الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 4, page 48

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Aban from abu Basir who has said the following: “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.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. In another Hadith, it is narrated from abu Basir who has said the following: “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.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from a man who has said the following: “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.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.