VI
THE BOOK OF ALMS
It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that, 'The Apostle of God sent Muʿádh to Yemen and said, "Verily thou art coming to a community of the People of the Book (i.e.. Jews and Christians), therefore call on them to bear witness that there is no God but Alláh and that Muḥammad is the Apostle of Alláh. And if they agree to that, then teach them that God has made obligatory on them five prayers in the day and night; and if they submit to that, then teach them that God has made obligatory for them the giving of alms, to be taken from the rich among them and given to their poor; and if they submit to that, then beware and refrain from taking the best of their property, and be on thy guard against the complaints of the oppressed, for verily there is no veil between them and God."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Abú Huratrah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "He to whom God has given wealth and does not give alms thereof, his wealth on the day of resurrection will be changed into the form of a serpent, having two black spots over its eyes, which will be hung like a necklace around his neck. Then on the day of resurrection it will seize him by the jaws, and after that will say, 'I am thy property. I am thy treasure.'" Then the Prophet repeated the verse, "And let not those who are niggard of what God hath vouchsafed them in His bounty (imagine that their avarice is better for them; nay, rather, it is worse for them[1])."'—Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Jábir bin ʿAbduʾlláh that he said, 'Some people of the desert Arabs came to the Apostle of God and said, "Verily some people of those who collect the alms come to us and oppress us." He replied, "Satisfy your collectors of alms." They said, "O Apostle of God, although they oppress us?" He replied, "Satisfy your collectors of alms, even though you are oppressed."'—Abú Dáud.
- ↑ Qurʾán. Súratu Áli ʿImrán (iii) 180.
