0/14. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 204 — Inspiring Charity and Good
One who introduces a good or evil practice
Hadith About Charity and Starting Good
Sunan Ibn Majah : 204
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 204
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَحَثَّ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ عِنْدِي كَذَا وَكَذَا . قَالَ فَمَا بَقِيَ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ رَجُلٌ إِلاَّ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ بِمَا قَلَّ أَوْ كَثُرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَنِ اسْتَنَّ خَيْرًا فَاسْتُنَّ بِهِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرُهُ كَامِلاً وَمِنْ أُجُورِ مَنِ اسْتَنَّ بِهِ وَلاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا وَمَنِ اسْتَنَّ سُنَّةً سَيِّئَةً فَاسْتُنَّ بِهِ فَعَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهُ كَامِلاً وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ اسْتَنَّ بِهِ وَلاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْئًا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet, who encouraged the people to give charity to him. A man said: 'I have such and such,' and there was no one left in that gathering who did not give him something in charity, to a greater or lesser extent.The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever initiates a good practice that is followed, he will receive a perfect reward for that, and a reward equivalent to that of those who follow it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest. And whoever introduces a bad practice that is followed, he will receive the complete burden of sin for that, and a burden of sin equivalent to that of those who follow it without that detracting from their burden in the slightest.'
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 204In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 0English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 204
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 204
This Hadith gives a clear example of how one good action can inspire many others. A man came to the Prophet, and the Prophet encouraged people to give charity to him. When one man offered something, the whole gathering followed and gave, whether little or much. Then the Prophet explained the rule: whoever begins a good practice that others follow receives a full reward and a reward like those who follow it, without reducing their reward. The same applies in the opposite direction for a bad practice. This hadith about charity and good example shows that even a small first step can encourage others to do good.
What we learn from this hadith
- Giving charity can encourage others to give as well.
- A good example may open the door for wider good.
- The amount given may be little or much, but people still shared what they could.
- A person should avoid becoming the cause of a bad practice.
