Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/104

84 the Apostle of God said to him, "This is better for thee than that thy begging should come on the day of resurrection as marks on thy face. Verily begging is not lawful except for three persons: a poor man who lives in miserable circumstances, or one who is excessively in debt, or one who has a bleeding sore."'—Abú Dáud.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "If I possessed gold equal to the mountain of ʿUḥud, it would delight me that nothing of it should remain with me after three nights had passed over me, except something I might keep for debt."'—Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "God most High has said, 'Spend, O son of Adam, and I will spend on thee.'"'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "The liberal man is near to God, near to paradise and near to men, and far removed from the fire; but the miser is far from God, far from paradise and far from men, and near the fire; and the ignorant (but) liberal man is more beloved of God than the miserly worshipper."'—At Tirmidhí.

It is related from Abú Saʿíd that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Verily that a man give one dirham in alms in his lifetime, is better for him than that he should give one hundred in alms at his death."'—Abú Dáud.

It is related from ʿÁyesha that, 'Some of the wives of the Prophet said to him, "Who of us will be quickest in joining thee (after death)?" The Prophet replied, "The one of you who has the longest arm." Then they took a rod and began to measure their arms, and Saudah had the longest arm of them all. But afterwards we came to know that the length of the arm signified almsgiving, and the quickest of us in joining the Prophet was Zainab, and she used to love almsgiving.'—Al Bukhárí.

It is related from a freed slave of ʿOthmán that he said, 'A present of a piece of meat was sent to Umm Salamah, and the meat was relished by the Prophet; and she said to a servant, "Put it in the house, perhaps the Prophet will eat it." So she