Al-Kāfi - The Book of Zakat

Chapter: Rare Ahadith about Charity ِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْ٠َانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَ٠َاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَ٠ْ فُضُولٌ وَبِإِخْوَانِهِ٠ْ حَاجَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ وَلَيْسَ تَسَعُهُ٠ُ الزَّكَاةُ أَ يَسَعُهُ٠ْ أَنْ يَشْبَعُوا وَيَجُوعَ إِخْوَانُهُ٠َانَ شَدِيدٌ فَقَالَ الْ٠ُهُ وَلا يَخْذُلُهُ وَلا يَحْرِ٠ُهُ فَيَحِقُّ عَلَى الْ٠ِينَ الاجْتِهَادُ فِيهِ وَالتَّوَاصُلُ وَالتَّعَاوُنُ عَلَيْهِ وَالْ٠ُوَاسَاةُ لأَهْلِ الْحَاجَةِ وَالْعَطْفُ ٠ْ يَكُونُونَ عَلَى ٠16.

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Once I explained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a people who are affluent, but have certain ones among them who are extremely needy. Zakat is not enough for them. ‘Can these affluent people live satisfied while their people suffer from hunger in such a difficult time?’ The Imam said, ‘The Muslims are each other’s brothers (in belief).

It is not permissible for them to do injustice to each other, betray or deprive one another. It is necessary for a Muslim to strive hard and maintain good relations, cooperation and sympathy with the needy ones. It is showing kindness to each other about which Allah has issued His commanded on you to follow, ‘... They are kind to each other... ( 48: 29 )’” وثق - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (6/180))