23/80. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2580 — Three Cases for Asking Charity
Charity For The One Who Undertakes A Financial Responsibility
Hadith About Three Cases Where Asking Charity Is Permissible
Sunan an-Nasai : 2580
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2580
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ بْنِ مُسَاوِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ رِئَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي كِنَانَةُ بْنُ نُعَيْمٍ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ مُخَارِقٍ، قَالَ تَحَمَّلْتُ حَمَالَةً فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْأَلُهُ فِيهَا فَقَالَ " أَقِمْ يَا قَبِيصَةُ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَنَا الصَّدَقَةُ فَنَأْمُرَ لَكَ " . قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا قَبِيصَةُ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لاَ تَحِلُّ إِلاَّ لأَحَدِ ثَلاَثَةٍ رَجُلٍ تَحَمَّلَ حَمَالَةً فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَائِحَةٌ فَاجْتَاحَتْ مَالَهُ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَهَا ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَ وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ فَاقَةٌ حَتَّى يَشْهَدَ ثَلاَثَةٌ مِنْ ذَوِي الْحِجَا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ قَدْ أَصَابَتْ فُلاَنًا فَاقَةٌ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ فَمَا سِوَى هَذَا مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ يَا قَبِيصَةُ سُحْتٌ يَأْكُلُهَا صَاحِبُهَا سُحْتًا " .
Qubaisah bin Mukhariq Narrated from:
I undertook a financial responsibility, then I came to the Prophet and asked him (for help) concerning that. He said: 'Hold on, o Qubaisah! When we get some charity we will give you some.'Then the Messenger of Allah said: 'O Qubaisah, charity is not permissible except for one of three: A man who undertakes a financial responsibility, so it is permissible for him to be given charity until he finds means to make him independent and to suffice him; a man who was stricken by calamity and his wealth was destroyed, so it is permissible for him to ask for help until he has enough to keep him going, them he should refrain from asking; and a man who is stricken with poverty and three wise men from among his own people testily that so-and-so is in desperate need, then it is permissible for him to ask for help until he finds means to make him independent and to suffice him. Asking for help in cases other than these, O Qubaisah, is unlawful, and the one who takes it is consuming it unlawfully.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2580In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 146English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2581
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2580
This hadith about charity eligibility gives three cases in which asking for help is allowed. First is a man who undertakes a financial responsibility, until he has enough to settle it. Second is a man struck by a calamity that destroys his wealth, until he has enough to keep going. Third is a man struck by poverty, with three wise men from his people testifying to his desperate need, until he finds enough to be independent and sufficient. The Prophet then said that asking beyond these cases is unlawful and that the one who takes it consumes it unlawfully. The hadith teaches need-based help with clear limits.
What we learn from this hadith
- Charity is allowed for someone carrying a real financial responsibility.
- A person whose wealth is destroyed by calamity may ask until he can manage.
- Severe poverty may be confirmed by trusted people from one’s community.
- Asking outside the stated cases is warned against in this narration.
