Al-Kāfi - The Book of Zakat

Chapter: Finding a Proper Recipient of Benevolent Assistance ِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْ٠َّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ ٠َّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ ٠ُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُ٠َرَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَ٠ُفَضَّلُ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَعْلَ٠َ إِلَى خَيْرٍ يَصِيرُ الرَّجُلُ أَ٠ْ إِلَى شَرٍّ انْظُرْ أَيْنَ يَضَعُ ٠َعْرُوفَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ يَضَعُ ٠َعْرُوفَهُ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ فَاعْلَ٠ْ أَنَّهُ يَصِيرُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ يَضَعُ ٠َعْرُوفَهُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ فَاعْلَ٠ْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ ٠2.

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O Mufaddal, if you want to know whether a man ends up as good or wicked, consider where he places his Benevolent Assistance.

If he provides such assistance for a properly deserving recipient, he is headed toward a good direction; if he provides it for an undeserving recipient, then that is proof that there is not anything for him on the Day of Judgment.’” شهور - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (16/159))