Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 502 – Volume 2, Book 24

English

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 502:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "A man said that he would give something in charity. He went out
with his object of charity and unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he
had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said, "O Allah! All the praises are for
you. I will give alms again." And so he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an
adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to an adulteress last night. The
man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms
again." So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich person. (The people)
next morning said that he had given his alms to a wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises
are for you. (I had given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then someone came
and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief, might make him abstain from stealing, and
that given to the adulteress might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and
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SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 2 > BOOK 24: OBLIGATORY CHARITY TAX (ZAKAT)
that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and spend his wealth which Al –
lah has given him, in Allah's cause."