A man expressed his intention to give charity, so he came out with charity and placed it in the hand of an adulteress. In the morning, the people were talking and saying: charity was given to an adulteress last night. He (the giver of Sadaqa) said: 0 Allah, to Thee be the praise-to an adulteress. He then again expressed his intention to give charity; so he went out with the charity and placed it in the hand of a rich person. In the morning the people were talking and saying: Charity was given to a rich person. He (the giver of charity) said: 0 Allah, to Thee be the praise-to a well-to-do person. He then expressed his intention to give charity, so he went out with charity and placed it in the hand of a thief. In the morning, the people were talking and saying: Charity was given to a thief. So (one of the persons) said: 0 Allah, to Thee be the praise (what a misfortune it is that charity has been given to) the adulteress, to a rich person. to a thief! There came (the angel to him) and he was told: Your charity has been accepted. As for the adulteress (the charity might become the means) whereby she might restrain herself from fornication. The rich man might perhaps learn a lesson and spend from what Allah has given him, and the thief might thereby refrain from committing theft.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ قُبِلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا تَسْتَعِفُّ بِهَا عَنْ زِنَاهَا وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ يَسْتَعِفُّ بِهَا عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ  

"A man said" 'I am going to give some charity.' So he went out with his charity and put it in the hand of a thief. The next morning they started talking about how charity had been given to a thief. Then he said: 'O Allah, to You be praise for the thief. I am going to give some charity.' So he went out with his charity and put it in the hand of a prostitute. The next morning they started talking about how charity had been given to a prostitute. He said: 'O Allah, to You be praise for the prostitute. I am going to give some charity. So he went out with his charity and put it in the hand of a rich man. The next morning they started talking about how charity had been given to a rich man. He said: 'O Allah, th You be praise for the prostitute, the thief and the rich man. 'Then the message came to him: As for your charity, it is accepted. As for the prostitute, perhaps it will keep her from committing Zina. As for the thief, perhaps it will stop him from stealing. And as for the rich man, perhaps he will learn a lesson, and will spend from that which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has given him."'  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى سَارِقٍ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ لأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ تُقُبِّلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تَسْتَعِفَّ بِهِ مِنْ زِنَاهَا وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ أَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ بِهِ عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ أَنْ يَعْتَبِرَ فَيُنْفِقَ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ  

"A man said" 'I am going to give some charity.' So he went out with his charity and put it in the hand of a thief. The next morning they started talking about how charity had been given to a thief. Then he said: 'O Allah, to You be praise for the thief. I am going to give some charity.' So he went out with his charity and put it in the hand of a prostitute. The next morning they started talking about how charity had been given to a prostitute. He said: 'O Allah, to You be praise for the prostitute. I am going to give some charity. So he went out with his charity and put it in the hand of a rich man. The next morning they started talking about how charity had been given to a rich man. He said: 'O Allah, th You be praise for the prostitute, the thief and the rich man. 'Then the message came to him: As for your charity, it is accepted. As for the prostitute, perhaps it will keep her from committing Zina. As for the thief, perhaps it will stop him from stealing. And as for the rich man, perhaps he will learn a lesson, and will spend from that which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has given him."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2523)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْرَجَ صَدَقَتَهُ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْرَجَ صَدَقَتَهُ فَوَضَعَهَا فِييَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْرَجَ الصَّدَقَةَ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى سَارِقٍ وَعَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ قَالَ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ تُقُبِّلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا يَعْنِي أَنْ تَسْتَعِفَّ بِهِ وَأَمَّا السَّارِقُ فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَغْنِيَ بِهِ وَأَمَّا الْغَنِيُّ فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَعْتَبِرَ فَيُنْفِقَ مِمَّا آتَاهُ اللهُ  

A man expressed his intention to give charity, so he came out with charity and placed it in the hand of an adulteress. In the morning, the people were talking and saying: charity was given to an adulteress last night. He (the giver of Sadaqa) said: 0 Allah, to Thee be the praise-to an adulteress. He then again expressed his intention to give charity; so he went out with the charity and placed it in the hand of a rich person. In the morning the people were talking and saying: Charity was given to a rich person. He (the giver of charity) said: 0 Allah, to Thee be the praise-to a well-to-do person. He then expressed his intention to give charity, so he went out with charity and placed it in the hand of a thief. In the morning, the people were talking and saying: Charity was given to a thief. So (one of the persons) said: 0 Allah, to Thee be the praise (what a misfortune it is that charity has been given to) the adulteress, to a rich person. to a thief! There came (the angel to him) and he was told: Your charity has been accepted. As for the adulteress (the charity might become the means) whereby she might restrain herself from fornication. The rich man might perhaps learn a lesson and spend from what Allah has given him, and the thief might thereby refrain from committing theft. (Using translation from Muslim 1022)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى سَارِقٍ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ قُبِلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا تَسْتَعِفُّ بِهَا عَنْ زِنَاهَا وَأَمَّا السَّارِقُ فَلَعَلَّهُ يَسْتَعِفُّ عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A man said that he would give something in charity. He went out with his object of charity and unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. I will give alms again." And so he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to an adulteress last night. The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms again." So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich person. (The people) next morning said that he had given his alms to a wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I had given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then someone came and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief, might make him abstain from stealing, and that given to the adulteress might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and spend his wealth which Allah has given him, in Allah's cause." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1421)  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى سَارِقٍ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ قَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ تُقُبِّلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا تَسْتَعِفَّ بِهِ عَنْ زِنَاهَا وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ يَسْتَعِفَّ بِهِ عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ أَنْ يَعْتَبِرَ فَيُنْفِقَ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A man said that he would give something in charity. He went out with his object of charity and unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. I will give alms again." And so he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to an adulteress last night. The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms again." So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich person. (The people) next morning said that he had given his alms to a wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I had given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then someone came and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief, might make him abstain from stealing, and that given to the adulteress might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and spend his wealth which Allah has given him, in Allah's cause." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1421)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ قُبِلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تَسْتَعِفَّ بِهَا عَنْ زِنَاهَا وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ يَسْتَعِفُّ بِهَا عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A man said that he would give something in charity. He went out with his object of charity and unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. I will give alms again." And so he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to an adulteress last night. The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms again." So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich person. (The people) next morning said that he had given his alms to a wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I had given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then someone came and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief, might make him abstain from stealing, and that given to the adulteress might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and spend his wealth which Allah has given him, in Allah's cause." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1421)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيٍّ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تَصَدَّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَنِيٍّ لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ تَصَدَّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ قُبِلَتْ أَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا تَسْتَعِفُّ بِهَا عَنْ زِنَاهَا وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ تَعَالَى وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ يَسْتَعِفُّ بِهَا عَنْ سَرِقَتِهِ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ  

"قَال رجلٌ لأتَصَدقنَّ اللَّيلَةَ بصَدَقَة، فخرجَ بصَدَقَتِه فوَضعَها في يَدِ سَارِق، فَأصبَحوا يَتَحَدثونَ، تُصُدِّقَ الليلَةَ على سَارِقٍ؟ فقَال اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى سَارِقٍ، لَأتَصَدَّقَنَّ بصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرج بصَدقَتِه فوَضعَهَا في يَدِ زانيَةٍ، فأصْبَحوا يَتَحَدثون, تُصُدِّقَ الليلَةَ عَلَى زانِيَةٍ؟ قَال: اللهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَة، لَأتَصدقَنَّ بصَدَقَة، فَخَرج بِصَدَقَته فَوَضَعَها في يَدِ غَنِيٍّ، فَأصبَحُوا يَتَحَدثونَ، تصُدّقَ الليلَةَ عَلَى غنِيٍّ؟ فقَال: اللَهم لَكَ الحمْدُ على سَارِقٍ وعلى زانيَةٍ, وَعَلَى غَنِيٍّ، فأُتِي فقيل له: أمَّا صَدَقَتكَ على سَارِقٍ فَلَعَله أن يَسْتَعف عَنْ سَرقَتِهِ، وَأمَّا الزانيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أن تسْتعِفَّ عن زناها، وَأمَّا الغنيُّ فَلعَلهُ أن يَعْتَبِرَ فَيُنْفِقَ مِما أعْطَاهُ اللهُ".