Charity & Zakat

اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Make the means of sustenance descend to you by giving charity.’”

مَا أَحْسَنَ عَبْدٌ الصَّدَقَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ الْخِلَافَةَ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ قَالَ حُسْنُ الصَّدَقَةِ يَقْضِي الدَّيْنَ وَ يَخْلُفُ عَلَى الْبَرَكَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whenever a man gives charity of the best quality, Allah replaces it for him with children in the same way (of best quality children) after his passing away.” The Imam has also said, ‘Giving charity of best quality pays off debts and leaves behind blessings.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ وَصَلَ قَرِيباً بِحَجَّةٍ أَوْ عُمْرَةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ حَجَّتَيْنِ وَ عُمْرَتَيْنِ وَ كَذَلِكَ مَنْ حَمَلَ عَنْ حَمِيمٍ‌[1] يُضَاعِفُ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْأَجْرَ ضِعْفَيْنِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “For one who helps a relative to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah, Allah writes it as though it was two Hajj and two ‘Umrah. Likewise is the case when a friend helps his friend, that is, Allah doubles

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ عَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ الْكَاشِحِ‌[2].

‘It is charity to a hostile relative.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَ الْقَرْضُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ[3] وَ صِلَةُ الْإِخْوَانِ بِعِشْرِينَ وَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ بِأَرْبَعَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has stated the following Hadith. ‘The Messenger of Allah has, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, ‘The reward

أَرْضَاكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَسْبَغُكُمْ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ’Of the people among you with whom Allah is most happy, is the one who improves the quality of life of his family the most.”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ لِي ضَيْعَةً بِالْجَبَلِ أَسْتَغِلُّهَا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ ثَلَاثَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأُنْفِقُ عَلَى عِيَالِي مِنْهَا أَلْفَيْ دِرْهَمٍ وَ أَتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهَا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنْ كَانَتِ الْأَلْفَانِ تَكْفِيهِمْ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ لِسَنَتِهِمْ فَقَدْ نَظَرْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ وَ وُفِّقْتَ لِرُشْدِكَ وَ أَجْرَيْتَ نَفْسَكَ فِي

“Once a man said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘I have a certain amount of property in the mountains from which I receive three thousand dirham profit every year. I spend two thousand dirham for my family and one thousand dirham for charity every year.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘If the two thousand is enough for all of th

يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ كَيْلَا يَتَمَنَّوْا مَوْتَهُ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- وَ يُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى‌ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَ يَتِيماً وَ أَسِيراً[2] قَالَ الْأَسِيرُ عِيَالُ الرَّجُلِ يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ إِذَا زِيدَ فِي النِّعْمَةِ أَنْ يَزِيدَ أُسَرَاءَهُ فِي السَّعَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ فُلَاناً أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَمَنَعَهَا أُسَرَاءَهُ وَ جَعَلَهَا

‘A man should better the quality of life of his family so that they may not wish for his death.’ He then recited this from the Holy Quran, “They give food, because of their love for Him, to a destitute, orphan and captive.” (76:8) Captive (in this verse) is a reference to one’s family; thus, he should improve the quali

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَ ابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ‌[3].

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘A providing hand is better than an asking hand, and you should begin providing for your family.’”

قَالَ: صَاحِبُ النِّعْمَةِ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ التَّوْسِعَةُ عَنْ عِيَالِهِ.

“Al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘A wealthy person should improve the quality of life of his family.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ بِشَهْوَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَ الْمُنَافِقُ يَأْكُلُ أَهْلُهُ بِشَهْوَتِهِ.

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, "The believer eats according to the desires of his family, while the hypocrite eats according to his own desires."

نَعَمْ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ إِذَا عَرَفَتْ قُوتَهَا قَنِعَتْ بِهِ وَ نَبَتَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّحْمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ‘Did the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, provide proper sustenance for his family?’ The Imam replied, ‘Yes, when a soul knows how much it needs, it then becomes satisfied with that much and flesh grows

كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْماً أَنْ يُضَيِّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is enough sin for one not to provide for his family and lose them.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ أَلْقَى كَلَّهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ ضَيَّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُ.

‘Condemned is one, indeed condemned is one who shifts his burden upon the people, and so also is one who loses his family and does not provide sustenance for them.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ لَأَنْ أَدْخُلَ السُّوقَ وَ مَعِي دَرَاهِمُ أَبْتَاعُ بِهِ لِعِيَالِي لَحْماً وَ قَدْ قَرِمُوا[2] أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ نَسَمَةً.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘I love going to the market to buy meat for my family who strongly desire it, more than setting free an enslaved soul.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا أَصْبَحَ خَرَجَ غَادِياً فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ فَقَالَ أَتَصَدَّقُ لِعِيَالِي قِيلَ لَهُ أَ تَتَصَدَّقُ قَالَ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْحَلَالَ فَهُوَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهِ.

‘I want to give charity to my family.’ People then asked, ‘Is it charity?’ He then replied, ‘One who earns in lawful way; his earnings are Allah’s charity for him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَأْخُذُ بِأَدَبِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا وَسَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اتَّسَعَ وَ إِذَا أَمْسَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسَكَ.[3]

“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 believing person follows the discipline of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. When Allah grants him extended favors, he becomes generous;

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْقَيِّمَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is of the prosperity of man to support and provide for his family.”

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ قُوتِ عِيَالِهِ فِي الشِّتَاءِ وَ يَزِيدَ فِي وَقُودِهِمْ.

‘A man should spare from the means of his sustenance to provide fuel for his family during winter.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَنِ الَّذِي أَحْتَنُّ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] وَ تَلْزَمُنِي نَفَقَتُهُ قَالَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَ الْوَلَدُ وَ الزَّوْجَةُ.

“Once I asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Who should I sympathize with and who are my dependents?’ He replied, ‘Such people are your parents, your children, and your wife.’”

أُتِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ بِيَتِيمٍ فَقَالَ خُذُوا بِنَفَقَتِهِ أَقْرَبَ النَّاسِ مِنْهُ مِنَ الْعَشِيرَةِ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ مِيرَاثَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that an orphan was brought before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), who said, ‘Make his closest relative pay for his expenses; such people are the ones who claim his legacy.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ يَلْزَمُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْ قَرَابَتِهِ مِمَّنْ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَ الْوَلَدُ وَ الزَّوْجَةُ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Who are one’s dependents for whom providing sustenance is obligatory on him?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Such people are one’s parents, children and wife.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أُطْعِمُ سَائِلًا لَا أَعْرِفُهُ مُسْلِماً فَقَالَ نَعَمْ أَعْطِ مَنْ لَا تَعْرِفُهُ بِوَلَايَةٍ وَ لَا عَدَاوَةٍ لِلْحَقِّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ قُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً[2] وَ لَا تُطْعِمْ مَنْ نَصَبَ لِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَوْ دَعَا إِلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I know someone is asking for help, but I do not know if he is a Muslim or not.’ The Imam said, ‘You can give charity to one whom you do not know is a friend or enemy of the truth. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “Say good words to people.” (2:83) Do not giv

أَعْطِ مَنْ وَقَعَتْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَةُ فِي قَلْبِكَ وَ قَالَ أَعْطِ دُونَ الدِّرْهَمِ قُلْتُ أَكْثَرُ مَا يُعْطَى قَالَ أَرْبَعَةُ دَوَانِيقَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about giving charity to an unidentified person. He replied, ‘You can give charity to one for whom you feel sympathy in your heart.’ He said, ‘Give him less than a dirham.’ I asked, ‘What is the maximum I can give?’ He replied, ‘It is four Dawaniq (a certain measurement of things).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الصَّدَقَةِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَوَادِي وَ السَّوَادِ فَقَالَ تَصَدَّقْ عَلَى الصِّبْيَانِ وَ النِّسَاءِ وَ الزَّمْنَى‌[1] وَ الضُّعَفَاءِ وَ الشُّيُوخِ وَ كَانَ يَنْهَى عَنْ أُولَئِكَ الْجُمَّانِينَ‌[2] يَعْنِي أَصْحَابَ الشُّعُورِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il ibn Bazi’ or someone other than him from Muhammad ibn ‘Adhafir from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about giving charity to the Bedouins and people who live in remote areas.

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَعْطِ الْكَبِيرَ وَ الْكَبِيرَةَ وَ الصَّغِيرَ وَ الصَّغِيرَةَ وَ مَنْ وَقَعَتْ لَهُ فِي قَلْبِكَ رَحْمَةٌ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ كُلَّ وَ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ وَ هَزَّهَا[3].

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Salt from Zur‘ah, from Minhal al-Qassab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Give charity to old men and women, small boys and girls, and to whomever you sympathize with; never give charity to those . . he moved his hand as if shaki

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ أَهْلَ السَّوَادِ يَقْتَحِمُونَ عَلَيْنَا وَ فِيهِمُ الْيَهُودُ وَ النَّصَارَى وَ الْمَجُوسُ فَنَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People who live in wilderness come to us. Among them are Jews, Christian and Zoroastrians. Can we give them charity?’ The Imam replied, ‘Yes.'

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَقْطَعُوا عَلَى السَّائِلِ مَسْأَلَتَهُ فَلَوْلَا أَنَّ الْمَسَاكِينَ يَكْذِبُونَ مَا أَفْلَحَ مَنْ رَدَّهُمْ.

“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, ’You must not cutoff one asking for help; even if such people lie, the person turning them away (empty handed) does not prosper.”’

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ أَعْطِ السَّائِلَ وَ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ فَرَسٍ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ’You must give charity to one asking for help even if he is riding a horse.’”

كَانَ فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مُوسَى ع قَالَ يَا مُوسَى أَكْرِمِ السَّائِلَ بِبَذْلٍ يَسِيرٍ أَوْ بِرَدٍّ جَمِيلٍ لِأَنَّهُ يَأْتِيكَ مَنْ لَيْسَ بِإِنْسٍ وَ لَا جَانٍّ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنْ مَلَائِكَةِ الرَّحْمَنِ يَبْلُونَك فِيمَا خَوَّلْتُكَ وَ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَمَّا نَوَّلْتُكَ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ يَا ابْنَ عِمْرَانَ.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, spoke to Moses about certain matters. Of such matters, one was this: ‘O Musa (Moses), treat one asking for help graciously, with a little charity or send him away with kind words; one who is not of man or Jinn may come to you who, in fact, is an angel of the angels of the B

حَضَرْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَوْماً حِينَ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فَإِذَا سَائِلٌ بِالْبَابِ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع أَعْطُوا السَّائِلَ وَ لَا تَرُدُّوا سَائِلًا.

“I visited Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), one day after he had performed the Morning Prayer. At that time, someone asking for help appeared at the door and Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), said, ‘Give something as charity to one who asks for help and do not turn away such people empty- handed.’”

قَالَ: مَا مَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص سَائِلًا قَطُّ إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ أَعْطَى وَ إِلَّا قَالَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِهِ.

“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, never denied someone asking for help. If he had something with him, he gave charity; if not, he would say, ‘May Allah give you (charity).”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَرُدُّوا السَّائِلَ وَ لَوْ بِظِلْفٍ مُحْتَرِقٍ.

“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, ‘You must not turn away one asking for help. Give him something, even if it is a burned cloven hoof (even if it is something of very little value).”’

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَاءَهُ سَائِلٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَقَالَ يَسَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا لَوْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ يَبْلُغُ ثَلَاثِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ شَاءَ أَنْ لَا يَبْقَى مِنْهَا إِلَّا وَضَعَهَا فِي حَقٍّ لَفَعَلَ فَيَبْقَى لَا مَالَ لَهُ فَيَكُونُ مِنَ الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ

“Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when someone came asking for help. He gave him charity, then another one came, he gave him charity, yet another came for help, and he gave him charity. Then one more came for help and he said, ‘Allah will provide you.’ The Imam then said, ‘One may possess thirty or

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي السُّؤَّالِ أَطْعِمُوا ثَلَاثَةً إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَنْ تَزْدَادُوا فَازْدَادُوا وَ إِلَّا فَقَدْ أَدَّيْتُمْ حَقَّ يَوْمِكُمْ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say in answer to a question, ‘Feed three people or more if you like; however, you have already fulfilled what you should have done for the day.’”

إِذَا أَعْطَيْتُمُوهُمْ فَلَقِّنُوهُمُ الدُّعَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْتَجَابُ الدُّعَاءُ لَهُمْ فِيكُمْ وَ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ.

“He (the Imam) has said, ‘When you give charity, ask them to pray; their prayer for you is answered, but it is not heard for themselves.”’

لَا تُحَقِّرُوا دَعْوَةَ أَحَدٍ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْتَجَابُ لِلْيَهُودِيِّ وَ النَّصْرَانِيِّ فِيكُمْ وَ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ.

“You must not ignore anyone’s prayers; the prayers of Jews and Christians for you are answered, but they are not answered for themselves.”

دَفَعَ إِلَيَّ شِهَابُ بْنُ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ دَرَاهِمَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ أَقْسِمُهَا فَأَتَيْتُهُ يَوْماً فَسَأَلَنِي هَلْ قَسَمْتَهَا فَقُلْتُ لَا فَأَسْمَعَنِي كَلَاماً فِيهِ بَعْضُ الْغِلْظَةِ فَطَرَحْتُ مَا كَانَ بَقِيَ مَعِي مِنَ الدَّرَاهِمِ وَ قُمْتُ مُغْضَباً فَقَالَ لِيَ ارْجِعْ حَتَّى أُحَدِّثَكَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي إِذَا

“Shihab ibn ‘ Abd Rabbihi gave to me a certain amount of dirhams of zakat to distribute among the needy. One day I visited him, and he asked, ‘Did you distribute them?’ I said, ‘No, I have not done so.’ He said something that I did not like. I then threw to him what still was not distributed and got up to leave. He sai

لَوْ جَرَى الْمَعْرُوفُ عَلَى ثَمَانِينَ كَفّاً لَأُجِرُوا كُلُّهُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُنْقَصَ صَاحِبُهُ مِنْ أَجْرِهِ شَيْئاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that even if a virtuous matter passes through eighty hands, all of them earn a reward without any reduction in the reward of the initiator of such a virtuous matter.”

يَجْرِي لَهُ مَا يَجْرِي لِلْمُعْطِي وَ لَا يُنْقَصُ الْمُعْطِي مِنْ أَجْرِهِ شَيْئاً.

“About a man who gives a certain amount of dirhams to someone to distribute among the needy, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘What applies to the donor also applies to him without any reduction in the reward of the donor.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ أَ يَعْطِفُ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ عَلَى مَنْ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ يَعْطِفُ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ شَهْرٍ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَهُ وَ السَّنَةُ عَلَى نَحْوِ ذَلِكَ أَمْ ذَلِكَ كُلُّهُ الْكَفَافُ الَّذِي لَا يُلَامُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ هُوَ أَمْرٌ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَكُمْ فِيهِ أَحْرَصُكُمْ عَلَى الرَّغْبَةِ وَ الْأَثَرَةِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ ف

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), this question: ‘There is one who has sustenance for only one day, or for only one month or one year. Should he give preference to another person who does not have sustenance even for one day, or one month or one year, or in all cases, is there no blame in not giving preference beca

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَوْصِنِي فَقَالَ آمُرُكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ قِلَّةَ ذَاتِ يَدِي وَ قُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرِيتُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنْ عُرْيَتِي أَنَّ أَبَا فُلَانٍ نَزَعَ ثَوْبَيْنِ كَانَا عَلَيْهِ وَ كَسَانِيهِمَا فَقَالَ صُمْ وَ تَصَدَّقْ قُلْتُ أَتَصَدَّقُ مِمَّا وَصَلَنِي بِهِ إِخْوَانِي وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَلِيلًا قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِمَا رَزَقَكَ اللَّهُ وَ لَوْ آثَرْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ.

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘Please instruct me with good advice.’ He said, ‘I advise you to observe piety before Allah.’ He was silent for a while. I then complained to him about my poverty, saying, ‘By Allah, I do not have any clothes, and it is so much that abu so and so took off two pieces of his clothes

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ- قَالَ جُهْدُ الْمُقِلِ‌[1] أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى‌ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ[2] تَرَى هَاهُنَا فَضْلًا.

‘It is the kind of charity that one provides after doing his utmost. Have you heard the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, “They give preference to others over themselves even though they are in dire need?” (59:9) It is this kind of charity giving in which you can see excellence.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ ضَمِنْتُ عَلَى رَبِّي أَنَّهُ لَا يَسْأَلُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَاجَةٍ إِلَّا اضْطَرَّتْهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ يَوْماً إِلَى أَنْ يَسْأَلَ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ’I guarantee from my Lord that whoever asks for help without actually being in need, a pressing need will force him one day (sooner or later) to ask help for an actual need.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ اتَّبِعُوا قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَإِنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ فَتَحَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بَابَ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بَابَ فَقْرٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You should follow the words of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who has said, “Whoever opens to himself the door of asking for help (begging), Allah

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَسْأَلُ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَاجَةٍ فَيَمُوتُ حَتَّى يُحْوِجَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهَا وَ يُثَبِّتَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهَا النَّارَ[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a servant asks for help without actually needing help, after his death Allah makes him need that same thing and the only reward he then receives from Allah is fire.’”

إِيَّاكُمْ وَ سُؤَالَ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُ ذُلٌّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ فَقْرٌ تُعَجِّلُونَهُ وَ حِسَابٌ طَوِيلٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Never beg people for financial help; it is humiliation in this world, a poverty that you make it to approach you quickly and on the Day of Judgment presentation of accounts for it will keep you much longer.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا مُحَمَّدُ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ السَّائِلُ مَا فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ مَا سَأَلَ أَحَدٌ أَحَداً وَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُعْطِي مَا فِي الْعَطِيَّةِ مَا رَدَّ أَحَدٌ أَحَداً.

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.), said to me, ‘O Muhammad, had people known how despicable begging is, they would never become beggars. Had people known how great the reward for helping a beggar is, no one appealing for financial help would ever have been turned away empty-handed.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْأَيْدِي ثَلَاثٌ يَدُ اللَّهِ الْعُلْيَا وَ يَدُ الْمُعْطِي الَّتِي تَلِيهَا وَ يَدُ الْمُعْطَى أَسْفَلُ الْأَيْدِي فَاسْتَعِفُّوا عَنِ السُّؤَالِ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ إِنَّ الْأَرْزَاقَ دُونَهَا حُجُبٌ فَمَنْ شَاءَ قَنِيَ حَيَاءَهُ‌[1] وَ أَخَذَ رِزْقَهُ وَ مَنْ شَاءَ هَتَكَ الْحِجَابَ وَ أَخَذَ رِزْقَهُ وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلًا ثُمَّ يَدْخُلَ عَرْضَ هَذَ

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Hands are of three kinds: The hands of Allah are the upper hands, the hands of a benevolent person are next in rank, and the hands of recipient of a favor are the lowest in rank. You should

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَحَبَّ شَيْئاً لِنَفْسِهِ وَ أَبْغَضَهُ لِخَلْقِهِ أَبْغَضَ لِخَلْقِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ[3] وَ أَحَبَ‌ لِنَفْسِهِ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ فَلَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَ لَوْ بِشِسْعِ نَعْلٍ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Dawud ibn al-Nu’man from Ibrahim ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services