However, its chain of transmission is weak, as al-Mundhiri and others have explained. Sound reasoning nevertheless supports it, for once it has been established—as stated above—that one must give to a person who asks by Allah, a person’s asking by Allah may lead the one asked into committing the prohibited act of not giving him what he requested. Whatever leads to what is forbidden is itself forbidden. Reflect on this. It was mentioned shortly before on the authority of Ata that he considered it reprehensible to ask, by the Face of Allah or by the Quran, for anything connected with worldly matters.

The obligation to give applies only when the person asked is able to give and doing so will cause neither him nor his family any harm. Otherwise, it is not obligatory upon him. And Allah knows best.

256 — “Whoever accepts a bow as payment for teaching the Quran, Allah will place around his neck a bow of fire on the Day of Resurrection.”

Abu Muhammad al-Makhladi narrated it in al-Fawa'id (fol. 268/1): Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Ramadi related to us: Abd al-Rahman ibn Yahya ibn Isma'il ibn Ubayd Allah ibn Abi al-Muhajir al-Makhzumi al-Dimashqi related to us: al-Walid ibn Muslim related to us: Sa'id ibn Abd al-Aziz related from Isma'il ibn Ubayd Allah, who said:

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan said to me, “O Isma'il, teach my son, and I shall give you a gift or reward you.” Isma'il replied, “O Commander of the Faithful, how can that be, when Umm al-Darda related to me from Abu al-Darda that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said…” He then cited it.

Abd al-Malik said, “O Isma'il, I am not giving you a gift or rewarding you for the Quran; rather, I am giving you a gift or rewarding you for syntax.”

Ibn Asakir also narrated it in The History of Damascus (2/427/2), through another route from Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Ramadi, with this chain.

Al-Bayhaqi narrated it in his Sunan (6/126) through Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi, who said: Abd al-Rahman ibn Yahya ibn Isma'il related to us with it.