37/12. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4155 — Earning to Give Charity
The livelihood of the companions of the Prophet (saws)
Hadith About Charity: Working Hard to Give Even a Little
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4155
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4155
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَأْمُرُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَيَنْطَلِقُ أَحَدُنَا يَتَحَامَلُ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ بِالْمُدِّ وَإِنَّ لأَحَدِهِمُ الْيَوْمَ مِائَةَ أَلْفٍ . قَالَ شَقِيقٌ كَأَنَّهُ يُعَرِّضُ بِنَفْسِهِ .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to enjoin charity, then one of us would go out and carry goods for others until he earned a Mudd, but one of them nowadays has one hundred thousand (Dinar or Dirham).” Shaqiq said: "It was as if he was hinting that this was he himself."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4155In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 56English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4155
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4155
This hadith about charity shows how seriously the companions responded when the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged giving. Abu Mas’ud said that one of them would go out and carry goods for others until he earned a Mudd, then he would bring it. This was not a story of giving from extra wealth. It was about working hard just to have something to donate. The narration then mentions that some people later had one hundred thousand. The lesson from the text is clear: charity was valued even when the amount was small and the effort was great. This hadith helps us see that giving is not only for the rich. A small gift earned with effort can still carry real meaning.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged charity.
- Some companions worked hard to earn even a small amount to give.
- Charity is not only linked to large wealth.
- Effort behind giving matters in how we understand this narration.
