1222. Issue: He said: "If he distributes it to those present, there is no harm in taking it."

Such was narrated from Abū ʿAbd Allāh (may Allah have mercy on him), that some of his children achieved ḥadhaq (mastery of Quranic recitation), so he distributed walnuts to the children. As for when he distributes to those present that which is scattered, such as almonds, sugar, and others, there is no disagreement that this is good and not disliked. It has been narrated from Abū Hurayrah that he said: The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) one day distributed dates among his companions, giving each person seven dates. He gave me seven dates, one of which was a shrivelled date (ḥashafah), yet there was no date among them more beloved to me than it; it was firm [in my chewing]. Narrated by al-Bukhārī (4). Likewise, if he places it before them and permits them to take it in a manner that does not result in snatching, it is also not disliked. Al-Marwadhī said: I asked Abū ʿAbd Allāh about walnuts that are scattered? He disliked it and said: "They should be given and distributed (5) among them." Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Baḥr said: I heard Ḥusn (6), the umm walad of Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, say: When my son Ḥasan mastered the Quran, my master said to me: "Ḥusn, do not scatter (7) it over him." He bought dates and walnuts and sent them to the teacher. She said: I made a porridge (ʿaṣīdah) and fed the poor, and he said: "You did well, you did well." And Abū ʿAbd Allāh distributed walnuts to the children, five for each one.

Section: Whoever obtains something of the nithār (scattered items) in his lap, it belongs to him and is not disliked, because it is something permissible that landed in his lap, so he possesses it, just as if a fish leapt from the sea and fell into his lap. No one has the right to take it from his lap because of what we have mentioned.