they do not beg of men importunately." (2:273) How much constitutes wealth

The words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "He does not have enough wealth to fulfill his needs" about "The poor who are restrained in the way of Allah ...(to)...Allah has knowledge of it." (2:273)

1406. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The very poor man is not the one who asks for a bite or two to eat, but the one who does not have enough for himself but is too shy to ask - or does not beg from people importunately."

1407. It is related from ash-Sha'bi, "The scribe of al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba related, 'Mu'awiya wrote to al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, "Write for me something which you heard from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." He wrote to me, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Allah hates three things for you: Idle chitchat, wastage of wealth and too much questioning."'"

1408. It is related that Sa'd said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was distributing things to a group of people while I was sitting among them." He said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, left out a man whom I admired and did not give to him. I went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and spoke privately to him, 'Messenger of Allah, what about that person? By Allah, I see him to be a believer (mu'min).' He said, 'Or just a Muslim?' I was silent for a while and then what I knew about him became too much for me and I said,. 'Messenger of Allah, What about that person? By Allah, I see him to be a believer." He said, "I was silent for a while and then what I knew about him became too much for me and I said, 'What about that person? By Allah, I see him to be a believer.' He said, 'Or just a Muslim?' He said, 'I give to one man [and leave out] another I love more than him out of fear that Allah might throw him on his face into the Fire.'"

It is related from Isma'il ibn Muhammad that he heard his father relate this. In his hadith, he said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, struck his hand, grasped me between the shoulder and neck and said, 'Advance, Sa'd, I will give to the man.'"

Abu 'Abdullah said, "Kabukbu (17:94) is to fall headfirst. As for mukibb (grovelling) (67:22), a man grovels  "akabba" when his action does not affect anyone else. When the action occurred, you say, 'Allah threw him on his face (kabba)' and you say  'I threw him (kababtuhu).'

1409. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The very poor man is not the one who who goes around to people for a bite or two to eat or a date or two, but the one who does not have enough for himself whose condition is not known so as to ensure his being given sadaqa and does not go and ask people.".

1410. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is better for one of you to take a rope and and go in the morning (I think he said "to the mountains") and get firewood and sell it and eat and give sadaqa than for him to go to a man to beg from him."

From az-Zuhri who met Ibn 'Umar.

LIII: Estimating a quantity of dates

1411. It is related that Abu Humayd as-Sa'idi said, "We went on the expedition of Tabuk with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When he came to Wadi'l-Qura, there was a woman in a walled garden she owned. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to his Companions, 'Make an estimation.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, estimated that there were ten wasqs. He said to her, 'Calculate what it yields.' When we came to Tabuk, he said, 'There will be a strong gale tonight, so no one should stand up and everyone who has a camel should hobble it.' We hobbled them and a strong gale blew up and a man stood up and was blown down the mountain of Tayy'. The King of Ayla gave the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a white mule and clothed him in a cloak. He wrote to him about their land. When he returned to Wadi'l-Qura, he said to the woman, 'How much did your garden produce?' She said, 'Ten wasqs,' which was as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had estimated. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I am hurrying back to Madina so anyone who wants to come with me should make haste.'"

Then Ibn Bakkar said something which means, "He looked down on Madina and said, 'This is Taba.' When he saw Uhud, he said, 'This is a mountain which loves us and which we love. Shall I tell you which are the best households of the Ansar?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'The households of the Banu'n-Najjr, then the those of the Banu 'Abdu'l-Ashhal, then of the Banu Sa'ida or of the Banu'l-Harith ibn al-Khazraj, but it (i.e. good) is in all the households of the Ansar.'"

[Taba is one of the names of Madina. It means "good, wholesome".]

'Amr related, "Then the house of the Banu'l-Harith, then the Banu Sa'ida."

It is related from Ibn 'Abbas from his father that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Uhud is a mountain which loves us and which we love."

2688. Abu 'Abdullah said, "Every garden (bustan) which has a wall is called a hadiqa and one which does not have a wall is not a hadiqa."

LIV: 'Ushr (a tenth) is taken from land which is irrigated by rain water or running water.

'Umar ibn 'Abdu'l-'Aziz did not think that there was any (zakat) to pay on honey.

1412. It is related from Salim ibn 'Abdullah £ that the Prophet * said, "There is 'ushr on land watered by the sky or springs or running springs. There is half of an 'ushr (a twentieth) on land watered by wells."

Abu 'Abdullah said, "This explains the first because in the first there is no time element involved," i.e. the hadith of Ibn 'Umar: "There is a tenth on what is irrigated by rain water." It is made clear in this and the time element indicated. However, more is accepted. That for which there is clear explanation has more authority than what is unclear, when reliable people relate it, like in the case of al-Fadl ibn 'Abbas relating that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not pray in the Ka'ba when Bilal said that he did. What Bilal said is taken and what al-Fadl said is left.

LV: There is no zakat on less than five wasqs

1413. It is related that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "No zakat is due on less than five wasqs. No zakat is due on less than five camels. No zakat is due on anything less than five uqiyas of silver."

Abu 'Abdullah said, "This explains the first instance when he said, 'There is no zakat on less than five wasqs'. In knowledge, one always takes what firm people add or make clear.'"

LVI: Taking the zakat of dates when the date-palms are harvested. Is a child allowed to touch the dates of zakat?

1414. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was brought the dates when the palm-trees were harvested. This one would bring his dates and that one would bring his dates until there was a heap of dates in front of him. Al-Hasan and al-Husayn began to play with those dates. One of them took a date and put it in his mouth. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, looked at him and took it out of his mouth, saying, 'Did you not you know that the family of Muhammad do not eat the zakat?'"

LVII. CHAPTER: Someone selling his fruit, palm trees, land or crops when the 'ushr or zakat is due on them and then paying the zakat he owes from something else, or selling his fruit before zakat is due on it.

The words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "Do not sell dates until it is clear that they are good."

He did not forbid anyone to sell after this, and did not specify who should or should not pay the zakat.

1415. It is related from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling dates until it was clear that they were good. When he was asked about when this was, he said, "When the danger of blight has passed."

1416. It is related from Jabir ibn 'Abdullah that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling dates until it was clear that they were good."

1417. It is related from Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling dates until they were fully grown. He said, "Until they are red."

LVIII: Can someone buy back his own sadaqa?

There is nothing wrong in buying what was given by someone else as sadaqa because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, only forbade the one giving sadaqa from buying it but did not forbid anyone else.

1418. It is related from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab gave a horse as sadaqa in the way of Allah and then found it being sold and wanted to buy it back. He went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and consulted him about it. He said, 'Do not take back your sadaqa.' Therefore whenever Ibn 'Umar bought something he had given as sadaqa he would always give it away again as sadaqa."

1419. It is related that 'Umar said, "I gave away (a mount) a horse in the way of Allah and the person who had it did not look after it properly. I wanted to buy it back and thought that he would sell it cheaply. I asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said, 'Do not buy it nor take back your sadaqa even if he were to give it to you for a dirham. The one who takes back his sadaqa is like the one who swallows his own vomit.'"

LIX: What is mentioned about sadaqa given to the Prophet

1420. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "Al-Husayn ibn 'Ali took a date from the sadaqa dates and put it in his mouth. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'No, no!' so that he would spit it out. He said, 'Are you not aware that we do not eat sadaqa?'"

LX: Sadaqa to the clients of the wives of the Prophet

1421. It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, found a dead sheep which had been given as sadaqa to a client of Maymuna. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Why don't you use its skin?' They said, 'It is carrion.' He said, 'It is only unlawful to eat it.'"

1422. It is related from al-Aswad that 'A'isha wanted to buy Barira to set her free and her masters wanted to stipulate keeping her wala' as a precondition. 'A'isha mentioned it to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to her, "Buy her. The wala' belongs to the one who sets free." She said, "Some meat was brought to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,  and I said, 'This was given as sadaqa to Barira.' He said, 'It is sadaqa for her and a gift for us.'"

[Keeping the wala' would make them her heirs.]

LXI: When sadaqa is transferred

1423. It is related that Umm 'Atiyya al-Ansariyya said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to 'A'isha and asked, 'Do you have anything?' She said, 'No, except what Nusayba sent to me from the sheep which was sent to her as sadaqa. He said, 'It has reached its place.'"

1424. It is related from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was brought some meat which had been given as sadaqa to Barira and said, 'It is sadaqa for her and a gift for us.'"

Qatada heard it from Anas from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

LXII: Taking sadaqa from the rich and giving it to the poor wherever they are

1425. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Mu'adh ibn Jabal when he sent him to Yemen, "You are going to a people who have a Book. When you come to them, call on them to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. When they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has made the five prayers obligatory for them in a twenty-four day. When they obey you in that, inform them that Allah has made it obligatory for zakat to be taken from their property and given to their poor. If they obey you in that, beware of the precious things of people and beware of the supplication of the wronged. There is no screen between him and Allah."

LXIII: The prayer of the Imam and his supplication for someone who gives sadaqa

His words, "Take sadaqa from their wealth to purify and cleanse them and pray for them. Your prayers bring relief to them." (9:103)

1426. It is related that 'Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa said, "When people brought their sadaqa to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he would say, 'O Allah, bless the family of so-and-so.' My father took his sadaqa to him and said, 'O Allah, bless the family of Abu Awfa.'"

LXIV: Things taken out of the sea

Ibn 'Abbas said, 'Ambergris is not buried wealth, but something cast out by the sea." Al-Hasan said, "There is a fifth on ambergris and pearls." The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, appointed a fifth on buried treasure, but not on things is taken out of the water.

1427. It is related from Abu Hurayra from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that a man of the Banu Isra'il asked someone of the Banu Isra'il to lend him a thousand dinars and he gave it to him. He set out to the sea but could not find a boat. He took a piece of wood and bored a hole in it, put the thousand dinars in it and threw it into the sea. The man who had lent it to him went out and found the piece of wood. He took it as a firewood for his family." And he mentioned in the hadith that when he sawed it up he found the money."

LXV: There is a fifth (khums) on buried treasure

Malik and Ibn Idris said, "Treasure (rikaz) was buried in the time of Jahiliyya, and there is a fifth on it, be it small or great. Mines are not buried treasure. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Nothing is taken on mines and there is a fifth on buried treasure."

'Umar ibn 'Abdu'l-'Aziz took fifth from every two hundred in minerals."

Al-Hasan said, "There is khums on buried treasure in enemy territory, and there is only zakat if it is in the land of peace. If something lost is found in enemy territory, it is made known. If it belongs to an enemy, there is a fifth on it."

Some people said that mines are the same as what was buried in the time of Jahiliyya because one uses the verb "arkaza" for the mine producing, meaning when something is brought out of it. It is said to the one who is given something who has a lot of profit or a lot of fruitt, "You have found a treasure (arkazat.") Then he said, "There is no harm if he conceals it and does not pay the fifth."

1428. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is no payment on dumb animals, no payment on wells and there is a fifth on buried treasure."

LXVI: The words of Allah Almighty, "those who work to collect it." (9:60) It is up to the Imam to supervise the zakat-collectors

1429. It is related that Abu Humayd as-Sa'idi said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, appointed a man of al-Asad called Ibn al-Lutbiya to collect the zakat of the Banu Sulaym. When he came, he checked it."

LXVII: Using the zakat camels and their milk for travellers

1430. It is related that Anas said, "Some people came from [the tribe of] 'Urayna and became ill. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, allowed them to go to the zakat-camels and to drink their urine and milk [for their treatment]. They killed the herdsman of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and drove the camels away. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent and they were brought to him and he had their hands and feet cut off and nails were driven in their eyes and they were left in al-Harra' biting stones (due to thirst)."

Abu Qilaba, Humayd and Thabit corroborated it from Anas.

LXVIII: The ruler branding the zakat-camels with his own hand

1431. It is related that Anas ibn Malik  said, "I took 'Abdullah ibn Abi Talha to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so he could do tahnik for him. I found him with a branding-iron in his hand with which he was branding the zakat camels."

[Tahnik is to chew a date and rub the child's gums with it.]

Chapter 30. Sadaqat Al-Fitr

I: The obligation of Sadaqat (Zakat) al-Fitr

Abu'l-'Aliya, 'Ata' and Ibn Sirin thought that Sadaqat al-Fitr was obligatory.

1432. It is related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made zakat al-Fitr obligatory for the Muslims - slave and free, male and female, young and old, being a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley. He commanded that it be paid before people went out to the prayer."

II: Sadaqat al-Fitr is obligatory for the slave and other Muslims

1433. It is related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made zakat al-Fitr obligatory for the Muslims - slave and free, male and female, young and old, being a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley. He commanded that it be paid before people went out to the prayer."

III: A sa' of barley

1434. It is related that Abu Sa'id said, "The food we gave as sadaqa was a sa' of barley."

IV: The Sadaqat al-Fitr is a sa' of food

1435. It is related that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "We used to pay out the zakat al-Fitr with a sa' of food [grain], a sa' of barley, a sa' of dates, a sa' of cottage cheese or a sa' of raisins."

V: Sadaqat al-Fitr is a sa' of dates

1436. It is related that 'Abdullah said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded the zakat al-Fitr to be a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley." 'Abdullah said, "People equate it with two mudds of wheat."

VI: A sa' of raisins

1437. It is related that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "In the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we used to pay out the zakat al-Fitr with a sa' of food [grain], a sa' of dates, a sa' of barley, or a sa' of raisins. During the time of Mu'awiya when there was Syrian wheat, he said, 'I think that one mudd of this is equal to two mudds.'"

VII: Sadaqat before the 'Id

1438. It is related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded zakat al-Fitr to be paid before people went out to the prayer."

1439. It is related that Abu Sa'id said, "In the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we used to bring out a sa' of food on the day of Fitr." Abu Sa'id said, "Our food used to be barley, raisins, cottage cheese and dates."

VIII: Sadaqat al-Fitr is obligatory for the free and the slave

Az-Zuhri said about slaves who are for sale that there is zakat on the trade and zakat al-Fitr.

1440. It is related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made zakat al-Fitr (or he said Ramadan) obligatory for the Muslims - male and female, slave and free, being a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley. The people made it equal to half a sa' of wheat.

Ibn 'Umar used to give dates. The people of Madina had a shortage of dates and gave barley. Ibn 'Umar used to pay for the young and old. He even used to pay for my children. Ibn 'Umar used to give to those who collected it and they gave it a day or two before the Fitr."

IX: Sadaqat al-Fitr owed by the young and old

1441. It is related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made zakat al-Fitr obligatory for the Muslims - young and old, slave and free, being a sa' of barley or a sa' of dates."


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