12/50. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1070a — Avoiding Doubtful Sadaqa
Zakat is forbidden for the messenger of Allah pbuh and his family, and they are Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib, and no one else
Sadaqa Hadith: The Prophet’s Care With a Single Date
Sahih Muslim : 1070a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1070a
حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، أَنَّ أَبَا يُونُسَ، مَوْلَى أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " إِنِّي لأَنْقَلِبُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَأَجِدُ التَّمْرَةَ سَاقِطَةً عَلَى فِرَاشِي ثُمَّ أَرْفَعُهَا لآكُلَهَا ثُمَّ أَخْشَى أَنْ تَكُونَ صَدَقَةً فَأُلْقِيهَا " .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: I go back to my family and I find a date lying on my bed. I then take it up to eat it, but then I throw it away fearing that it may be a Sadaqa.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1070aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 213USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2342
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1070a
This hadith shows the Prophet’s carefulness with sadaqa in a very personal moment. He said he would return to his family and find a date lying on his bed. He would pick it up to eat it, but then throw it away because he feared it might be sadaqa. The item was only one date, yet he still avoided it due to doubt. This teaches caution in matters connected to charity and personal consumption. The hadith does not say the date was definitely sadaqa. It says he feared it might be. That small detail matters because the lesson is about avoiding something doubtful when it may not be allowed for him.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم avoided a date when he feared it might be sadaqa.
- A small item can still matter when it is linked to a religious limit.
- The report teaches carefulness when there is doubt about sadaqa.
- The wording shows fear of sadaqa, not certainty that the date was sadaqa.
