placed it in a recess in the wall. And a beggar came and stood at the door and said, "Give me alms, and may God bless you." And they replied, "And may God bless thee." Then the beggar went away, and the Prophet entered and said, "O Umm Salamah, hast thou anything for me to eat?" She replied, "Yes," and said to the servant, "Go and bring the Apostle of God that meat." So she departed, but found nothing in the recess except a piece of stone. Then the Prophet said, "Verily that meat has turned to stone, because you did not give it to the beggar."—Al Baihaqi.
It is related from ʿÁyesha that she said, 'There were, during the illness of the Apostle of God, six or seven dinars belonging to him in my keeping. And the Apostle of God ordered me to distribute them. But the pain of the Prophet of God kept me busy. Afterwards he asked me about them as to what the six or seven dinars had accomplished. She said, "No by God! thy pain kept me busy." And he called for them and placed them in the palm of his hand and said, "What would the Prophet of God think if God, the Exalted and Magnified, met him whilst these were still with him?"—Aḥmad.
On Obligatory Alms
It is related from Abú Músáuʾl-Ashʿari that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Alms are obligatory on every Muslim." They said, "And if he has nothing?" He replied, "Then let him work with his hands, and gain something for himself, and give alms." They said, "And if he is not able to work, or has not done so?" He replied, "Then let him assist those who are in need and in distress." They said, "And if he does not do that?" He replied, "Then let him order people to do right." They said, "And if he does not do that?" He replied, "Then let him withhold himself from evil ; and verily that will be alms for him."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Anas that, 'The Apostle of God said, "There is no Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, and men or birds or beasts eat therefrom, but it becomes alms for him."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí. And in another tradition from Muslim the words are added, 'And whatever is stolen from him will be counted as alms for him.'
