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| 2 Hadiths

Hadith
1490
Narrated ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him): Once I gave a horse in Allah's Cause (in charity) but that person did not take care of it. I intended to buy it, as I thought he would sell it at a low price. So, I asked the Prophet ﷺ about it. He ﷺ said, "Neither buy, nor take back your alms which you have given, even if the seller were willing to sell it for one Dirham, for he who takes back his alms is like the one who swallows his own vomit.".

Commentary : Giving in charity for the sake of Allah, Exalted be He, is considered one of the best and most rewarding good deeds. It necessitates that when a person gives something in charity hoping for its reward and blessings from Allah alone that he does not wish to have it back again or request that it goes back to his possession.
In this hadeeth, ‘Umar ibn al-Khataab (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he gave a horse in charity and gifted to a man to use it in fighting in the cause of Allah. However, the man did not look after the horse properly and did not feed him enough or send it to gaze until it has become so weak. ‘Umar wished to buy it because he thought the man will sell it for a low price, so he (may Allah be pleased with him) consulted the Prophet ﷺ about his plan. The Prophet ﷺ ordered him not to proceed with his plan and not to retrieve his charity through buying or any other way, even if it will be sold for one Dirham i.e., he ﷺ told him not to desire it back at all or be tempted by its low price, and only view it as the charity that you have already given away because whoever takes back his charity is like a person who has vomited and then swallowed it! It is for this reason; it is considered so ugly for a person to give something in charity then retrieve it in any way. In another version of the report, in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, it reads: “like a dog who swallows his own vomit” where he ﷺ gave this strong example to show the ugliness of this act and to discourage people from it.
This hadeeth shows us that we are ordered against taking back our charity or gifts, and that if one gives in charity something to a poor person, then the poor person needed to sell it, the charity giver should not buy it from him..

1491
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Al-Hasan ibn `Alee took a date from the dates given in charity and put it in his mouth. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Kikh, Kikh” so he expels it from his mouth. Then said: “Don't you know that we do not eat a thing which is given in charity?".

Commentary : Allah, Exalted be He, has honored His Prophet Muhmmad ﷺ, purified him, elevated his rank above all His creation, and endowed him with exclusive qualities that befit the state of his prophethood that makes him distinguished from the people. One of these exclusive qualities is that he ﷺ and his household members do not eat from charity.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that al-Hasan, the son of ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib and Faatimah, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ (may Allah be pleased with all of them) picked a date from the dates given in charity and put it in his mouth. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ said to him “kikh, kikh” to encourage him to remove it from his mouth. The Arabs use this phrase to belittle a thing or express that it is despised, and it is often used with children to discourage them from harmful and bad things. Upon hearing it, al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) removed it from his mouth and then the Prophet ﷺ informed him that the family of Muhammad ﷺ do not eat a thing which is given in charity due to their honored and elevated status since charity is the dirt of people that they give it away to purify their wealth.
The family of the Prophet ﷺ who are not allowed to take or receive zakat and charity are his offspring, wives, and the descendants of ‘Abdul-Muttalib: the descendants of ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib, the descendants of al-‘Abbaas, the descendants of Ja’far, the descendants of ‘Aqeel, and the descendants of al-Haarith.
This hadeeth shows that children should be raised and trained to comply with the rulings of the religion and avoid that which is forbidden.
It shows that we should explain to children the reason something is not allowed when we order them to avoid it, whenever possible..

1492
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ saw a dead sheep which had been given in charity to a freed slave-girl of Maymoonah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Why don't you get the benefit of its hide?" They said, "It is dead." He replied, "Only to eat (its meat) is forbidden.".

Commentary : Allah has made all the good provisions lawful for His servants and all that which is impure and evil forbidden, manifesting His Mercy and Compassion in all His legislations.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ noticed a dead sheep that had been given in charity to the freed slave-girl of Maymoonah bint al-Haarith, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet ﷺ did not object to indicate that it is permissible to give charity to the freed slaves of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ provided the wife is not from the tribe of Haashim or ‘Abdul-Muttalib like Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her). This is based on the hadeeth recorded in Sunan Aboo Dawood and Sunan al-Nisaa’iee, which reads: “The charity is not permissible for us, and the freed slave of a people is one of them”.
When the Prophet ﷺ noticed the dead sheep, he ﷺ asked: “Why don't you get the benefit of its hide?” and according to the version in Saheeh Muslim, he ﷺ said: “Why did you not take its skin and tan it and get some good out of it?” The skin tanning is a process wherein the skin is cleansed using salt or other materials, then left to dry. They answered the Prophet ﷺ saying that the sheep was not slaughtered in the prescribed way thus it is considered a dead animal that they cannot benefit from. However, the Prophet ﷺ explained to them that it is only forbidden to eat the meat of a dead animal. As for its skin, it is lawful to benefit from it.
This hadeeth indicates that it is permissible to benefit from the skin of dead animals after it is tanned if the animal is from the type of animals whose meat is lawful to consume. It has been said that it includes all animals except dogs and pigs.
This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to give something in charity to the freed slaves of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ..

1493
Narrated ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her): I intended to buy Bareerah (a slave-girl) in order to manumit her and her masters intended to put the condition that her walaa’ would be for them. `Aaishah mentioned that to the Prophet ﷺ who said to her, "Buy her, as the "Wala" is for the manumitter." Once some meat was presented to the Prophet ﷺ and `Aaishah said to him, "This meat was given in charity to Bareerah." He said, "It is an object of charity for her but a gift for us.".

Commentary : Islam obliged people to honor their contracts and fulfill the contractual terms and conditions that people agreed upon so long as their condition neither makes that which is lawful forbidden nor that which is forbidden lawful. If such a condition existed in the agreement, then the condition will have no effect and deemed void and null.
In this hadeeth, ‘Aaishah, the Mother of the Believers, reports that she wanted to buy Bareerah bint Safwaan (may Allah be pleased with her) who was a slave at that time, so she can manumit her. However, her master – it has been said that her master was ‘Utbah ibn Abee Lahab and others said her masters were from the tribe of Banee Hilaal – insisted that he will be entitled to the right to al-walaa’ after she is manumitted. The walaa’ is a legal term that means kinship by emancipation which refers to cases in which a slave is emancipated by his or her owner, and then a kinship is made between the emancipator and the emancipated, and thus, the ex-master would inherit from his freed slaves if they had no heirs. This relationship establishes a form of permanent kinship between the ex-master and the freed slave so the latter will support his ex-master and be treated as a relative. The Arabs before Islam used to sell and gift this right, but Islam made it forbidden because al-walaa’ is deemed like lineage that cannot be revoked. The Prophet ﷺ explained to ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she can buy her and that the condition stipulated has no value since it is an invalid condition because al-walaa’ is for the manumitter.
Then, ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported one day her freed slave-girl, Bareerah, received some meat, which was given to her in charity. Then, she gave some of it to the Prophet ﷺ who accepted from her, because while it was given to her in charity, it was given to him as a gift; thus, it was lawful for him eat.
This hadeeth indicates that is permissible to give charity to the freed slaves of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ provided the wife is not from the tribes of Haashim or ‘Abdul-Muttalib like Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her). This is based on the hadeeth recorded in Sunan Aboo Dawood and Sunan al-Nisaa’iee, which reads: “The charity is not permissible for us, and the freed slave of a people is one of them”.
This hadeeth shows that al-Walaa (kinship by emancipation) is for the manumitter, and that it is permissible to give charity to the freed slaves of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ..

1496
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ said to Mu`aath ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) when he sent him to Yemen. "You will come to people from the People of the Book, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. If they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be performed every day and night. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them alms to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them. And if they obey you in that, then be cautious! Don't take their best properties (as Zakat) and beware of the supplication of an oppressed person [against you] as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.”.

Commentary : The caller to Allah should be mindful of priorities and adopt a gradual approach in his da’wah work until people can be fully compliant with the orders of Allah, Exalted be He. This was exactly the approach that the Prophet ﷺ followed and taught to his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
This hadeeth highlights one of the fundamental principles of Da’wah where ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu’aath ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) in a mission to Yemen. This occurred in the 9th year of Hijrah – while others said it was in the 10th year of Hijrah – and the purpose of his mission was to teach people the Quran and the legal rulings of Islam, judge between them, and collect the zakat. He ﷺ said to him: “You will come to people from the People of the Book” as they were Christians at that time. He ﷺ instructed him to start his call to Islam by inviting them to testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, because it is the first step to enter Islam and without disbelief is not lifted and a person cannot be considered a Muslim and ordered to fulfill any other obligations in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ then advised him that if they accepted it and uttered the Testimony of Faith, to inform them that Allah has imposed on them five prayers, namely al-Fajr, al-Thoohr, al-‘Asr, al-Maghrib, and al-‘Ishaa’, that they have to perform every day. This is because the five prayers are the most important pillar in Islam after the Testimony of Faith, and the first deed that Muslims will be questioned about in the Day of Judgment. After, the Prophet ﷺ said: “And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them alms to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them.” The alms mentioned here refers to the zakat, which is a financial obligation that must be paid on all the eligible types of money when one lunar year has passed from the time when the amount was acquired and reached the legislated threshold. The percentage of threshold that is payable as Zakat is a quarter of one-tenth (2.5%) of the total eligible property, which includes cash, livestock, agriculture, merchandise, and buried treasures. The zakat of each kind is calculated according to their respective threshold and percentage that Islam has dictated. The categories of people who are eligible to receive zakat are specified in the Quran. Allah, Most High, says: {Zakat is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are attracted ˹to the faith˺, for ˹freeing˺ slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s cause, and for ˹needy˺ travellers. ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.} [Quran 9:60].
The Prophet ﷺ then said to Mu’aath: “if they obey you in that, then be cautious! Do not take their best properties (as Zakat)” i.e., take the zakat from their average property so as they give their zakat with a good heart and do not hold any grudges. The point is that zakat is prescribed in Islam to support those who are poor and needy; thus, it is inappropriate to take from the givers of zakat more than it should be except in the case where they approve it.
After, the Prophet ﷺ advised him to beware of injustice and oppression so that no oppressed person supplicates Allah against him. This indicates that all types of injustice and oppressions are forbidden and the reason this was mentioned after the order of not taking the zakat from the best of their property is to say that such an action is deemed injustice and a form of oppression. After, the Prophet ﷺ explained to him that there is no screen between the invocation of the oppressed and Allah – that is to say, his invocation is answered and never rejected.
One of the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is teaching us that inviting people to monotheism comes first and precedes fighting.
This hadeeth shows that the Ruler should advise his governors and delegates about the rulings that they will need in their mission.
It warns us against injustice and oppression..

1497
Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Awfa: Whenever a person came to the Prophet ﷺ with his zakat, the Prophet ﷺ would say, "O Allah! Forgive and have mercy upon the family of so and so." My father went to the Prophet ﷺ with his zakat and the Prophet ﷺ said, "O Allah! Forgive and have mercy upon the family of Aboo Awfa.".

Commentary : The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated for us the best example in good character and etiquettes. One of his lofty manners and good character was rewarding whoever fulfilled an obligation or did a good deed.
‘Abdullah in Abee Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) reports in this hadeeth that whenever people would present their zakat to the Prophet ﷺ, he would supplicate for them by saying: “O Allah! Send your blessings upon the family of so and so” i.e., O Allah! Forgive them and have mercy on them. He (may Allah be pleased with him) then proceeded to mention that his father, Aboo Awfa, ‘Alqamah ibn Khaalid ibn al-Haarith al-Aslamee (may Allah be pleased with him) presented his zakat to the Prophet ﷺ who thereupon said: “O Allah! Forgive and have mercy upon the family of Aboo Awfa.” The reason he ﷺ included the family of Aboo ‘Awfa in his supplication is to honor and elevate him.
The Prophet ﷺ prayed for him in compliance with the ayah: {Take, [O Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase and pray for them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.} [Quran 9:103] wherein Allah ordered the Prophet ﷺ to collect the zakat from people and pray for those who give their zakat.
One of the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning the permissibility of praying for people other than the Prophets, and that praying for who gives his charity or alms..

1498
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, "A man from the Children of Israel asked someone from the Children of Israel to give him a loan of one thousand Dinars. The man agreed and gave it to him. The debtor went on a voyage (when the time for the payment of the debt became due) but he did not find a boat, so he took a piece of wood and bored it and put 1000 diners in it and threw it into the sea. The creditor went out and took the piece of wood to his family to be used as fire-wood." (He then mentioned the rest of the story). And the Prophet ﷺ narrated the narration (and said), "When he sawed the wood, he found his money.”.

Commentary : Whoever takes a loan while intending to repay it, and asks for Allah’s help to repay his debt, Allah will facilitate for him the means to settle his debt, and in the event of his inability to repay it, Allah will compensate the one who gave him the loan until he becomes satisfied with him on the Day of Judgment. However, if a person borrows money and takes loans while intending not to repay his debts, Allah will take away his wealth in this life and punish him in the Hereafter.
The Prophet ﷺ in this hadeeth narrates to us a fascinating story with a great moral about a man from the Children of Israel who borrowed 1000 dinars from another man. According to another version of the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, it reads: “The man required witnesses so he can lend him the money. The former replied, 'Allah is sufficient as a witness.' The man said, 'I want a guarantee.' The former replied, 'Allah is sufficient as a guarantee.' The second said, 'You are right,' and lent him the one thousand dinars for a certain period.”  When the time of repayment of the debt became due, the man was far away so he tried to find a boat to travel back home so he can give the money back to the creditor, but he could not find a boat to take him there. As such, he took a piece of wood and bored it and put 1000 diners in it and threw it into the sea while having full reliance upon Allah to deliver it to the man by His Power and Will. This is explicitly mentioned in the other version of the hadeeth, which reads: “he took a piece of wood and made a hole in it, inserted in it one thousand Dinars and a letter to the lender and then closed (i.e., sealed) the hole tightly. He took the piece of wood to the sea and said, 'O Allah! You know well that I took a loan of one thousand Dinars from so-and-so. He demanded a surety from me, but I told him that Allah's Guarantee was sufficient, and he accepted Your guarantee. He then asked for a witness, and I told him that Allah was sufficient as a Witness, and he accepted You as a Witness. No doubt, I tried hard to find a conveyance so that I could pay his money but could not find, so I hand over this money to You.' Saying that, he threw the piece of wood into the sea till it went out far into it, and then he went away.” Afterwards, while the lender was standing on the other side of the sea, he found that piece of wood floating so he took it home so he could use it for fire to warm up and cook food. When he sawed it, he found the money along with a letter that the debtor penned wherein he explained what happened. According to the lengthier version of the hadeeth, it reads: “One day the lender came out of his house to see whether a ship had arrived bringing his money, and all of a sudden, he saw the piece of wood in which his money had been deposited. He took it home to use for fire. When he sawed it, he found his money and the letter inside it. Shortly after that, the debtor came bringing one thousand Dinars to him and said, 'By Allah, I had been trying hard to get a boat so that I could bring you your money but failed to get one before the one I have come by.' The lender asked, 'Have you sent something to me?' The debtor replied, 'I have told you I could not get a boat other than the one I have come by.' The lender said, 'Allah has delivered on your behalf the money you sent in the piece of wood. So, you may keep your one thousand Dinars and depart guided on the right path.' "
One of the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is that we should endeavor to repay our debts and take all possible means to settle our loans and debts.
This hadeeth highlights the virtue of reliance upon Allah and the good reward that Allah gives to those who rely upon Him..

1499
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "No compensation or retaliation is payable for damage caused by an animal; and no responsibility attaches to anyone who has dug a mine or a well in a place where he is entitled to do so if someone falls in; and buried treasures are subject to one-fifth as zakat.".

Commentary : The legislation system in Islam governs all the interactions, dealing, and transactions that take place between people in order to protect their rights and avert disputes. From the matters that Islam has defined and regulated are retaliations and blood-money. It has defined the cases that requires compensation and the cases where retaliation and compensation are not required.
The Prophet ﷺ explains in this hadeeth that a person is not liable to the damages and harm that his animal caused if it happened while the animal was not under his supervision or whoever is responsible for it at the time. With that said, indemnity is required only if the animal has caused damages to others property while it was at the time with its owner, rider, or any other person who is responsible for it, regardless of whether the damage was caused at night or day, or by whatever body parts. This is also applicable to the case when the animal gets out of control or escapes from its enclosure, without any sort of negligence from the end of the person responsible for managing it. The damages caused in those cases incur no liability whatsoever to the owner of this animal.
If a person digs a well in his own land or an unclaimed land or a land that Muslims do not use as a road or path to walk on, then a person falls into it or it falls over the person who is hired to dig it, then he will not be deemed liable. However, if a person digs a well in the road or path that Muslims use as a road or path to walk on or in a land owned by other without their permission, then someone fell in it or died or was hurt because of it, then he will be held liable.
Likewise, if a person is undergoing pit-open mining in his own land or in an unclaimed land to extract gold, silver, or any other metals, then the hired miners died because of mining accidents or it happens that a person fell in it, then he will not be deemed liable. The scholars stated that if a person conducts mining work in a common land that people use to walk on then a person falls in it and died, then his blood-relatives will be collectively liable for the blood money payments, and he will be liable to the compensation. And, if that which fell in it was not a human being, like a vehicle or an animal, then he will be liable to indemnify their owner for the damages caused.
After, the Prophet ﷺ clarified that the zakat of treasures and riches that are buried, but then people find through excavation is one-fifth. This kind of treasures are known in Islam under the name Al-Rakaaz, which refers to the treasures and riches buried from the time Jahiliyyah (i.e., before Islam) as well as the riches excavated from the earth. The ruling is that the one fifth of the discovered treasures and riches is due upon its excavation, because the requirement of the elapse of one year whilst they are in possession is not applicable in this case.
One of the benefits that we can learn from this hadeeth is knowing the justice of Islamic law, which does not hold people liable for damages not resulting from their own actions or caused by them, and that whoever is not responsible for the harm or damage caused is not held liable too.
This hadeeth clarifies the due zakat on the buried treasures and riches that Muslims discover..

1500
Narrated Aboo Humayd al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ appointed a man called Ibn Al-Lutbiyyah, from the tribe of Al-Asd to collect Zakat from the tribe of Sulaym. When he returned, (after collecting the Zakat) the Prophet ﷺ checked the account with him.”.

Commentary : Allah will bring to account the ruler (i.e., the head of state) and all his governors, including whoever is responsible for managing any of the affairs of the Muslims, for the authority they have been entrusted with to look after the affairs of the Muslims. With that said, they should never take advantage of their position and authority for their own benefit and achieve personal gains that would not have been possible without it. They should understand that they will stand before Allah and the whole world on the Day of Judgment and be held accountable for the people they were entrusted to look after.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Humayd al-Saa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ appointed a man from the tribe Al-Asd to collect the zakat from the tribe of Sulaym. The name of this man was ‘Abdullah, a.k.a. Ibn Al-Lutbiyyah, and he was from Banee Lutb, which belonged to the tribe of Al-Azd. It was said that Al-Lutbiyyah was the name of his mother.
After completing his mission, he reported to the Prophet ﷺ the amount of zakat that he collected from them. However, the Prophet ﷺ noticed that he put some items aside arguing that they were given to him as gifts. In response, the Prophet ﷺ took the matter seriously and admonished him and prohibited it. According to the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “Why do not you remain in the house of your father and your mother to see whether gifts would be presented to you!” i.e., the only reason people gave you gifts was because of your job that you have been appointed to do. In the same hadeeth, it mentions that he ﷺ then got up and delivered a sermon in which he ﷺ warned the people from taking from the spoils of war anything before they are distributed, and that is applicable to public money that belongs to the nation of Muslims, if one takes from it anything unlawfully.
One of the benefits of this hadeeth is that public servants should be called to account and to hold them liable for their actions..

1501
Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him): Some people from `Uraynah tribe came to al-Madeenah and its climate did not suit them, so Allah's Messenger ﷺ allowed them to go to the herd of camels (given as Zakat) and drink from their milk and urine (as medicine) but they killed the shepherd and drove away all the camels. In response, Allah's Messenger ﷺ sent (men) in their pursuit to catch them, and they were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut, and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron, and they were left in al-Harrah (a stony place at al-Madeenah) biting the stones..

Commentary : Treason and betrayal are hideous qualities that sensible people with sound innate nature despise. If they are coupled with murder and theft, it becomes more vice and hideous, and whoever commits such crimes is worthy of receiving the worst and severest punishment.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a group of people from the tribe of ‘Uraynah, which is a part of the tribe of Bajeelah, arrived at al-Madeenah and announced the words of monotheism and embraced Islam before the Prophet ﷺ. However, they disliked staying in al-Madeenah because its weather did not suit them and thus fell sick. Upon seeing this, the Prophet ﷺ allowed them to drink from the milk and urine of the charity camels, which used to gaze outside al-Madeenah. The name of the shepherd of these camels was Yasaar al-Noobee. They went there and followed the direction of the Prophet ﷺ and remained there until they recovered. Thereupon, they converted to disbelief, killed the shepherd and mutilated his body, and then drove away the camels, which were 3-10 in number. After the Companions captured them, the Prophet ﷺ ordered that their feet and hands cut off, their eyes branded with heated pieces of iron, and then to be left in al-Harrah, which is a place in al-Madeenah known of its black stones that appear if they were burnt, biting stones. They were left there in that condition to die, and that was their punishment for their treason and betrayal and a retaliation for their crime when they killed the shepherd.
This hadeeth warns us against the crime of treason and informs us of the painful punishment of those who commit such a crime.
One of the benefits of this hadeeth is that we know punishment is made according to the severity of crime.
It shows that it is permissible to use camel milk and urine as medicine..

1502
Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him): I took `Abdullah ibn Aboo Talhah to Allah's Messenger ﷺ to perform Tahneek for him. I saw the Prophet ﷺ and he had an instrument for branding in his hands and was branding the camels of Zakat..

Commentary : During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, the Muslims would seek mercy, goodness, and blessings from the Prophet ﷺ.
In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that one morning he took ‘Abdullah ibn Aboo Talhah al-Ansaaree (may Allah be pleased with them) who was a newborn infant at the time to the Prophet ﷺ to give him Tahneek, which happens by chewing a piece of date then put a part of its juice in the child's mouth and rub their palates with dates so that the first thing the newborn infant tastes is sweetness. The newborn infant was the half-brother of Anas ibn Maalik from his mother side who was married to Aboo Talhah (may Allah be pleased with them).
The Muslims used to bring their newborn infants to Allah's Messenger ﷺ to rub their palates with the dates he chewed, seeking Allah’s blessings through his salvia, supplications and the touch of his blessed hand. When Anas arrived, he saw the Prophet ﷺ carrying in his hand an iron instrument used to brand animals, and he was branding the camels of zakat. This branding was on the body of camels and not the face because it is forbidden as reported in other reports. The reason they were branded so they be distinguished from other camels and people learn they are from the camels of zakat and would not buy them again – since he ﷺ ordered people not to buy back anything they have given in charity as it will be considered then as if they took back their charity.
One of the benefits of this hadeeth is learning the permissibility of tahneek for newborn infants, and that it is recommended to be conducted by a pious and righteous believer so he would ask Allah to bless him.
It highlights that the ruler should look after the property of zakat and manage them directly.
It shows that it is permissible to brand animals, and it is allowed to put the animal in pain that it can take so long as it is necessary to bring about benefit and goodness..

1503
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger ﷺ enjoined the payment of one Saa' of dates or one Saa' of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ﷺ ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the `Eid prayer.

Commentary : Zakat al-Fitr is one the acts of worship that Allah, Exalted be He, has blessed us with and made a means of purification and compensation to make up for the decrease or loss of reward that may happen to the fasting person during the month of Ramadan. This act of worship has its own rulings and conditions that Allah, Most High, has legislated to feed the needy and poor Muslims.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reports that the Prophet ﷺ made zakat al-Fitr obligatory upon every Muslim, be they male or female, slave or free, young or adult, who has food that exceeds his needs for one day and night. He ﷺ clarified that Muslims have to pay it on behalf of their dependent household members, because it is associated with fasting and is not linked to the wealth of a person. The Prophet ﷺ specified that zakat al-Fitr has to be one Saa’ of dates or barley and the one Saa’ equals about 5.30 pounds (i.e., approx. 3 kgs). It can be given from other types of food that are common in the country like rice and wheat. The Prophet ﷺ ordered that it has to be given to the poor and needy before leaving to perform the ‘Eid prayer – that is, after Fajr prayer and before leaving homes to pray ‘Eid prayer. This is the best time to give this zakat and it is prescribed to pay it from the sunset of the last day of Ramadan, and to even pay one or two days before the Day of ‘Eid. The deadline to give zakat al-Fitr is the ‘Eid prayer as indicated in this hadeeth. It was said that its deadline is the sunset of the first day of ‘Eid al-Fitr, and if someone pays it after the deadline, it will not qualify as a Zakat al-Fitr, and will only be considered a charity..

1505
Narrated Aboo Sa;eed (may Allah be pleased with him): We would give one Saa’ of barely as zakat al-Fitr..

Commentary : Zakat al-Fitr is one the acts of worship that Allah, Exalted be He, has blessed us with and made a means of purification and compensation to make up for the decrease or loss of reward that may happen to the fasting person during the month of Ramadan.
In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Muslims used to give one Saa’ of barley as Zakat al-Fitr. The one Saa’ equals about 5.30 pounds (i.e., approx. 3 kgs), and it can be given from other types of food that are common in the country like dates, rice and wheat.
It is reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ ordered the Muslims to pay Zakat al-Fitr after Fajr prayer and before leaving homes to pray ‘Eid prayer, which is the best time to give zakat al-Fitr. However, it is allowed to pay it earlier from the sunset of the last day of Ramadan, or even one or two days before the Day of ‘Eid.
This hadeeth clarifies the amount of Zakat al-Fitr.
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1508
Narrated Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him): At the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we used to give it at a rate of one Saa’ of food, or one Saa’ of dates, or one Saa’ of barley, or one Saa’ of raisins. And when Mu’aawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) became the Caliph and the wheat was (available in abundance) he said, "I believe that one Mudd (of wheat) equals two Mudds (of any of the abovementioned food items)..

Commentary : Zakat al-Fitr is one the acts of worship that Allah, Exalted be He, has blessed us with and made a means of purification and compensation to make up for the decrease or loss of reward that may happen to the fasting person during the month of Ramadan.

In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Zakat al-Fitr that the Muslims, during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and the reign of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs, would give was one Saa’ of food i.e., dates wheat, barely or raisins. However, during the reign of Mu’aawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) the levant wheat became available in abundance and thus its price dropped. Mu’aawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I believe that one Mudd (of wheat) equals two Mudds of any of the abovementioned food items. A one Mudd equals the weight of double handfuls, and the one Saa’ equals 4 Mudds. Accordingly, a one Mudd equals between 509 grams at minimum and 1072 grams at maximum, and a one Saa’ equals between 2036 grams at minimum and 4288 grams at maximum.
Because of this, Mu’aawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) proposed that people would give half of a Saa’ of levant wheat which would amount to the weight of one Saa’ of dates or barely.
This hadeeth is clear evidence that during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ the Muslims never give one half of a Saa’ of wheat, and that this happened afterwards. With that said, we know that the one Saa’ of food is the obligation of Zakat al-Fitr, and that Mu’aawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) exerted his efforts to conclude the ruling, but his view cannot stand before the textual evidence.
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1513
Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): Al-Fadl was riding behind Allah's Messenger ﷺ and a woman from the tribe of Khath'am came to the Prophet ﷺ. Al-Fadl started looking at her and she started looking at him, thus, the Prophet ﷺ turned Al-Fadl's face to the other side. The woman said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! The obligation of Hajj enjoined by Allah on His servants has become due on my father and he is old and weak, and he cannot sit firm on the Mount. Can I perform Hajj on his behalf?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Yes, you can." That happened during the Farewell Hajj (of the Prophet ﷺ )..

Commentary : Pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of Islam, which is an obligatory act of worship that requires departing that which we are accustomed to and familiar with in this life to manifest our submission to the Lord of worlds. There is no reward for whoever performs this pillar and gives it its due right except Paradise.
In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that his brother, Al-Fadl ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ on the same mount when a woman from Khath’am, which is one of the tribes of Yemen, came to the Prophet ﷺ asking him about pilgrimage. While she was there, Al-Fadl started looking at her and the woman started looking at him. Upon seeing this, the Prophet ﷺ turned Al-Fadl’s face to the other side so he does not look at her and so she stops looking at him. The Prophet ﷺ did not order her to stop looking at him too, although the prohibition applies to both men and women according to the Statement of Allah, Most High {˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears} [Quran 24:30-31]. It was said the reason he ﷺ did not order her to stop looking at him too was that because she did not intend looking at him because she was talking to the Prophet ﷺ while Al-Fadl happened to be behind him, so she looked at him. It is also possible that the Prophet ﷺ only turned Al-Fadls’ face because that would not allow the woman to see his face i.e., he turned his face away so he no longer can look at her which accordingly would make the woman unable to see his face too. It is also possible that when the Prophet ﷺ turned Al-Fadl’s face away, the woman understood that she should not look at him too, so she stopped looking at him.
The woman asked the Prophet ﷺ about the ruling of performing pilgrimage on behalf of her father who was too old that cannot sit form on the mount. It is possible that she meant that by the time he managed to meet the conditions of pilgrimage, he was very old and too weak to perform it. The Prophet ﷺ allowed her to do it on his behalf. It is said that her father was Husayn ibn ‘Awf al-Khath’amee.
One of the conditions for performing pilgrimage on behalf of another is that the person has already performed Hajj for himself. Otherwise, his Hajj would count for him and not for the other person. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ heard a man saying, Labbayka ‘an Shubrumah (Here I am (O Allah, for Hajj) on behalf of Shubrumah). He ﷺ said: “Have you performed Hajj on your own behalf?” He said: No. He ﷺ said: “Perform Hajj on your own behalf, then on behalf of Shubrumah.” This hadeeth is recorded in Sunan Aboo Dawood.
One of the benefits that we can learn from this hadeeth is learning the permissibility of appointing others to perform Hajj when one is suffering from a state of permanent physical incapability.
This hadeeth teaches us to be kind and dutiful to parents, look after their needs by repaying their debt, servicing them, and spending on them, and all that sort of things that are pertaining to worldly affairs and religion. It also teaches us that the condition of ability to perform Hajj is fulfilled when the there is someone who can do it on our behalf.
It highlights the humility and humbleness of the Prophet ﷺ and the rank of Al-Fadl ibn al-Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father).
We learn from this hadeeth that we are not allowed to look at foreign women (i.e., women that we are allowed to marry), and that we should lower our gaze.
It shows that the scholar should exert his best efforts to stop the wrongdoing so long as it does not lead to a great wrongdoing than that which is committed.
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1591
Fadālah ibn ‘Ubayd reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on the Day of Khaybar, making deals with the Jews with the Wuqiyyah of gold for two or three dinars, whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not sell gold for gold except weight for weight..

Commentary : Riba (usury) is one of the types of exploitation in transactions. It entails great harm and involves unlawful earnings and taking extra money wrongfully. Therefore, it has been prohibited in all the laws that have been revealed. Riba al-Fadl (usury of surplus) is one of the types of Riba, and it means selling an item that is subject to Riba rulings for another of the same type with excess in one of the two, like selling a gold dinar for two dinars and a silver dirham for two dirhams.
In this Hadīth, Fadālah ibn ‘Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that they were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the Battle of Khaybar in 7 AH. They were making deals with the Jews and buying from them one Wuqiyyah of gold worth forty silver dirhams for "two or three dinars", and the dinar was equal to 12 dirhams. It could mean they were selling one' Uqiyyah of gold, beads, and others for two or three dinars. It is known that this amount of pure gold is not to be sold for two or three dinars, and this was the reason why the Companions made such a transaction, as they thought it was permissible because the gold was mixed with other things. However, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them from selling gold for gold "except weight for weight," i.e., each must be equal to the other in terms of weight without any addition or surplus.
The Hadīth highlights the prohibition of Riba al-Fadl (usury of surplus)..

1592
Ma‘mar ibn ‘Abdullah reported: That he sent his servant with one Sā‘ of wheat and said to him: Sell it then buy with it barley. The servant went and took one Sā‘ and part of a Sā‘. When he came to Ma‘mar, he informed him of that, whereupon, Ma‘mar said to him: Why did you do that?! Go ahead and return it and do not take except like for like, as I used to hear the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: Food for food, like for like. He said: Our food at that time was barley. It was said to him: It is not like it. He said: I am afraid that it could be similar..

Commentary : Riba (usury) is one of the types of exploitation in transactions. It entails great harm and involves unlawful earnings and taking extra money wrongfully. Therefore, it has been prohibited in all the laws that have been revealed. Riba al-Fadl (usury of surplus) is one of the types of Riba, and it means selling an item that is subject to Riba rulings for another of the same type with excess in one of the two, like selling a Sā‘ of wheat for two Sā‘s thereof, or one hundred grams of gold for one hundred and ten grams thereof.
In this Hadīth, Ma‘mar ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Nadlah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he sent his servant with one Sā‘ of wheat and ordered him to sell it for cash, i.e., for dirhams and dinars, then buy barley with its price. The boy went and bought one Sā‘ of barley and part of a Sā in return for the wheat directly without selling the wheat first and then buying the barley with its price. Perhaps he did that because buying barley was the goal and it was achieved by this.
When the servant returned to Ma‘mar, he informed him of what he had done, i.e., selling one Sā‘ of wheat for one Sā‘ and more of barley. Ma‘mar asked him: Why did you do that?! This is an objecting question. Then, he ordered him to return and bring back the wheat and return the barley and not to take the barley from him except like for like in terms of weight. Then, he clarified to him the reason for returning the extra barley, as he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Food for food," i.e., when selling one of them for another, it should be "like for like," i.e., in terms of weight and amount without any addition or surplus, and the two foods here refer to those of the same type, as it was mentioned in a version in Sahīh Muslim Collection that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If these classes differ, sell as you wish as long as payment is made hand to hand."
Ma‘mar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Our food at that time was barley," i.e., it was the staple food during the time of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Some of those who were present objected that barley and wheat are not of the same type, i.e., wheat and barley are two different types, therefore, surplus between them is not unlawful. Ma‘mar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I am afraid that it could be similar," i.e., a similar case. In other words, he was afraid it was included among the similar types and, thus, should have the same ruling of the prohibition of Riba since wheat and barley are close and each of them is called food. He (may Allah be pleased with him) did this out of religious prudence and as a precautionary measure.
The Hadīth highlights the prohibition of Riba al-Fadl (usury of surplus).
It shows how the Companions were cautious not to fall into committing what is unlawful..

1594
Abu Nadrah reported: I asked Ibn' Abbās about Sarf (currency exchange), and he said: Is it hand to hand? I said: Yes. He said: There is no harm in it. I informed Abu Sa‘īd about it, saying: I asked Ibn' Abbās about Sarf, and he said: Is it hand to hand? I said: Yes. He said: There is no harm in it. He said: Did he say that?! We will write to him not to give you this Fatwa (legal opinion). He said: By Allah, some of the boys of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) brought dry dates, but he rejected them and said: It seems those are not from the dry dates of our land. He said: This year, there was something wrong with the dry dates of our land - or with our dry dates - so I took that and made some addition, whereupon he said: You made an addition! You committed Riba (usury)! Do not approach this. If you have doubts about your dry dates, sell them and then buy the dry dates you like..

Commentary : Riba (usury) is one of the gravest major sins. The Shariah has forbidden all sales that involve a possibility of Riba and has permitted lawful sales that are free of Riba. The pre-Islamic era of ignorance was swarming with Riba-based sales, so Islam rectified and refined such sale transactions.
In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Abu Nadrah al-Mundhir ibn Mālik al-‘Abdi narrates that he asked the Companion ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) about Sarf, which is selling an item for another of the same type with a surplus and an addition in the taken or given item, like selling a dinar for two dinars or a dirham for two dirhams; whether it is a Riba-based sale or not. Ibn ‘Abbās answered by saying that it is not Riba in case it is exchanged hand to hand, i.e., at the time that the act of selling took place. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) did not deem selling an item for another of the same type with a surplus Riba, and he believed that Riba is not unlawful except in case of a deferred payment.
So, Abu Nadrah informed Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) about the Fatwa of Ibn ‘Abbās, whereupon Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that he would write to Ibn ‘Abbās not to give such a Fatwa and would review it with him, clarify the truth, and advise him. Then, Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated his supporting reference and evidence in forbidding the Riba of surplus and addition. He swore and said: "By Allah, some of the boys of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)," who are the servants, "brought dry dates, but he rejected them," the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) rejected them because they were not from the dry dates produced by their land and not the ones known among them. It was said to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): This year, the dry dates of Madīnah were of bad quality. So, the servant took some of the bad dry dates and exchanged them for others and brought those good dry dates to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in return for the defective ones and gave the buyer an excess in the weight and amount of the defective dry dates. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You made an addition! You committed Riba (usury)! Do not approach this," i.e., what you did and the addition you made in the weight is from Riba. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from eating from the dry dates he had brought. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him by way of teaching: "If you find some doubt about your dry dates, sell them and then buy the dry dates you like," thus, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from taking dry dates for dry dates. So, if there was something wrong with his dry dates, he should first sell them for money, then buy with that money whatever he liked of the dry dates, and there should be no surplus between the two.
It seems that Ibn ‘Abbās gave that Fatwa of permissibility based on the apparent indication of the Prophet's statement mentioned in the two Sahīh Collections: "Riba is only in Nasī’ah (deferred payment)." This apparently indicates exclusiveness, as if he said: There is no Riba except in the deferred payment. However, there is a report in the Sahīh Muslim Collection indicating that Ibn ‘Abbās reconsidered his stance regarding his Fatwa, as Abu as-Sahbā’ narrated: "That he asked Ibn ‘Abbās about it in Makkah, and he disliked it," i.e., he disliked the permissibility of surplus in Sarf.
The Hadīth highlights the prohibition of Riba al-Fadl (usury of surplus).
It indicates the invalidity of the transaction that involves Riba.
It highlights the fact that the Shariah rulings are to be sought only through the Qur‘an and the Sunnah.
It shows how the Companions used to correct each other whenever they made a mistake..