12/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1045b — Keep It or Give It in Charity
It is permissible to take without asking for it or hoping for it
Hadith About Gifts, Charity, and Not Chasing Wealth
Sahih Muslim : 1045b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1045b
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُعْطِي عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ - رضى الله عنه - الْعَطَاءَ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ عُمَرُ أَعْطِهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي . فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ وَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ " . قَالَ سَالِمٌ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ لاَ يَسْأَلُ أَحَدًا شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَرُدُّ شَيْئًا أُعْطِيَهُ .
Salim b. 'Abdullah reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave to 'Umar b. Khattab some gift. Umar said to him: Messenger of Allah, give it to one who needs it more than I. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Take it; either keep it with you or give it as a charity, and whatever comes to you in the form of this type of wealth, without your being avaricious or begging for it, accept it, but in other circumstances do not let your heart hanker after it. And it was on account of this that Ibn 'Umar never begged anything from anyone, nor refused anything given to him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1045bIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 143USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2273
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1045b
This hadith about gifts and charity gives a clear rule of the heart. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gave Umar b. Khattab some wealth. Umar wanted it given to someone more in need. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told him to take it, either keep it or give it in charity. He then explained that when this kind of wealth comes without avarice and without begging, it may be accepted. But in other cases, the heart should not follow after it. The narration ends by saying that because of this, Ibn Umar would not beg anything from anyone and would not refuse anything given to him. The hadith teaches acceptance without greed, charity without show, and restraint from chasing wealth.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wealth received without begging may be accepted.
- A person may keep such wealth or give it in charity.
- The heart should not chase wealth with greed.
- Ibn Umar acted by not begging and not refusing what was given.
