Narrated Abu Mas`ud: When the verses of charity were revealed, we used to work as porters. A man came and distributed objects of charity in abundance. And they (the people) said, He is showing off. And another man came and gave a Sa (a small measure of food grains); they said, Allah is not in need of this small amount of charity. And then the Divine Inspiration came: Those who criticize such of the believers who give in charity voluntarily and those who could not find to give in charity except what is available to them. (9.79).
Read More..Narrated Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari: Whenever Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) ordered us to give in charity, we used to go to the market and work as porters and get a Mudd (a special measure of grain) and then give it in charity. (Those were the days of poverty) and today some of us have one hundred thousand.
Read More..Narrated `Adi bin Hatim heard the Prophet saying: Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity.
Read More..Narrated Aisha: A lady along with her two daughters came to me asking (for some alms), but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and she divided it between her two daughters, and did not eat anything herself, and then she got up and went away. Then the Prophet came in and I informed him about this story. He said, Whoever is put to trial by these daughters and he treats them generously (with benevolence) then these daughters will act as a shield for him from Hell-Fire. (See Hadith No. 24, Vol. 8).
Read More..Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to the Prophet and asked, O Allah's Apostle! Which charity is the most superior in reward? He replied, The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is too late).
Read More..Narrated `Aisha: Some of the wives of the Prophet asked him, Who amongst us will be the first to follow you (i.e. die after you)? He said, Whoever has the longest hand. So they started measuring their hands with a stick and Sauda's hand turned out to be the longest. (When Zainab bint Jahsh died first of all in the caliphate of `Umar), we came to know that the long hand was a symbol of practicing charity, so she was the first to follow the Prophet and she used to love to practice charity. (Sauda died later in the caliphate of Muawiya).
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