Charity is forbidden to Muhammad and his family for glorious wisdom

Why did the Messenger of Allaah , forbid charity to his household, i.e. his family and relatives? In other words, why was Zakaah made unlawful for them?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His Slave and Messenger.

 

It is proven, in Al-Musnad and Saheeh Muslim, on the authority of Al-Muttalib ibn Rabee‘ah that the Messenger of Allaah , said: “Charity is not appropriate for Muhammad nor for the household of Muhammad, since it is the dirt of the people.”

Commenting on that, Ash-Shawkaani said: It was called dirt because it purifies people’s wealth and souls. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase.} [Quran 9:103]

It is narrated in both Saheehs on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that once Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali took one of the dates assigned to charity and put it in his mouth, thereupon the Messenger of Allaah , said to him: “Kakh! Kakh! Throw it! Do you not know that we (the Prophet and his family) never eat (the objects of) charity?”

Much wisdom, according to scholars, lies behind the prohibition of charity to Muhammad and his family , including:

The honor of Prophethood and the high station of the Prophet , above all the creation. So, Allaah The Almighty Forbade charity to him and his family, out of safeguarding his station lest anyone inferior to him should rise above him with an object of charity or so.

Allaah The Almighty Said to His Prophet , (what means):

• {Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship."} [Quran 42:23]
• {Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not ask you for the Quran any payment, and I am not of the pretentious.} [Quran 38:86]

Had Allaah The Almighty Made the objects of charity lawful for him and his family, the polytheists would have almost criticized him. So, Allaah Closed the gate of creticizing him from this side, by prohibiting the objects of charity to him and his family. This is the meaning referred to by Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar and Ash-Shawkaani .

There may be further wisdom that we do not know of. The point is that Allaah The Almighty Forbade charity to His Prophet , and his family only for a great wisdom He Willed, in which there is benefit for His religion and revelation.

Allaah Knows best.