Ta’oos Rahmathullah alaihe says that a man took a vow to give Sadaqah to the first person he saw in the locality. It so happened that he saw a woman, to whom he gave the Sadaqah. People said that she was an unchaste woman; then he gave Sadaqah to a man whom he saw next. The people said that the recipient was the worst type of man. He then gave more Sadaqah to the next one he saw; people said a rich man had received Sadaqah.
The giver of Sadaqah was most distressed over these happenings. At night he dreamt that all three acts of Sadaqah had been accepted by Allah Ta’ala. He was told, “The woman was a prostitute, but she had adopted the profession due to poverty, your Sadaqah has made her give up the evil business. The thief also stole to overcome his poverty; he gave up stealing after receiving your Sadaqah. The third person was a rich man but never gave anything as Sadaqah. Your Sadaqah served as a lesson that, though he was richer than you, you gave Sadaqah to him; it made him realise that he should give more as Sadaqah than you; he now gives Sadaqah regularly”.
*It is clear from this Hadith that if Sadaqah is given with sincerity, but happens to be misplaced, that also serves a Divine purpose and should not be regretted. Man’s responsibility is to keep his intentions pure, as the real requirement is good intention and action. * Source: Mutafiq aleh Mishkaat
