9/29. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1651 — Leaving a Date Out of Caution
On Giving Sadaqah To Banu Hashim
Hadith About Avoiding Doubtful Sadaqah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1651
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1651
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَمُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَمُرُّ بِالتَّمْرَةِ الْعَائِرَةِ فَمَا يَمْنَعُهُ مِنْ أَخْذِهَا إِلاَّ مَخَافَةُ أَنْ تَكُونَ صَدَقَةً .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) came upon a date on the road; he would not take it for fear of being a part of the sadaqah.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1651In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 96English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1647
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1651
This Hadith about avoiding doubtful sadaqah is very brief, but it teaches carefulness. Anas reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم passed by a date lying on the road. He did not take it only because he feared it might be from sadaqah. The text does not say the date was certainly sadaqah. It says the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم avoided it because of that possibility. This gives a simple example of staying away from something when there is a religious concern tied to it. The lesson is not about being wasteful. It is about caution when a matter may fall under something not allowed for him. The focus is clean conduct and careful eating.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم avoided what might be sadaqah for him.
- Caution can be practiced even in small matters.
- A person should pause when a matter may be religiously sensitive.
