It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Hands are of three kinds: the hand of Allah Almighty is the highest (the one that gives), next is the hand of the giver (the generous one), and the hand of the one who asks is the lowest until the Day of Resurrection. So refrain from asking people as much as you can."

A similar narration is also transmitted from Ibrahim bin Muslim al-Hajari, except that in it (in the plural form) it is mentioned: "Refrain from asking as much as you can."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when this verse was revealed: "And those who hoard gold and silver" [Surah al-Tawbah: 34] , it weighed heavily on the Muslims. Upon this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I will relieve you of this worry." So he went (to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Prophet of Allah, this verse has weighed heavily on your Companions." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty has made zakah obligatory only to purify the rest of your wealth, and Allah has fixed the shares of inheritance only so that they become (a source of wealth) for those who come after you." Upon this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said Allahu Akbar (out of joy). Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you of the best thing a person can store as treasure? It is a righteous woman: when her husband looks at her, she pleases him; when he gives her an order, she obeys him; and when he is away from her (travelling or at work), she guards (herself and her husband's property) in his absence." This hadith is sahih on the condition of the two Shaykhs, but they did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made Sadaqat al-Fitr obligatory as a purification for the one who fasts from idle and obscene talk, and as food for the poor. So whoever pays it before the (Eid) prayer, it is an accepted zakah, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it will be counted as just one of the ordinary charities. This hadith is sahih on the condition of Bukhari, but the two Shaykhs did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), people used to give Sadaqat al-Fitr as one sa' of barley, or one sa' of dates, or one sa' of hulless barley (sult), or one sa' of raisins (dried grapes). This hadith is sahih; Abdul Aziz bin Abi Rawwad is trustworthy and devoted to worship, and his father's name is Ayman; but the two Shaykhs did not record it with these words.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when he (peace and blessings be upon him) made Sadaqat al-Fitr obligatory as one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley; and Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to give only dates (in his own practice). This hadith is sahih on the condition of the two Shaykhs, but they did not narrate in it the mention of "giving only dates".

Qays bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to pay Sadaqat al-Fitr before (the obligation of) zakah (on wealth) was revealed. Then, when (the command of) zakah was revealed, he (peace and blessings be upon him) neither ordered us (again) to pay it nor forbade us from it, but we continued to pay it (as a regular practice). This hadith is sahih on the condition of the two Shaykhs, but they did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Sadaqat al-Fitr is obligatory on every Muslim, whether free or slave, male or female, and it is one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley." This hadith is sahih on the condition of the two Shaykhs, but they did not record it. I have mentioned it alongside the hadith of Qays bin Sa'd because that (first hadith) apparently indicates that it is recommended, whereas this hadith makes clear that it is obligatory.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered a caller in the middle of Makkah to announce: "Indeed, Sadaqat al-Fitr is an obligatory right upon every Muslim, whether young or old, male or female, free or slave, town-dweller or desert-dweller, and it is one sa' of barley or one sa' of dates." The chain of this hadith is sahih, but they did not record it with these words.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat al-Fitr): that one sa' of dates, or one sa' of barley, or one sa' of wheat be paid on behalf of every person. This hadith is sahih, and it also has a sahih supporting narration (shahid).