And there is no harm in giving dates as charity. A counterfeit dirham is better than a date.

Abu Muhammad said: It was narrated from 'Abidah to the contrary.

2801 - My father narrated to us, al-Husayn b. 'Ali al-Suda'i reported to us, Azhar reported to us, Ibn 'Awn reported to us, from Muhammad, from 'Abidah, regarding His saying: "And do not aim at the evil [part] from it to spend [as charity]," he said: The counterfeit dirham and what is similar to it.

His saying: "from it to spend [as charity]"

2802 - My father narrated to us, Abu al-Walid reported to us, Sulayman b. Kathir reported to us, from al-Zuhri, from Abu Umamah b. Sahl b. Hunayf, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade two types of dates: al-Ju'rur and the color of al-Hubayq (1). People used to aim at the worst of their fruits, then give them out in charity. So it was revealed: "And do not aim at the evil [part] from it to spend [as charity]."

His saying, Exalted is He: "and you would not take it yourselves except with eyes closed regarding it"

2803 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us, 'Ubayd Allah reported to us, from Isra'il, from al-Suddi, from Abu Malik, from al-Bara', regarding: "And do not aim at the evil [part] from it to spend [as charity], and you would not take it yourselves except with eyes closed regarding it," he said: It was revealed concerning us. We were owners of palm trees. A man would come from his palm trees, estimating their abundance or scarcity, then when one of them became hungry, he would come and strike [the tree] with his staff, and the unripe dates and dates would fall. People—those who did not desire goodness—would bring the bunch (2) of inferior dates (hashaf) and shrivelled dates, and would bring the bunch broken and hang it up. So it was revealed: "And do not aim at the evil [part] from it to spend [as charity], and you would not take it yourselves except with eyes closed regarding it." He said: If one of you were gifted something like what he gave, he would not take it except with closed eyes and out of shame. Thereafter, a man would come with the best of what he had (3).

2804 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih reported to us, Mu'awiyah b. Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali b. Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding: "and you would not take it yourselves except with eyes closed regarding it," he says: If you had a right upon someone, and he came to you with a right less than your right, and you did not accept it at the full value until you deducted from it,