75/16. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5668 — Charity and Heirs
To say "I am sick," or "Oh, my head!" or "My ailment has been aggravated"
وَقَوْلِ أَيُّوبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ: {أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ}.
Hadith About One Third Charity, Heirs, and Spending for Allah
Sahih Bukhari : 5668
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5668
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ جَاءَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي مِنْ وَجَعٍ اشْتَدَّ بِي زَمَنَ حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقُلْتُ بَلَغَ بِي مَا تَرَى وَأَنَا ذُو مَالٍ وَلاَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَةٌ لِي أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ بِالشَّطْرِ قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ الثُّلُثُ قَالَ " الثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ، أَنْ تَدَعَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فِي امْرَأَتِكَ ".
Sa'd Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to visit me during my ailment which had been aggravated during Hajjat-al- Wada`. I said to him, "You see how sick I am. I have much property but have no heir except my only daughter May I give two thirds of my property in charity?"! He said, "No." I said, "Half of it?" He said, "No." I said "One third?" He said, "One third is too much, for to leave your heirs rich is better than to leave them poor, begging of others. Nothing you spend seeking Allah's pleasure but you shall get a reward for it, even for what you put in the mouth of your wife."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5668In-book reference : Book 75, Hadith 28USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 70, Hadith 572
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5668
This Hadith teaches balance between charity and family responsibility. Sa'd was very sick during Hajjat-al-Wada and told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he had wealth but only one daughter as heir. He asked if he could give two thirds of his property in charity. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no. He asked about half, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم again said no. When he asked about one third, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that one third is still much. Then he explained that leaving heirs well-off is better than leaving them poor and begging from people. The Hadith also gives hope: anything spent seeking Allah's pleasure is rewarded, even what a person puts in his wife's mouth. This makes family spending part of sincere worship when done for Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Charity should not ignore the needs of one's heirs.
- Leaving family with enough support is better than leaving them dependent on people.
- Even one third of wealth given away was described as much in this case.
- Spending for Allah's pleasure includes caring for one's wife.
