Umm Salama said she asked God’s messenger whether she would have a reward for what she spent on Abu Salama’s sons, for they were only her sons, and he replied, “Spend on them and you will have the reward for what you spend on them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Zainab the wife of ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that when God's messenger told the women that they should give sadaqa, even though it should be some of their jewellery, she returned to ‘Abdallah and said, “you are a man who does not possess much, and God’s messenger has commanded us to give sadaqa; so go and ask him, and if giving to you will serve for me I shall do so, otherwise I shall give it to someone else.” He told her it would be better to go herself, so she went and found a woman of the Ansar at God's messenger’s door who had come for the same purpose as she had. Now God’s messenger was invested with respect, and when Bilal came out to them they said to him, “Go to God’s messenger and tell him that there are two women at the door who have come to ask him whether it will serve them to give sadaqa to their husbands and to orphans who are in their charge, but do not tell him who we are.” Bilal went in and asked him, and God’s messenger asked him who the women were. When he told him that they were the women of the Ansar and Zainab, he asked him which Zainab it was, and when he was told that it was the wife of ‘Abdallah he said. “They will have two rewards, the reward for kinship and the reward for sadaqa. (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Muslim’s.)

Maimuna daughter of al-Harith told that she set free a girl in the time of God’s messenger, and when she mentioned that to him he said, “If you had given her to your maternal uncles it would have increased your reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

'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 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 [what to do with it]." 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 [with something], 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.

Anas said that Abu Talha was the one among the Ansar who possessed most palm trees, the property he prized most being Bairaha’ which was opposite the mosque and was often entered by God’s messenger who drank some of the sweet water it contained. When this verse came down, “You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love,”* Abu Talha got up and going to God's messenger said, “Messenger of God, God says, ‘You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love,' and my property which I prize most is Bairaha’, so I give it as sadaqa to God most high from whom I hope for reward for the act of righteousness and the treasure relating to it;** so apply it, messenger of God, to whatever purpose God shows you.” He replied, “Bravo! That is profitable property. I have heard what you said, and I think you should apply it to your nearest relatives.” Abu Talha told God’s messenger he would do so, and divided it among his nearest relatives and his cousins on his father’s side. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Quran 3:92 ** The Arabic is dhukhraha, which conveys the idea of this good deed being stored up with God who will give a reward for it in the next world

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.”

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a woman gives some of the food in her house, not wasting it, she will have her reward for what she has given and her husband will have his for what he earned. The same applies to a storekeeper. In no respect does the one diminish the reward of the other.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a woman gives something her husband has earned without being commanded by him to do so, she has half his reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported God’s messenger as saying, “The faithful Muslim storekeeper who gives what he is commanded completely and in full with a good will, and delivers it to the one to whom he was told to give it, is one of the two* who give sadaqa.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * The two are his master and himself.

‘A’isha said that a man told the Prophet his mother had died suddenly adding that he thought she would have given sadaqa if she had been able to speak. He therefore asked if she would have a reward supposing he gave sadaqa on her behalf, and was told that she would. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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

literally ‘a burden’

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.

I provided a man with a horse to ride in God’s path, but as the one who had it did not look after it well, I wanted to buy it and thought he would sell it at a cheap price. I therefore asked the Prophet, but he said, “Do not buy it, and do not take back what you gave as sadaqa even if he gives it to you for a dirham, for the one who takes back what he gave as sadaqa is like a dog which returns to its vomit.” A version has, “Do not take back what you gave as sadaqa, for the one who does so is like one who takes back what he has vomited.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Buraida said that when he was sitting with the Prophet 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.

‘A’isha said the bedding on which God’s messenger slept consisted of leather stuffed with palm fibre. (Bukhari and Muslim)

She said the pillow on which God’s messenger reclined was of leather stuffed with palm fibre. ' Muslim transmitted it.

She told that while they were seated in their house in the noonday heat someone said to Abu Bakr, “Here is God’s messenger coming shading his head.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir told that God’s messenger said to him, “There should be bedding for a man, bedding for his wife, and a third for a guest, but a fourth is for the devil.”(It is explainedt that to have more than is necessary suggests fondness for worldly goods, or a desire to make some display. Such practices are blameworthy, and what is blameworthy is connected with the devil). Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “On the day of resurrection God will not look at him who trails his lower garment conceitedly." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, ‘If anyone trails his garment arrogantly, God will not look at him on the day of resurrection." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “While a man was trailing his lower garment he was swallowed up by the earth, and he will be tossed about in it till the day of resurrection." Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The part of the lower garment which goes below the ankles is in hell." Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir said God’s messenger forbade that a man should eat with his left hand, or walk with one sandal, or wrap himself completely in a garment, or sit in a single garment with his hands round his knees and uncover his private parts. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Umar, Anas, Ibn az-Zubair and Abu Umama reported the Prophet as saying, *“He who wears silk in this world will not wear it in the next." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Only he who has no portion in the next world wears silk in this world." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Hudhaifa told that God’s messenger forbade them to eat or drink from a vessel of silver or gold, or to wear or sit upon silk and brocade. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Ali told that God’s messenger was presented with a striped robe containing silk and sent it to him, but when ‘Ali wore it he saw he was looking angry. He then said, “I did not send it to you to wear, but only to cut it up into veils for the women." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar said the Prophet forbade wearing silk except to this extent, which was indicated by God's messenger raising his middle and forefinger and joining them. (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim tells that in an address given by him at al-Jabiya (a town to the east of the Sea of Galilee, north of the Yarmuk battlefield. ‘Umar went there before the fall of Jerusalem.) he said God’s messenger forbade wearing silk except to the extent of two, three, or four fingers.

This was God’s messenger’s mantle which was with ‘A’isha, which I inherited when she died. The Prophet used to wear it, and we washed it for the sick and sought a cure by means of it. (The water in which it was washed would be given to the sick to drink, or the garment itself was placed on them, or given to them to touch or kiss, and so receive a blessing) Muslim transmitted it.

Anas told that God’s messenger gave licence to az-Zubair and ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf to wear silk because of an itch which they had. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he said they complained of bugs and he gave them licence to wear silk shirts.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As told that when God's messenger saw him wearing two garments dyed with saffron he said, “These are the garments worn by infidels ; do not wear them.” A version says that when he suggested washing them he replied, “No, burn them.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari reported the Prophet as saying, “Gold and silk are permitted to the females among my people but prohibited to the males.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Umm Salama said the clothing God’s messenger liked best was a shirt. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Asma’ daughter of Yazid said the sleeve of God’s messenger’s shirt came to the wrist. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira said that when God’s messenger put on a shirt he began with the right side. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudrl told that he heard God’s messenger say, "The way for a believer to wear a lower garment is to have it halfway down his legs, and he is guilty of no sin if it comes halfway between that and the ankles, but what comes lower than that is in hell (saying that three times). On the day of resurrection God will not look at him who trails his lower garment conceitedly." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salim quoted his father to the effect that the Prophet said, "If anyone trails arrogantly anything allowed to hang down in a lower garment, a shirt and a turban, God will not look at him on the day of resurrection." Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Kabsha said the headgear worn by God's messenger's Companions was flat. (It is not clear whether the reference here is to headgear which was low and wide, or to wide sleeves. The former seems to be preferred. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 424.) Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a tradition which is rejected.

When God’s messenger mentioned the lower garment Umm Salama asked what a woman should do and he said she should let it down a span. She replied that in that case she would not be completely covered, and he said she might let it down a cubit, but no more. Malik, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. In the version of Tirmidhi and Nasa’i on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar she said their feet would then be uncovered, and he replied that they should let it down a cubit, but no more.

I came to the Prophet with a company of Muzaina who swore allegiance to him, and as his buttons were open I put my hand inside his shirt and felt the seal. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Samura reported the Prophet as saying, "Wear white clothes, for they are purer and better ; and shroud your dead in them." Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.