English Translation

Wahb ibn Jarir told us, Mahdi ibn Maymun told us, from Wasil, from Yahya ibn 'Uqayl, from Yahya ibn Ya'mar, from Abu al-Aswad al-Dili, from Abu Dharr, who said: It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, the people of wealth have taken away the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give charity from the surplus of their wealth." He said: "Has Allah not made for you things by which you give charity? Indeed with every glorification there is charity, with every declaration of His greatness there is charity, with every declaration of His oneness there is charity, with every praise there is charity, enjoining good is charity, forbidding evil is charity, and in the intimacy of one of you there is charity." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, does one of us fulfill his desire and have reward in it?" He said: "Do you see, if he had placed it in something unlawful, would there not be — or would there be — sin upon him?" They said: "Yes indeed." He said: "Likewise, if he places it in what is lawful, he will have the reward."