DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

The Charity Given to a Thief, an Adulterer and a Rich Man, and Its Hidden Lesson

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Documents & data Context piece
  • A man repeatedly gave charity, but his donations went to a thief, an adulterous woman and a wealthy person.
  • A message told him that the charity might lead the thief to stop stealing, the woman to stop committing adultery and the rich person to give from what God had provided.
  • The story presents sincere intention as more important than fear that assistance may reach an apparently undeserving recipient.

Many people hesitate to give charity because they fear their help could reach someone who does not deserve it. They may worry that the money will fund wrongdoing or go to someone who is already financially able.

I will surely give charity tonight.

— The man in the hadithHe makes the decision that leads to three unexpected recipients of his charity.

A hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah and recorded by Bukhari and Muslim offers a different lesson. A man decided to give charity and handed it to a thief. The next morning, people talked about charity being given to a thief. He responded by praising God and resolved to give again.

The second donation went to an adulterous woman, prompting the same reaction from those around him. On his third attempt, the charity reached a wealthy man. Again, people discussed what had happened, and the man praised God for the donation that had reached a thief, an adulterous woman and a rich person.

O God, praise belongs to You.

— The man in the hadithHe says this after learning that his charity went to a thief, an adulterous woman and a wealthy person.

He was then told that his charity might have consequences beyond what he could see. The thief might refrain from stealing, the woman might abandon adultery, and the wealthy man might take the lesson and spend some of what God had given him. The account encourages Muslims not to abandon charity because of uncertainty about the recipient, provided the giver acts with sincere intention.

As for your charity to the thief, perhaps it will cause him to refrain from stealing. As for the adulterous woman, perhaps she will refrain from adultery. As for the wealthy man, perhaps he will take heed and spend from what God has given him.

— A messenger in the hadithThe explanation gives the story its central lesson about the possible effects of sincere charity.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog