an intention to do good out of gratitude to Allah, rather than a prescribed matter. This differs from giving a specified item in charity, which is prescribed even if it exceeds one third. Thus, the issue involves three cases: first, that a person vows to give all his wealth in charity. According to the Hanbali school, one third suffices him, whereas the view of most scholars is that he must give all his wealth in charity. Second, that he vows to give in charity a specified item that exceeds one third.

Chapter: Intending Good as Gratitude to Allah

There is a difference between one who binds himself by a vow and one who merely intends something without making a binding commitment.

In truth, this discussion is compelling. That is, neither of the two hadiths explicitly indicates that they made a vow to Allah to do so. Hence, if a person fulfils his vow and gives all his wealth in charity, while thinking well of his Lord, sincerely relying upon Him, and having means by which he can meet his own necessary maintenance and that of his family, then undoubtedly giving all his wealth in charity is more effective in discharging his liability and is the more cautious course. As for limiting it categorically to one third, there is some reservation about that.

His statement, “or a specified portion of it that exceeds one third of the whole”: “a specified portion of it” means a particular item from his wealth whose value exceeds one third of the total.

His statement, “then an amount equal to one third suffices him,” means one third of the total wealth. For example, he says, “I vow to Allah that I will give this car in charity.” We then assess what wealth he possesses and find that the car is worth twenty thousand, while he has only ten thousand besides it. One third of the total—namely, ten thousand—will suffice him, and he retains the car. Or we may say: sell it, then give half of its value in charity. He is not required to sell it, because if he sells it, he will receive half its value. Yet selling it is preferable in one respect, because he has set it aside for Allah and has willingly parted with it; thus, it is better that it not remain in his ownership.

His statement, “or a specified portion of it that exceeds one third of the whole, then an amount equal to one third suffices him,” is one of the two views in the school of Imam Ahmad. However, the well-known position of the later Hanbali scholars is that he is required to give the specified item in charity, even if it exceeds one third. Thus, in our example, he must give the entire car in charity. They say that the difference between this and the whole of one’s wealth is that the whole refers to every