Abu Huraira and Hakim b. Hizam reported God’s messenger as saying, “The best sadaqa is that which leaves a competence; and begin with those for whom you are responsible.” Bukhari transmitted it, but Muslim transmitted it from Hakim alone.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Of a dinar you spend as a contribution in God’s path, or to set free a slave, or as sadaqa given to a poor man, or in support of your family, the one spent in support of your family produces the greatest reward.” Muslim transmitted it.

Thauban reported God’s messenger as saying, “The most excellent dinar a man spends is one he spends on his family, one which he spends on his animal in God’s path, and one he spends on his companions in God’s path.” Muslim transmitted it.

'A’isha said that when she told God’s messenger she had two neighbours and asked to which of them she should send a present, he replied, “To the one who lives nearer you.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you make soup put in a lot of water and be mindful of your neighbours.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira asked God’s messenger what kind of sadaqa was most excellent and he replied, “What a man with little property can afford to give; and begin with those for whom you are responsible.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sulaiman b. ‘Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sadaqa given to a poor man is just sadaqa, but when given to a relative it serves a double purpose, being both sadaqa and a connecting link.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that when a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) saying that he had a dinar, he told him to spend it on himself. He said that he had another, and he told him to spend it on his children. He said that he had another, and he told him to spend it on his wife. He said that he had another, and he told him to spend it on his servant. He said he had another and he replied, “You know best ." Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “I shall tell you who is the best of men; he is a man who holds his horse's rein in God’s path. I shall tell you who comes next to him; he is a man who retires with some few goats which he possesses and pays what is due to God on them. I shall tell you who is the worst of men; he is a man from whom someone begs in God’s name, but who does not give anything in His name.’’ Tirmidhi, Nas&’l and Darimi transmitted it.

Umm Bujaid reported God’s messenger as saying, “Send away the beggar , even with only a burnt hoof.” Malik and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted something to the same effect.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone seeks protection in God’s name grant him protection; if anyone begs in God’s name give him something; if anyone gives you an invitation accept it; and if anyone does you a kindness recompense him, but if you have not the means to do so pray for him until you feel that you have recompensed him.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Nothing but paradise must be begged for God’s sake.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “The most excellent sadaqa consists in your satisfying a hungry stomach.”* Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman. * Literally “liver.”

Abu Umama said he heard God’s messenger say in the course of his sermon in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, “A woman must not give anything away from her husband’s house without her husbnnd’s permission.” He was asked whether she might not even give away food and replied, “That is the most excellent property we possess.” Tirmidhi transmitted it

Sa'd said that when God’s messenger took the oath of allegiance from the women, a woman of high rank who seemed to be one of the women of Mudar rose and said, “Prophet of God, we are dependent* on our parents, our sons and our husbands, so with what part of their property can we do what we like?” He replied, “Fresh food which you eat and give as a present.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The Arabic is kall, meaning: literally ‘a burden’

‘Umair the client of Abul Lahm said: My patron ordered me to cut some meat in strips and spread it in the sun to dry, and when a poor man came to me I gave him some of it to eat. My patron got to know of that and beat me, so I went to God’s messenger and mentioned the matter to him. He summoned him and asked, “Why did you beat him?” He replied, “He gives away my food without instruction from me.” Then he said, “The reward is shared between you.” In a version he said: I was a slave and I asked God’s messenger whether I could give any sadaqa from my patron’s property. He replied, “Yes, and the reward will be shared equally between you.” Muslim transmitted it.

Buraida said that when he was sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) a woman came to him and said, “Messenger of God, I gave a slavegirl as sadaqa to my mother who has now died.” He replied. “Your reward is sure, and the inheritance has given her back to you.” She said, "Messenger of God, a month's fast was due from her; may I fast on her behalf ?” He replied, “Fast on her behalf.” She said, “She never performed the pilgrimage, so may I do so on her behalf ?” He replied, “Yes, perform the pilgrimage on her behalf.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn 'Abbas reported God's messenger as saying when he sent Mu'adh to the Yemen, “You will come to folk who are people of a book, so invite them to testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God's messenger. If they obey that, tell them God has made obligatory for them five times of prayer every twenty-four hours. If they obey that, tell them God has made obligatory for them sadaqa to be taken from their rich and handed over to their poor. If they obey that, avoid taking the best parts of their property; and regard the claim of him who is wronged, for there is no veil between it and God." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any owner of gold or silver does not pay what is due on it, when the day of resurrection comes plates of fire will be beaten out for him, they will be heated in the fire of jahannam, and his side, forehead and back will be cauterised with them. Every time they are put back in the fire they will be returned to him during a day whose extent will be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among mankind and he sees whether his path is to take him to paradise or to hell." He was asked about camels and replied, “If any owner of camels does not pay what is due on them, one thing which is due being to milk them on the day they come down to water,* when the day of resurrection comes a soft sandy plain will be spread out for them, as extensive as possible, he will find that not a single young one is missing, and they will trample him with their hoofs and bite him with their mouths. As often as the first of them pass him the last of them will be brought back to him during a day whose extent will be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among mankind and he sees whether his path is to take him to paradise or to hell." He was asked about cattle and sheep and said, “If any owner of cattle or sheep does not pay what is due on them, when the day of resurrection comes a soft sandy plain will be spread out for them, he will find none of them missing, with twisted horns, without horns, or with a broken horn, and they will gore him with their horns and trample him with their hoofs. As often as the first of them pass him the last of them will be brought back to him during a day whose extent will be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among mankind and he sees whether his path is to take him to paradise or to hell”. He was asked about horses and said, “Horses are of three types; to one man they are a load, to another a covering, and to another a reward. The first class is exemplified when a man keeps them in hypocrisy, vainglory and opposition to the people of Islam, so they are a load to him. The second class is exemplified when a man keeps them to be used in God's path and is not forgetful of God’s right concerning their backs and necks, so they are a covering to him. The third class is exemplified when a man keeps them to be used in God's path by the people of Islam and puts them in a meadow and field. The amount of what they eat in that meadow or field will be recorded on his behalf as good deeds, as will also the amount of their dung and urine. If they break their halter and prance a course or two God will record the amount of their hoofmarks and their dung on his behalf as good deeds. If their master brings them past a river from which they drink, although he did not intend to water them, God will record the amount of what they drink on his behalf as good deeds.” He was asked about asses and said, "I have had no revelation about asses except this solitary verse of a composite nature, ‘He who does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and he who does an atom’s weight of evil will see it'.”** Muslim transmitted it. * This is said to be in order that he may be able to give a drink to passers-by and the poor. ** Qur’an 99: 7.

He reported God s messenger as saying, “If God gives anyone property and he does not pay the zakat on it, his property will be made to appear to him on the day of resurrection as a large bald snake with black spots over its eyes. It will be put round his neck on the day of resurrection, then seize his lihzamatani, i.e. his jaws, then say, ‘I am your property; I am your treasure’.” He then recited, “Let not those who are niggardly think…”* Bukhari transmitted it. * Quran 3:180