“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Once a man came to my father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), and said, “Please tell me about the expression ‘certain share’. The words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, say, ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (70:25) What is this ‘certain share’?”’ Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), said to him, ‘The ‘certain share’ is what a man pays from his property. It is not zakat or obligatory charity.’ He then asked, ‘If it is not of zakat or obligatory charity, then what is it?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is what a person pays from his property in small or larger amounts according to his ability.’ The man then asked, ‘What does he do with it?’ The Imam replied, ‘He thereby keeps good relation with relatives, entertains guest, relieves a burden, keeps good relations with a brother in faith, for the sake of Allah or fends off thereby a misfortune.’ The man then said, ‘Allah knows best where to keep (whom to entrust with) His message.’”