“O Messenger of Allah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you –, the poor man stands at my door, yet I find nothing to give him.”
So the Messenger of Allah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said to her: “If you find nothing to give him except a burnt hoof, then place it in his hand.”
Narrated by Aḥmad (no. 27148), Abū Dāwūd (no. 1667, his wording), al-Tirmidhī (no. 665), and al-Nasāʾī (no. 2574), from the narration of Umm Bujayd – may Allah be pleased with her.
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 1440) and Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan al-Nasāʾī (no. 2412).
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
Islam encouraged mutual support among members of society and urged giving charity, even if it be something very small, so that goodness may spread, and virtue may prevail. Among that is what was narrated by Umm Bujayd Ḥawāʾ al-Anṣāriyyah – may Allah be pleased with her – that she said: O Messenger of Allah, the needy one stands at my door, and I find nothing to give him. The Messenger of Allah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said: “If you find nothing to give him except a burnt hoof…”
And the meaning is: this noble female Companion mentioned to the Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – her desire to give charity, yet she found nothing to give, due to the scarcity of her means. So the Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – guided her to give the beggar even if it were only a burnt hoof. The “hoof” is that which belongs to cattle, sheep, and the like, similar to the foot of a human being. And the meaning of “burnt” is: roasted or charred. And it was specified as burnt, because raw meat might be cast aside and not benefited from, whereas roasted meat is more likely to be used.
And it was also said: the burnt hoof had value among them, for they would pound it, consume it in powder form, and drink water with it during days of famine.
Thus, the mention of the burnt hoof – though it does not suffice to ward off hunger – is only for emphasis in urging charity, even with the smallest of things, so that the beggar is not turned away empty-handed.
Then the Prophet -may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him- guided her to that which soothes the heart of the beggar and mends his spirit, saying: “Then place it in his hand”—to emphasize honoring him and magnifying his right, even if what is given be something small.
And of similar meaning is his saying -may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him-: “Let not a neighbor belittle the gift of her neighbor, even if it be a sheep’s hoof,” that is, even a small portion hardly worthy of mention.