737. ʿAbd Allah narrated to us—my father related to me—Yazid narrated to us; al-Masʿudi informed us, from Abu Husayn, from ʿAbd Allah ibn Babah, who said:

Abu al-Dardaʾ said, “Lawfully earned wealth is scarce. Whoever amasses money through illegitimate means and, even so, spends it where it ought to be spent, and whoever amasses money through illegitimate means and spends it where it ought not be spent—both are afflicted with an incurable disease. By contrast, whoever earns money lawfully and disburses it in its proper place sees his sins washed away just as water washes dust from a smooth stone.”