35/36. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3823 — Balanced Charity
If A Person Makes A Vow Then Becomes Muslim Before Fulfilling It
Hadith About Charity Without Giving Away All Your Wealth
Sunan an-Nasai : 3823
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3823
حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ تِيبَ عَلَيْهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَنْخَلِعُ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ . فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ يُشْبِهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ الزُّهْرِيُّ سَمِعَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ وَمِنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْهُ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ الطَّوِيلِ تَوْبَةُ كَعْبٍ .
'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik Narrated from:
'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated from his father, that he said to the Messenger of Allah -when his repentance was accepted: "O Messenger of Allah! I want to give all my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger." The Messenger of Allah said to him: "Keep some of your wealth for yourself; that is better for you."
[1] Meaning, that in the next Hadîth Az-Zuhrî narrated it from ‘Abdur-Rahmân bin Ka‘b.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3823In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 63English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3854
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3823
This hadith about charity and wealth records Ka'b bin Malik's response after his repentance was accepted. He wanted to give all of his wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger. The Messenger of Allah did not tell him to give everything away. He told Ka'b to keep some of his wealth for himself and said that this was better for him. The teaching stays balanced and practical. A strong wish to give charity is honored, yet the narration also supports keeping part of one's property. It does not present repentance as requiring a person to surrender every possession. Instead, Ka'b was directed toward a measured choice. For readers looking for a hadith on donating all wealth, the key phrase is clear: keep some of your wealth, because that is better for you.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may feel moved to give generously after repentance.
- Giving away every part of one's wealth was not advised here.
- Keeping some wealth for oneself was described as better for Ka'b.
- Charity can be generous while still leaving something in one's possession.
