such-and-such, and for so-and-so such-and-such, though such-and-such already belonged to so-and-so.” (1)
It was also said that it refers back to Allah—that is, out of love for Allah, exalted is He.
“Relatives”: that is, one’s kin.
Abu Uthman Sa'id ibn Isma'il al-Dabbi informed us; Abu Muhammad Abd al-Jabbar ibn Muhammad al-Jarahi informed us; Abu al-Abbas al-Mahbubi informed us; Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi informed us; Qutaybah informed us; Sufyan ibn Uyaynah informed us, from Asim al-Ahwal, from Hafsah bint Sirin, from al-Rabab, from her paternal uncle Salman ibn Amir, who attributed it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that he said: “Charity given to a needy person is charity, while charity given to a relative counts as two things: charity and maintaining kinship ties.” (2)
His saying, exalted is He, “and the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer”: Mujahid said: This means the traveller who is cut off from his family and passes by you. A traveller is called a wayfarer because he remains upon the road. It was also said that he is the guest who comes to stay with a man. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honour his guest.” (3) “And those who ask”: that is, those who seek assistance.
Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus'ab informed us, from Malik, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from Abu Bujayd al-Ansari—who was Abd al-Rahman ibn Bujayd—from his grandmother, Umm Bujayd, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not turn away a beggar, even if only with a burnt hoof.” In another narration, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If you find nothing but a burnt hoof, give it to him.” (4)
His saying, exalted is He, “and for freeing those in bondage”: that is, those under contracts of manumission. This was the view of most exegetes,
(1) Reported by al-Bukhari in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “The virtue of charity given by one who is healthy and reluctant to part with wealth,” 3:284-585; and in the Book of Wills. Muslim also reported it in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “Clarification that the best charity is that given by one who is healthy and reluctant to part with wealth,” no. 1032, 2:716. The author also cited it in Sharh al-Sunnah, 6:172-173.
(2) Reported by al-Tirmidhi in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “What has been related concerning charity given to relatives,” 3:324; he said: “A sound hadith.” Al-Nasai reported it in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “Charity given to relatives,” 5:92; Ibn Majah, in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “The virtue of charity,” no. 1844, 1:591; al-Darimi, in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “Charity given to relatives,” 1:397; and Ahmad, 4:18, 214, on the authority of Salman ibn Amir. Ibn Hibban also reported it in Mawarid al-Zaman, p. 112, and al-Hakim, 1:407, who said: “Sound in chain,” and al-Dhahabi agreed with him; see Majma al-Zawaid, 3:117. The author also cited it in Sharh al-Sunnah, 6:192. Its transmitters are trustworthy, except al-Rabab, Umm al-Raih. Al-Hafiz said in al-Taqrib that she is acceptable; and al-Mizan states: “Al-Rabab bint Sulay, who narrated from her paternal uncle Salman ibn Amir, is unknown except through Hafsah bint Sirin’s narration from her.”
(3) Reported by al-Bukhari in the Book of Heart-Softening Narrations, chapter: “Guarding the tongue,” 11:308; and also in the Books of Marriage and Etiquette. Muslim reported it in the Book of Faith, chapter: “Encouragement to honor one’s neighbor,” no. 47, 1:68. The author also cited it in Sharh al-Sunnah, 14:212.
(4) Reported by Abu Dawud in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “The right of the beggar,” 2:251; al-Tirmidhi in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “What has been related concerning the right of the beggar,” 3:332, who said: “Sound and authentic”; and al-Nasai in the Book of Zakat, chapter: “Explanation of the needy person,” 5:86. Al-Hakim authenticated it, 1:417, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. Ibn Hibban reported it, 6:383, with the wording: “Respond to the beggar, even with a hoof.” Ahmad reported it, 6:382, with a strong chain. The author also cited it in Sharh al-Sunnah, 6:175.