‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “I have given exemption regarding horses and slaves; with regard to coins, however, you must pay a dirham for every forty, but nothing is payable on a hundred and ninety. When the total reaches two hundred, five dirhams are payable.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it. In a version by Abu Dawud from al-Harith al-A'war from ‘Ali, from the Prophet, as Zuhair thought,* he said, “Pay a fortieth.” A dirham is payable on every forty, but you are not liable for payment till you have a complete two hundred dirhams. When they reach two hundred five dirhams are payable, and that proportion is applicable to larger amounts. Regarding sheep, for every forty sheep up to a hundred and twenty, one sheep is payable. If there is one more, then up to two hundred two sheep are payable. If there are more, then up to three hundred three sheep are payable, and if there are more than three hundred a sheep is payable for every hundred. But if you possess only thirty-nine, nothing is payable on them. Regarding cattle, a male calf of a year old is payable for every thirty and a cow in its third year for forty, but nothing is payable on working animals. * Zuhair, from whom Abu Dawud’s immediate informant got the tradition, is here quoted as saying he thought 'Ali got the tradition from the Prophet directly. See Abu Dawud, zakat, 5. There are three stages in the isnad between Zuhair and Ali.

Mu'adh said that when the Prophet sent him to the Yemen he ordered him to take a male or female calf of a year old for every thirty cattle and a cow in its third year for every forty. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who collects more sadaqa than is due is like him who refuses to pay it.” * Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. * Meaning that the sin committed by both is similar in its seriousness.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported the Prophet as saying, “There is no sadaqa payable on grain or dates till they reach five camel-loads.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Musa b. Talha said he had the letter of Mu'adh b. Jabal from the Prophet to the effect that he ordered him to collect sadaqa only on wheat, barley, raisins and dates. It is in mursal form and is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

‘Attab b. Usaid reported the Prophet as saying regarding the zakat on vines, “They are to be estimated as palm-trees are, then the zakat is to be paid in raisins as the zakat on palm-trees is paid in dried dates.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sahl b. Abu Hathma related that God’s messenger used to say, “When you estimate take them leaving a third, and if you do not leave a third leave a quarter.” * Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it. * This is interpreted by some as meaning that a third or a quarter was not to be reckoned when assessing the tax.

'A’isha said the Prophet used to send 'Abdallah b. Rawaha to Jews, and he would make an estimate of the palm trees when the fruit was in good condition before any of it was eaten. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying regarding honey, “A skin is payable on every ten.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying its isnad is criticised and that little on this subject is soundly reported from the Prophet.

Zainab the wife of ‘Abdallah said God’s messenger addressed them saying, “You women should give alms even if it consists of your jewellery, * for you will be the majority of the inhabitants of jahannam on the day of resurrection.” Tirmidhi transmitted it. * There is a difference of opinion as to whether this means simply giving some of their jewellery, or whether it means that zakat must be paid on jewellery which they possess.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority said that his grandfather told of two women wearing gold bangles on their wrists coming to God’s messenger, who asked them whether they paid zakat on them. On their replying that they did not, he asked them whether they wanted God to put two bangles of fire on them, and when they replied that they did not, he told them to pay the zakat due on them. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying something similar to this tradition has been transmitted by al-Muthanna b. as-Sabbah from ‘Amr b. Shu'aib; but al-Muthanna b. as-Sabbah and Ibn Lahi'a are declared to be weak in tradition; and nothing on this subject is soundly reported from the Prophet.

Umm Salama said she was wearing gold ornaments and asked God’s messenger whether that was a treasure,* to which he replied, “Whatever reaches a quantity on which zakat is payable is not a treasure when the zakat is paid.” Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The word kanz which means a treasure is used as a technical term for property liable to zakat on which the zakat is not paid.

Samura b. Jundub said God’s messenger used to order them to deduct the sadaqa from what they prepared for trade. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Rabi'a b. ‘Abd ar-Rahman on more than one person’s authority said, “God’s messenger assigned as a fief to Bilal b. al-Harith al-Muzani the mines of al-Qabaliya which is in the neighbourhood of al-Fur‘,* and only zakat is levied on those mines up to the present day.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Yaqut, Mu'jam, ii, 471, says it is a village in the neighbourhood of ar-Rabadha, eight stages from Medina on the way to Mecca; some say four days’ journey.

‘Ali reported the Prophet as saying, “There is no sadaqa on green herbs, palm-trees given in usufruct for a year, less than five camel-loads, working animals, or al-jabha.” As-Saqr said al-jabha* consists of horses, mules and slaves. Daraqutni transmitted it. * Applied usually to horses, meaning the best type.

Tawus told that a waqs of cattle was brought to Mu'adh b. Jabal and he said the Prophet did not command him to pay anything on them. Daraqutni and Shafi' transmitted it, the latter saying that a waqs is a number less than that on which sadaqa is payable. * * The word waqs or waqas is applied to odd numbers of animals (usually cattle) between one limit of assessment and the next.

Ibn ‘Umar said God’s messenger prescribed as the zakat payable by slave and freeman, male and female, young and old among the Muslims on breaking the fast of Ramadan a sa'* of dried dates or a sa' of barley, and gave command that this should be paid before the people went out to prayer. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The Hijazi sa' is described as a measure equivalent to four mudds, the mudd being the amount a man with average size hands can hold with both hands extended.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudrl said, “We used to bring forth as the zakat on breaking the fast of Ramadan a sa’ of grain, or of barley, or of dried dates, or of cheese, or of raisins." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn 'Abbas said, “At the end of Ramadan bring forth the sadaqa relating to your fast. God's messenger prescribed this sadaqa as a sa' of dried dates or barley, or half a sa' of wheat payable by every free¬man or slave, male or female, young or old." Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger prescribed the zakat relating to the breaking of the fast as a purification of the fasting from empty and obscene talk and as food for the poor. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority said his grandfather told that the Prophet sent someone to announce in the ravines of Mecca, “The sadaqa relating to the breaking of the fast is incumbent on every Muslim, male or female, freeman or slave, young or old, consisting of two mudds of wheat or such like, or a sa' of grain." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Tha'laba, or Tha'laba b. ‘Abdallah b. Abu Su'air* reported on his father’s authority that God’s messenger said, “A sa’ of wheat** is to be taken from every two, young or old, freeman or slave, male or female. Those of you who are rich will be purified by God and those of you who are poor will have more than they gave returned by Him to them.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Abu Dawud, zakat, 21 gives the name as above, but others often give b. Su'air. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr in Isti'ab and Ibn Hajar in Tahdhib give b. Su'air, adding that b. Abu Su'air also occurs. ** The transmitter is not sure which word for "wheat” was used, so he gives either burr or qamh.

Anas told that the Prophet came upon a date on the road and said, “Were it not that I fear it may be part of the sadaqa I would eat it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira told that al-Hasan b. 'All took one of the dates of the sadaqa and put it in his mouth, whereupon the Prophet said, “Leave it alone, leave it alone,” in order that he might throw it away. He then said, “Do you not know that we* do not eat the sadaqa?’ (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The pronoun includes the Prophet and his family, al Hasan being his grandson. The idea is more definitely expressed in 'Abd al-Muttalib's tradition.

‘Abd al-Muttalib b. Rabi'a reported God’s messenger as saying, “These sadaqat are only people’s impurities,* and they are not lawful for Muhammad or Muhammad’s family.” Muslim transmitted it. * i.e. an atonement for their sins.

Abu Huraira said that when God’s messenger was brought food he asked whether it was a present or sadaqa, and if he was informed that it was sadaqa he told his companions to eat, but did not eat himself; if however he was informed that it was a present he put in his hand and ate along with them. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said that three sunnas concerned Barira.* One was that she became free and was given her choice regarding her husband. God’s messenger said, "The right of inheritance from an emancipated slave belongs to the one who set him free.”* God’s messenger once came in when the pot was boiling with meat in it, and he was presented with some of the bread and condiments which were in the house. He asked, “Did I not see a pot containing meat?” and was told, “Yes, but that is meat which was given as sadaqa to Barira and you do not eat the sadaqa.” He replied, “It is sadaqa for her and a gift to us.” *** (Bukhari and Muslim.) * A slave-woman whom 'A’isha bought and set free. ** The context shows that these words are said to have been spoken in connection with Barira. *** This is the part of the tradition which makes it relevant in this chapter, as it declares that one who may not lawfully receive sadaqa may accept as a gift sadaqa which has been received by one who may lawfully receive it.

She said that God’s messenger would accept a present and give something in return for it. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If I were invited to eat a trotter I would accept the invitation, and if I were presented with a fore-leg I would accept it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "The poor man (miskin) is not the one who goes round to people and is dismissed with one or two morsels, and one or two dates, but is he who does not get enough to satisfy him, is not taken notice of so that alms may be given him, yet does not get up and beg from people.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Rafi' said God’s messenger sent a man of the B. Makhzum to collect sadaqa and he asked him to accompany him so that he might get some of it; but he refused to do so till he went to God's messenger and asked him. He went to the Prophet and asked him, and he said, “The sadaqa is not lawful for us, and the clients of a people are treated as being of their number.” * Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it. * Abu Rafi’ had been a slave of the Prophet by whom he was set free. The point of the tradition is that the rules which apply to any people apply to their freedmen as well, and so Abu Rafi' was not entitled to receive sadaqa.

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sadaqa may not be given to a rich man, or to one who has strength and is sound in limb.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it, and Ahmad, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Abu Huraira.

‘Ubaidallah b. ‘Adi b. al-Khiyar said two men informed him that they had come to the Prophet when he was at the Farewell Pilgrimage while he was dividing the sadaqa and asked him for some of it. He looked them up and down, and seeing that they were robust, he said, “If you wish I shall give you something, but there is no share in it for a rich man or for one who is strong and able to earn a living.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

one who fights in God’s path, or one who collects it, or a debtor, a man who buys it with his money, or a man who has a poor neighbour a no has been given sadaqa and gives a present to the rich man.” Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it. A version by Abu Dawud from Abu Sa'id has ‘‘or a traveller.”

Ziyad b. al-Harith as-Suda’i said he came to the Prophet and swore allegiance to him, and after telling a long story he said that a man came to him and asked him to give him some of the sadaqa. God’s messenger then said to him, ‘‘God is not pleased with a prophet's or anyone else's decision about sadaqat till He has given a decision about them Himself. He has divided those entitled to them into eight categories,* so if you come within those categories I shall give you something.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Reference is to Al-Qur'an 9:60

Zaid b. Aslam said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab drank some milk which pleased him and asked the man who gave him the drink where that milk had come from. He informed him that he had gone down to a watering-place which he named and found there some camels which had been given as sadaqa being watered. Saying that the people had drawn off some of their milk, he added, “I put it in this milk-skin of mine, and this is it.” ‘Umar thereupon put his hand in his mouth and made himself vomit. Malik and Baihaqi, in Shu’ab al-iman, transmitted it.

a man who has become a guarantor for a payment, to whom begging is allowed till he gets it, after which he must stop begging; a man whose property has been destroyed by a calamity which has smitten him, to whom begging is allowed till he gets what will support life (or he said, what will provide a reasonable subsistence); and a man who has been smitten by poverty, the genuineness of which is confirmed by three intelligent members of his people, to whom begging is allowed till he gets what will support life (or he said, what will provide a reasonable subsistence). Any other reason for begging, Qabisa, is forbidden, and one who engages in such consumes it as a thing which is forbidden.”** Muslim transmitted it. * The word hamala is used of an undertaking to pay a debt or bloodwit. ** The word here used is suht, for its use of Quran (5:42,62,63)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who begs the property of others to increase his own is asking only for live coals,* so let him ask little or much.” Muslim transmitted it. * A reference incurring some of the punishment of hell.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a man is always begging from people the result will be that he will come on the day of resurrection with no flesh on his face.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mu'awiya reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not beg importunately, for I swear by God that none of you who asks me for anything and gets out of me what he asks when I disapprove of it will receive a blessing concerning what I have given him.” Muslim transmitted it.

Az-Zubair b. al-‘Awwam reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is better for one of you to take his rope, bring a load of firewood on his back and sell it, God thereby preserving his self-respect, than that he should beg from people whether they give him anything or refuse him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Hakim b. Hizam said he begged from God’s messenger and he gave him something, later he begged again and when he had given him something he said, “Hakim, this property is green and sweet, and he who receives it with a liberal mind will be blessed in it, but he who receives it with an avaricious mind will not be blessed in it, being like one who eats without being satisfied. And the upper hand is better than the lower one.” * Hakim told that he replied, “Messenger of God, by Him who sent you with the truth, I shall not accept anyone’s bounty after this till I leave the world.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The upper hand is that of the giver and the lower hand is that of the receiver. The sentence is equivalent to saying that it is better to give than to receive.

Ibn ‘Umar reported that God’s messenger said when he was on the pulpit speaking of sadaqa and abstention from begging, “The upper hand is better than the lower one, the upper being the one which bestows and the lower the one which begs.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said some of the Ansar begged from God’s messenger and he gave them something. They later begged from him again and he gave them something so that what he had was exhausted. He then said, “What I have I shall never store away from you, but God will strengthen the abstinence of him who abstains, will give a competence to him who is satisfied, and will strengthen the endurance of him who shows endurance. No one has been given a better or more ample gift than endurance.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet was giving me something and I asked him to give it to someone who had more need of it than I had, but he said, “Take it, keep it with your property and give it as sadaqa. Take what comes to you from this property when you are neither avaricious nor begging, but in other circumstances do not let your desire go after it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Samura b. Jundub reported God's messenger as saying, “Acts of begging are lacerations with which a man disfigures his face, so he who wishes may preserve his self-respect and he who wishes may do otherwise; but this does not apply to one who asks from a ruler, or in a situation which makes it necessary.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who begs from people when he has a sufficiency will come on the day of resurrection with his begging showing itself as scrapes, scratching or lacerations on his face.” On being asked what constituted a sufficiency, God’s messenger replied that it was fifty dirhams or their value in gold. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Sahl b. al-Hanzaliya reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who begs when he has a sufficiency is simply asking for a great amount of hell.” An-Nufaili, who was one of its transmitters, said in another place that he was asked what was a sufficiency which made begging unfitting and replied that it was what would provide a morning and an evening meal. In another place he said it was when one had enough for a day, or for a night and a day. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ata’ b. Yasar, on the authority of a man of the B. Asad, reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any of you begs when he has an Uqiya* or its equivalent, he has begged immoderately.” Malik, Abu DawQd and Nasa’i transmitted it. * The Uqiya (ounce) of the Arabs was forty dirhams.

Hubshi b. Janada reported God’s messenger as saying, “Begging is not allowable to a rich man, or to one who has strength and is sound in limb, but only to one who is in grinding poverty or is seriously in debt. If anyone begs to increase thereby his property, it will appear as lacerations on his face on the day of resurrection and as heated stones which he will eat from jahannam. So let him who wishes ask little, and let him who wishes ask much.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.