Abu Dharr said that he came with his stick in his hand and asked ‘Uthman for permission to enter and this was granted. ‘Uthman then told Ka‘b that ‘Abd ar-Rahman had died leaving some property and asked what he thought about it. When he replied that if he had given what was due to God on it there was no harm in it, Abu Dharr raised his stick and struck Ka'b and said he had heard God’s messenger say, “If I had a quantity of gold equivalent to this mountain which I could spend and have accepted from me, I would not like to leave six uqiyas behind me.” He then adjured ‘Uthman three times to tell him if he had not heard him, and he replied that he had. Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. al-Harith said that on an occasion when he had prayed the afternoon prayer in Medina behind the Prophet, he got up quickly after uttering the salutation and, stepping over the people, went to one of the rooms of his wives. The people were startled at his haste, and when he came out and saw their astonishment at his quick movement he said, “I remembered some gold which we had and did not want to be under its thrall, so I gave orders that it should be distributed.” Bukhari transmitted it. In a version by him he said, “I had left some gold belonging to the sadaqa in the house, and did not wish to keep it till night.”

‘A’isha said that during the illness of God’s messenger she had six or seven dinars belonging to him which he ordered her to distribute, but she was kept busy ministering to his suffering. He asked her what had happened to the six or seven dinars, and when she replied she had done nothing about them because she had been kept busy ministering to his suffering, he called for them, and placing them in his hand he said, “What would God’s prophet think if he were to meet God who is great and glorious while possessing these?” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet once visited Bilal and saw he had a heap of dates, he asked him what it was. One his replying, “It is something I have stored up for tomorrow,” he said, “Are you not afraid that tomorrow you may see on account of it steam in the fire of jahannam on the day of resurrection? Spend it, Bilal, and do not fear poverty from the Lord of the Throne.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Liberality is a tree in paradise of which he who is liberal will seize a branch, and the branch will not leave him till it brings him into paradise. And niggardliness is a tree in hell of which he who is niggardly will seize a branch, and the branch will not leave him till it brings him into hell.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “Give the sadaqa without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.”* Razln transmitted it. * The idea is that it acts as a barrier beyond which calamity cannot pass.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone gives as sadaqa the equivalent of a date from something lawfully earned, for God accepts only what is lawful, God will accept it with His right hand, then foster it for the one who gave it as one of you fosters his colt, till it becomes like a mountain.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sadaqa does not reduce property; God increases the honour of him who forgives another; and no one will humble himself for God’s sake without God exalting him.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone contributes a pair of anything in God’s path he will be invited to enter by the gates of paradise, for paradise has gates. Those who engage in prayer will be invited to enter by the gate of prayer; those who take part in jihad will be invited to enter by the gate of jihad; those who give sadaqa will be invited to enter by the gate of sadaqa; and those who fast will be invited to enter by the gate ar-Rayyan.”* Abu Bakr said, “No distress will rest on him who is invited to enter by those gates,** but will anyone be invited to enter by all those gates?” He replied, “Yes, and I hope you may be one.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * This word means literally 'well-watered,’ or 'fresh’. ** This is explained as meaning ‘by one of those gates,’as one who enters by any gate will get into paradise

He said that God’s messenger [once] asked who had observed a fast that day and Abu Bakr said he had. He asked who had followed a bier that day and Abu Bakr said he had. He asked who had fed a poor man that day and Abu Bakr said he had. He asked who had visited an invalid that day and Abu Bakr said he had. God’s messenger then said, “Anyone in whom these good deeds are combined will certainly enter paradise." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “None of you Muslim women must consider even a sheep’s trotter too insignificant a gift to give to her neighbour.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir and Hudhaifa reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every act of kindness is sadaqa.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari reported God’s messenger as saying that every Muslim must give sadaqa. He was asked how this could apply to one who had nothing and replied that he should work with his hands, gaining benefit for himself thereby, and give sadaqa. He was asked what would happen if he were unable to do this or did not do it, and replied that he should help one who was in need and sad. He was asked what he should do if he did not do that and replied that he should enjoin what is good. He was asked what he should do if he did not do that, and replied that he should refrain from evil, for that would be sadaqa for him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “Every bone of men’s fingers and toes must give sadaqa every day the sun rises. If one gives justice between two men it is sadaqa; if one helps a man with his beast, loading or lifting* his goods on it, it is sadaqa; a good word is sadaqa; every step one takes towards prayer is sadaqa; and if anyone removes anything injurious from the road it is sadaqa.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Mirqat suggests that the transmitter says 'loading or lifting', being doubtful which word was used.

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints, so he who declares God’s greatness, praises God, declares that He is the only God, glorifies God, asks forgiveness of God, removes a stone, a thorn, or a bone from people’s path, enjoins what is reputable, or forbids what is objectionable to the number of those three hundred and sixty, will walk that day having removed himself from hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

Aba Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “In every ascription of glory to God, every declaration of His greatness, every utterance of praise to Him, every declaration that He is the only God, in enjoining what is reputable, in forbidding what is objectionable, and in a man’s sexual intercourse there is sadaqa.” On being asked whether a reward would be given for satisfying one’s passion, he said, “Tell me; if he were to devote it to something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to devote it to something lawful, he would have a reward.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A milch-camel with abundant milk given as a loan and a ewe with abundant milk given as a loan, which produces a vessel of milk in the morning and another in the evening, is good sadaqa.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any Muslim plants something or sows seed from which man, bird, or beast eats, it counts as sadaqa for him.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim from Jabir it says that what is stolen from it counts as sadaqa for him.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Forgiveness was granted to an unchaste woman who coming upon a dog panting and almost dead with thirst at the mouth of a well, took off her shoe, tied it with her head-covering, and drew some water for it. On that account she was forgiven.” He was asked whether people received a reward for what they did to animals, and replied, “A reward is given in connection with every living creature.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Literally, everything possessed of a moist liver.

Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A woman was punished on account of a cat which she kept shut up till it died of hunger. She did not feed it or let it out so that it might eat things creeping on the earth.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “A man who came upon a branch of a tree overhanging a road and decided to move if from the way of Muslims to keep it from annoying them was brought into paradise." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “I have seen a man going about in paradise as a reward for cutting down a tree which was overhanging a road and annoying people." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Barza said that when he asked God’s Prophet to teach him something from which he would receive benefit he told him to remove things which caused annoyance to Muslims from their path. Muslim transmitted it.

When the Prophet came to Medina and I went and examined his face, I recognised that it was not the face of a liar. The first thing he said was, “If you people greet all whom you meet, provide food, care for the wellbeing of your kindred, and pray at night when people are asleep, you will enter paradise in peace.’’ Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “If you worship the Compassionate One, provide food, and greet all Whom you meet, you will enter paradise in peace.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sadaqa appeases the Lord’s anger and averts an evil death." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every act of kindness is sadaqa, and kindness includes meeting your brother with a cheerful face and pouring water from your bucket into your brother’s vessel." Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you smile in your brother’s face, or enjoin what is reputable, or forbid what is objectionable, or direct someone who has lost his way, or help a man who has bad eyesight, or remove stones, thorns and bones from the road, or pour water from your bucket into your brother’s, it counts to you as sadaqa.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Sa‘d b. ‘Ubada told God’s messenger that Umm Sa'd had died and asked him what form of sadaqa was best. When he replied that water was best, he dug a well and said it was for Umm Sa'd. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any Muslim clothes a Muslim when he is naked, God will clothe him with some of the green garments of paradise; if any Muslim feeds a Muslim when he is hungry, God will feed him with some of the fruits of paradise; and if any Muslim gives a Muslim drink when he is thirsty, God will give him some of the pure wine which is sealed* to drink.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. * Cf Quran 83:25.

Fatima daughter of Qais reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is something due on property apart from zakat.”* He then recited, “It is not piety that you should turn your faces to the east and west. . .”** Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. * This is said to include such acts as generosity to a beggar, readiness to lend money or goods to one who asks, and ordinary hospitality. ** Quran 2:177.

Buhaisa quoted her father as saying that he asked God’s messenger what was the thing which it is unlawful to refuse and was told that it was water. He repeated the question to God’s Prophet and was told that it was salt. When he asked God’s Prophet a third time he received the reply, “To do good is better for you.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone cultivates waste land he will have a reward for it, and what any creature seeking food* eats of it will count as sadaqa to him.” Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it. * This includes man, beast and bird. The word is 'afiya.

Al-Bara’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone lends an animal for milking, or silver coins, or shows someone the way, it will be equivalent to his having emancipated a slave.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I came to Medina and saw a man whose opinion was followed by the people, for he said nothing without their acting on it. I asked who he was, and when I was told that he was God’s messenger, I said twice, “Upon you be peace, messenger of God.” He replied, ‘Do not say, “Upon you be peace,’ for that is the salutation to the dead, but say, ‘Peace be upon you’.” I asked him if he was God’s messenger, and he replied, “I am the messenger of God who, if injury befalls you and you call on Him, will remove it; if a year of famine comes upon you and you call on Him, will make things grow; if you lose your riding-beast in a barren land or desert and call upon Him, will restore it to you.” I asked him to give me an injunction, and he said, “Do not revile anyone.” After that I never reviled a freeman or a slave, a camel or a sheep.” He said, “And do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, for looking pleasantly at your brother when you speak to him is an act of kindness. Wear your lower garment halfway up to the knee, but if you dislike that, let it go down to the ankles; on no account, however, must you let it trail, for that is a kind of pride, and God does not like pride. If anyone reviles or reproaches you for something he knows about you, do not reproach him for something you know about him, for the mischief of that will lie at his door.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted the part about the salutation. A version has, “The reward of that will be yours and its mischief will be his.”

‘A’isha said the Prophet asked how much was left of a sheep which they had killed, and when she told him that only its shoulder Remained, he replied, “The whole of it is left except its shoulder.”* Tirmidhi transmitted it and said it is sahih. * Meaning that what one gives to others has lasting value, as such giving is fundamentally done for God’s sake; whereas what one keeps indicates selfishness and so has only transient value.

Ibn 'Abbas said he heard God’s messenger say, “Any Muslim who gives a Muslim a garment to wear will be in God’s safe keeping as long as a shred of it remains on him.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

a man who gets up at night and recites God’s book; a man who gives sadaqa with his right hand and concealing it (‘Abdallah thought he added ‘from his left hand’); and a man who is on an expedition and faces the enemy when his companions are routed.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, but said that this is a tradition to which regard is not paid, one of its transmitters, Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash, being guilty of many errors.

a man who, when one came and begged from some people in God’s name, not because of any relationship between him and them, and was refused by them, withdrew from them and gave him something secretly, no one knowing of the gift but God and the one who gave it; a man who travelled all night with people till sleep was more desirable to them than anything which could be compared with it, and when they laid down their heads got up and engaged in his devotions and recited verses of the Qur’an; and a man who was in a detachment which met the enemy and was routed, yet went straight forward till he was killed or given victory. The three whom God hates are an old man who commits fornication, a poor man who is proud, and a rich man who is oppressive.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it but Nasa'i did not mention the three whom God hates.

When God created the earth it began to oscillate, so He created the mountains, ordered them on to it, and it became steady. The angels marvelled at the strength of the mountains and asked their Lord whether there was anything in His creation stronger than the mountains, to which He replied that iron was stronger. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than iron, and He replied that fire was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than fire and He replied that water was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than water and He replied that wind was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than wind and He replied, “Yes, the son of Adam who gives sadaqa with his right hand concealing it from his left.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Anas said the clothing the Prophet liked best wear was a striped cloak. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Dharr reported God's messenger as saying, “No Muslim will contribute a pair from every class of property he possesses to be devoted to God’s path without all the guards of paradise meeting him and summoning him to receive what they have.” Abu Dharr asked him what the nature of that would be, and he replied, “If they are camels there will be two, and if they are cows there will be two.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Marthad b. ‘Abdallah said one of the companions of God’s messenger told him that he had heard him say, “The believer's shade on the day of resurrection will be his sadaqa.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone gives liberally to his family on the day of ‘Ashura, God will be liberal to him the rest of the year.” Sufyan said he had tested it and found it to be so. Razin transmitted it, and Baihaqi in Shu’ab al-iman transmitted it from [Ibn Mas'ud], Abu Huraira, Abu Sa'id andjabir, but declared it to be weak.

Abu Umama told of Abu Dharr asking God’s Prophet to tell him what the reward for sadaqa would be, and receiving the reply, “Many times as much, and more still with God.” Ahmad transmitted it.

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 Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “When someone spends on his family seeking his reward for it from God, it counts to him as sadaqa.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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.