Hassan said that no people had produced an innovation in their religion without Allah removing an equivalent amount from their sunna, then not restoring it to them till the day of resurrection. Darimi transmitted it.

A client of ‘Uthman said that Umm Salama was presented with a piece of meat, and because the Prophet (ﷺ) liked meat she told the servant to put it in the house as the Prophet (ﷺ) might perhaps eat it. She put it in the window ledge in the house. A beggar came and stood at the door and said, “Give alms, may Allah bless you," and when they replied, “Allah bless you,"* the beggar went away. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) entered and asked Umm Salama whether she had anything for him to eat. She replied that she had, and told the servant to go and bring Allah's Messenger ﷺ that meat, but when she went she found only a piece of flint in the window ledge. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, “That meat changed into flint because you did not give it to the beggar." Baihaqi transmitted it in Dalail an-nubuwa. * A pious remark used to indicate that there is no intention of giving anything. The most common phrase in such circumstances is Allah karim (Allah is generous).

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) asked some people whether they would like him to tell them who was in the worst position, and when they replied that they would, he said, “The one who is asked for something in Allah’s name and does not give it in His name.” Ahmad transmitted it.

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 Allah on it there was no harm in it, Abu Dharr raised his stick and struck Ka'b and said he had heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ 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 Allah's Messenger ﷺ 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 Allah’s prophet think if he were to meet Allah who is great and glorious while possessing these?” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) 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 Allah's Messenger ﷺ 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 Allah's Messenger ﷺ 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 Allah's Messenger ﷺ as saying, “If anyone gives as sadaqa the equivalent of a date from something lawfully earned, for Allah accepts only what is lawful, Allah 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 Allah's Messenger ﷺ as saying, “Sadaqa does not reduce property; Allah increases the honour of him who forgives another; and no one will humble himself for Allah’s sake without Allah exalting him.” Muslim transmitted it.