Conversely, polytheism is what most deeply debases the soul, whereas righteous deeds and charity refine it—and this, too, is among the points the early generations raised when speaking of purification. (1)
They said about the verse, “He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself” (87:14), that it means whoever cleanses himself of polytheism and of sin through repentance. (2) Abū Saʿīd, ʿAṭāʾ, and Qatādah added that it includes the zakāt al-fiṭr. (3) Their intention was not to restrict the verse solely to the zakāt al-fiṭr, (4) but to show that whoever gives the zakāt al-fiṭr and performs the ʿEid prayer is encompassed by Allah’s words: “He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself and remembers the name of his Lord and then prays” (Al-Aʿlā 87:14-15). (5)
For this reason, whenever Yazīd ibn Abī Ḥabīb left for prayer, he would bring something to give in charity beforehand—even if all he had was an onion. (6)
(1) Omitted in the printed edition.
(2) See Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tafsir, 24/319.
(3) See Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tafsir, 24/320.
(4) Omitted in the printed edition.
(5) Omitted in the printed edition.
(6) This practice is attributed to Abu al-Khayr Marthad ibn Abd Allah al-Yazni. A sound hadith on the matter is reported by Imam Ahmad (28/568, wording cited here), Ibn al-Mubarak in al-Zuhd (no. 645), Ibn Khuzayma (no. 2431), Ibn Hibban (no. 3310) and others, through various chains from Yazid ibn Abi Habib, who said that Abu al-Khayr told him he heard Uqbah ibn Amir relate that the Messenger of Allah said: “Every person will remain under the shade of his charity until judgement between people is concluded.” Yazid added: “Abu al-Khayr never let a day pass without giving something in charity, even if only a small cake, an onion, or the like.” In another version recorded by Ahmad (38/475), Yazid ibn Abi Habib said: “Marthad ibn Abd Allah never came to the mosque without something to give in charity. One day he arrived carrying onions, so I said to him, ‘Abu al-Khayr, what are you doing with that? It will make your clothes smell …’”—and the narration continues.