8/19. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1822 — Do Not Give Bad Charity
Prohibition of giving the worst of one's wealth as sadaqah
Do Not Give Bad Charity: Meaning of Al-Baqarah 2:267
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1822
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1822
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَنْقَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَسْبَاطُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، عَنِ السُّدِّيِّ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ {وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُمْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُونَ} . قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي الأَنْصَارِ كَانَتِ الأَنْصَارُ تُخْرِجُ إِذَا كَانَ جِدَادُ النَّخْلِ مِنْ حِيطَانِهَا أَقْنَاءَ الْبُسْرِ فَيُعَلِّقُونَهُ عَلَى حَبْلٍ بَيْنَ أُسْطُوَانَتَيْنِ فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَيَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ فُقَرَاءُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَيَعْمِدُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيُدْخِلُ قِنْوَ الْحَشَفِ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ جَائِزٌ فِي كَثْرَةِ مَا يُوضَعُ مِنَ الأَقْنَاءِ فَنَزَلَ فِيمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ {وَلاَ تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُونَ} . يَقُولُ لاَ تَعْمِدُوا لِلْحَشَفِ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُونَ . {وَلَسْتُمْ بِآخِذِيهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ تُغْمِضُوا فِيهِ } يَقُولُ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ لَكُمْ مَا قَبِلْتُمُوهُ إِلاَّ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاءٍ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ غَيْظًا أَنَّهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيْكُمْ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَكُمْ فِيهِ حَاجَةٌ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ صَدَقَاتِكُمْ .
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib Narrated from:
It was narrated that: Bara bin Azib said concerning the Verse:“And of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and don not aim at that which is bad to spend from it. ” [Al-Baqarah 2:267]“This was revealed concerning the Ansar. At the time of the new date-palm harvest, they would take a bunch of dates that were beginning to ripen and hang it on a rope between two of the pillars in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the poor emigrants would eat from it.” One of them deliberately mixed a bunch containing rotten and shriveled dates, and thought this was permissible because of the large number of dates that had been put there. So the following was revealed about the one who did that: '… and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it'. Meaning do not seek out the rotten and shriveled dates to give in charity: '…(thought) you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein.' Meaning, if you were given this as a gift you would only accept it because you felt embarrassed, and you would get angry that he had sent something of which you have no need. And know that Allah has no need of your charity.”
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:267.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1822In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 3, Book 8, Hadith 1822
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1822
This Hadith explains the verse that tells believers not to aim at what is bad when spending in charity. The Ansar used to hang bunches of dates in the mosque so poor emigrants could eat from them. One person mixed in rotten and shriveled dates, thinking it was allowed because there were many good bunches already there. The verse came about this action. The message is direct: do not give others what you would not like to receive. The Hadith about bad charity also reminds us that Allah has no need of our charity. So giving should be done with honesty, not with the aim of hiding poor items among better ones.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not deliberately give bad or unwanted items in charity.
- A believer should think about what they themselves would accept before giving.
- Charity should not be used to hide low-quality goods among better ones.
- Allah has no need of charity, so the giver should focus on sincerity.
