The fifth ḥadith

Kaʿb ibn Mālik narrated: “I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance I wish to relinquish all my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Keep some of your wealth; that will be better for you.’ ”

Overall meaning

Kaʿb ibn Mālik al-Anṣārī was one of the three men who stayed behind from the Tabūk expedition without hypocrisy and without any excuse. When the Prophet ﷺ returned, he boycotted them and ordered his Companions to do likewise. They remained under that boycott until their repentance was accepted, Allah was pleased with them, and consequently the Prophet and his Companions were pleased as well.

Out of the intensity of Kaʿb’s joy at Allah’s approval and the acceptance of his repentance, he resolved to divest himself of all his property and give it away in charity purely for Allah’s sake, so that all his spending would be in ways pleasing to Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet ﷺ told him, “Keep some of it,” for Allah, knowing the sincerity of his intention and the soundness of his repentance, had already forgiven his sin. Even had Kaʿb not done this, Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.

Accordingly, Kaʿb gave away part of his wealth, rejoicing in Allah’s pleasure and hoping to find its reward stored with Him, while keeping enough to cover his own needs and the obligatory expenses of those he supported. Allah is Ever-Kind to His servants.

Lessons derived from the ḥadith

1. If a person vows to give all his wealth in charity, he must retain what suffices for himself and those he supports and give away the remainder. The Ḥanbalī school maintains that he should give one-third and keep the rest, citing the case of Abū Lubābah, who renounced all his property and was instructed by the Prophet ﷺ to retain one-third (reported by Aḥmad). The first opinion, however, is stronger and closer to the Lawgiver’s intent in the story of Kaʿb. Once a person vows all his wealth, the portion required for his obligatory expenses is deemed legally excluded and may not be disposed of—much as one who vows to fast a full year does not include the days on which fasting is forbidden, such as the two ʿĪds.

2. It is preferable that a person not deplete his wealth through voluntary charity, for he has obligatory expenses to meet. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Begin with yourself and then those you support.”

3. Spending on oneself, one’s wife, and one’s relatives is a noble act of worship and a great charity when accompanied by a righteous intention. One should give with the aim of drawing nearer to Allah, and should not let the desire for reputation, mere sentiment, or affection overshadow the intention of worship.

4. Charity is a means of expiating sins, for it earns the Lord’s pleasure, benefits the poor and needy, and invites their supplications.