06-21-2003, 09:53 PM
Hadeeth 5
From Abu Yazeed Ma`n bin Yazeed bin al-Akhnas (radiyAllaahu anhum)* who said, My father, Yazeed, set aside some deenaars for charity and gave them to a man in the Mosque [so that he distribute them]. Then I went to [the Mosque] and took those deenaars [which were offered to me as charity] and went to my father with them. He said, by Allaah! I had not intended that they be given to you.
So we went to Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and I put forth the matter before him for arbitration. He said to my father, "Yazeed, for you is what you intended and Ma`n, you are entitled to what you have taken."
Reported by al-Bukhaaree.
* He, his father and his grandfather were all Companions.
Documentation of the Hadeeth:
Reported by al-Bukhaaree [3/291 al-Fath]
Difficult words of the Hadeeth:
Fa Ji`tu fa Akhadhtuhaa: then I went and took them. Meaning from the man who had been appointed to give it in charity with his permission, not forcibly.
Fa Ataytuhu: So I went to him. Meaning that I took the deenaars to my father.
Fa Khaasamtuhu: I put the forth the matter before him for arbitration.
Laka maa Nawayta: for you is what you intended. Meaning that you, the father, have the reward of what you intended, for you intended to give the money to the needy in charity, and your son is needy even though you did not intend that the money go to him [specifically].
Laka maa Akhadhta:you are entitled to what you took. Meaning that you, the son, can keep what you took because you acquired it by a valid and legislated route.
Fiqh of the Hadeeth:
The hadeeth contains the permissibility of proclaiming the heavenly (Lordly) gifts and mentioning the favours of Allaah.
The permissibility of appointing someone else to distribute charity, especially the optional charity, because this contains an aspect of concealing one's identity.
It is permissible to act upon general statements taking them as general, It is permissible for the father and son to seek judgement [concerning a mutual dispute] and that this, in and of itself, is not to be considered disrespect and disobedience [on the part of the son].
The one who is giving charity has the reward of what he intended even if the charity reaches those who do not deserve it.
The father does not have the right to take back charity that he has given to his son, but this is not the case with a gift.