12/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1018a — Do Not Mock Small Charity
Carrying goods for payment and giving charity out of one's wages, and the stern prohibition of belittling the one who gives something small in charity
Hadith About Small Charity and Sincerity
Sahih Muslim : 1018a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1018a
حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ بِشْرُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ أُمِرْنَا بِالصَّدَقَةِ . قَالَ كُنَّا نُحَامِلُ - قَالَ - فَتَصَدَّقَ أَبُو عَقِيلٍ بِنِصْفِ صَاعٍ - قَالَ - وَجَاءَ إِنْسَانٌ بِشَىْءٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنْ صَدَقَةِ هَذَا وَمَا فَعَلَ هَذَا الآخَرُ إِلاَّ رِيَاءً فَنَزَلَتْ { الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَجِدُونَ إِلاَّ جُهْدَهُمْ} وَلَمْ يَلْفِظْ بِشْرٌ بِالْمُطَّوِّعِينَ .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
We were commanded to give charity (despite the fact.) that we were coolies. Abu 'Aqil donated half a sa'. And there came another man with more than this. The hypocrites said: Verily Allah does not stand in need of the charity of this, and the second one has done nothing but only made a show (of his charity).Then this verse was revealed." Those who scoff at the voluntary givers of charity among the believers as well as those who cannot find anything (to give) but with their hard labour" (ix. 80).And Bishr did not utter the word Muttawwi'in.
[1] At-Tawbah 9:79.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1018aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 92USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2223
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1018a
This hadith about small charity and sincerity shows how unfair criticism can appear around good deeds. Abu Masud reported that the companions were commanded to give charity, even though some of them worked as coolies. Abu Aqil gave half a sa, and another man brought more. The hypocrites mocked both types of giving. They said Allah did not need the first person's charity, and they accused the other person of showing off. Then the verse was revealed about those who scoff at voluntary givers of charity and those who find nothing except their hard labour. The hadith teaches that small sadaqah should not be belittled and larger giving should not be quickly judged as show. The safe path is to give sincerely and avoid mocking believers who give what they can.
What we learn from this hadith
- People may give from hard-earned labour, and that should not be mocked.
- Small voluntary charity is still treated seriously in the narration.
- Judging another giver as showing off is a dangerous habit when the text itself condemns such mocking.
