9/23. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1634 — Sadaqah Is Not for the Rich and Strong
To Whom Zakat Is To Be Paid And The Definition Of A Wealthy Person
Sadaqah Eligibility Hadith: Not for the Rich or Strong
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1634
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1634
حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْبَارِيُّ الْخُتَّلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَعْدٍ - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ رَيْحَانَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيٍّ وَلاَ لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِيٍّ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ سُفْيَانُ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَمَا قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَرَوَاهُ شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ " لِذِي مِرَّةٍ قَوِيٍّ " . وَالأَحَادِيثُ الأُخَرُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْضُهَا " لِذِي مِرَّةٍ قَوِيٍّ " . وَبَعْضُهَا " لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِيٍّ " . وَقَالَ عَطَاءُ بْنُ زُهَيْرٍ إِنَّهُ لَقِيَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو فَقَالَ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لاَ تَحِلُّ لِقَوِيٍّ وَلاَ لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِيٍّ .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Sadaqah may not be given to a rich man or to one who has strength and is sound in limbs.Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Sufyan from Sa'd bin Ibrahim like the tradition narrated by Ibrahim. The version of Shu'bah from Sa'd has: "for a man who has strength and is robust." The other version of this tradition from the Prophet (ﷺ) have the words "for a man who has strength and is robust." Others have "for a man who has strength and is sound in limbs." 'Ata bin Zuhair said that he had met 'Abd Allah bin 'Amr who said: "Sadaqah is not lawful for a strong man nor for a man who has strength and is sound in limbs."
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1634In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 79English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1630
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1634
This sadaqah eligibility hadith is short and firm. Abdullah ibn Amr narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said sadaqah is not lawful for a rich person or for one who has strength and is sound in limbs. Abu Dawud then records wording differences, such as “strong” and “sound in limbs,” and also mentions a related statement from Abdullah ibn Amr. The core meaning stays the same: sadaqah has limits. It is not a general gift for anyone who asks. For people searching “sadaqah not lawful for rich hadith” or “zakat not for able person hadith,” this narration gives a clear rule from the provided text. It also fits closely with the report about the two strong men who asked during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sadaqah is not lawful for a rich person in this narration.
- Strength and ability are part of the eligibility discussion.
- The report preserves wording differences without changing the main meaning.
- Charity distribution should consider need and ability.
