23/91. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2598 — No Share for the Able
A Strong And Healthy Man Asking (For Help)
Hadith About Charity and the Able to Earn
Sunan an-Nasai : 2598
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2598
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَدِيِّ بْنِ الْخِيَارِ، . أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ، حَدَّثَاهُ أَنَّهُمَا، أَتَيَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلاَنِهِ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ فَقَلَّبَ فِيهِمَا الْبَصَرَ - وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ بَصَرَهُ - فَرَآهُمَا جَلْدَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنْ شِئْتُمَا وَلاَ حَظَّ فِيهَا لِغَنِيٍّ وَلاَ لِقَوِيٍّ مُكْتَسِبٍ " .
'Ubaidullah bin 'Adiyy bin Al-Khiyar narrated that: two men told him, that they came to the Messenger of Allah asking him for charity. He looked from one to the other and he saw that they were strong. The Messenger of Allah said: "If you want, I will give you, but no rich man or one who is strong and able to earn has a share of it."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2598In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 164English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2599
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2598
This hadith about charity and the able to earn gives a practical scene. Two men came to the Messenger of Allah asking for charity. He looked at them and saw that they were strong. He said that if they wanted, he would give them, but no rich man and no strong person able to earn has a share in it. The hadith teaches that charity is not only about someone asking; the condition of the person matters too. The Prophet did not hide the rule from them. He explained that strength and ability to earn affect charity eligibility. This hadith is closely linked to the search term “charity not for rich or able person hadith.”
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet considered the condition of those who asked for charity.
- A strong person able to earn has no share in charity according to the hadith.
- A person should be honest about ability and need before taking charity.
