The man whose charity went astray, Rewarded for his intention

In the hadithRewarded for his intention

The man whose charity went astrayالمتصدق على سارق وزانية وغني

Among the nations before Islam (undated)

A man who gave charity three nights running, each time to the wrong person.

A man resolved to give charity in secret. The first night it went to a thief, the next to an immoral woman, the third to a rich man, and each morning people mocked him. Yet he said, "Praise be to Allah." He was told it was accepted: perhaps the thief would stop stealing, the woman would turn back, and the rich man would learn to give.

Source: hadith