Mishkat
al-Masabih

مشكاة المصابيح

06

Zakat

كتاب الزكاة

 

Chapter 8c: The Most Excellent Sadaqa - Section 3

باب أفضل الصدقة - الفصل الثالث

Mishkat al-Masabih 1945

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

عَن أنس بن مَالك قَالَ: كَانَ أَبُو طَلْحَة أَكثر أَنْصَارِي بِالْمَدِينَةِ مَالًا مِنْ نَخْلٍ وَكَانَ أَحَبُّ أَمْوَالِهِ إِلَيْهِ بيرحاء وَكَانَت مُسْتَقْبل الْمَسْجِدَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدْخُلُهَا وَيَشْرَبُ مِنْ مَاءٍ فِيهَا طَيِّبٍ قَالَ أنس فَلَمَّا نزلت (لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ) قَامَ أَبُو طَلْحَة فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُول: (لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ) وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ مَالِي إِلَيَّ بَيْرَحَاءُ وَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ لله أَرْجُو بِرَّهَا وَذُخْرَهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَضَعْهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَيْثُ أَرَاكَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «بَخٍ بَخٍ ذَلِكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ مَا قُلْتَ وَإِنَّى أَرَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَهَا فِي الْأَقْرَبِينَ» . فَقَالَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ أَفْعَلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَسَّمَهَا أَبُو طَلْحَة فِي أَقَاربه وَفِي بني عَمه