The best dinar a man spends is a dinar that he spends on his dependents, and a dinar that a man spends on his mount in the cause of Allah, and a dinar that he spends on his companions in the cause of Allah
Chapter: The virtue of spending on one's family and slaves, and the sin of the one who neglects them or withholds maintenance from them
Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The best dinar a man spends is a dinar that he spends on his dependents, and a dinar that a man spends on his mount in the cause of Allah, and a dinar that he spends on his companions in the cause of Allah." Abu Qilābah said: He began with the dependents. Then Abu Qilābah said: No man is greater in reward than a man who spends on young dependents, by virtue of whom Allah makes them chaste, or brings them benefit and enriches them.
Reported by Muslim (No. 994), At-Tirmidhi (No. 1966), Ibn Majah (No. 2760) and Ahmad (No. 21372, 21416).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified some forms of spending and put them in order according to the most obligatory ones in case numerous channels of spending crowd together, starting with the most important and then the next in importance. He stated that the money that brings one the highest reward for spending is the money that a Muslim spends on his dependents, like his wife and children, followed by spending on the mount that is prepared for war in the cause of Allah, then spending on one's friends and companions if they are fighters in the cause of Allah.
Lessons
Arranging the channels of spending in order according to their merit in the way mentioned, and this order should be observed in case of numerous options.
Demonstrating that providing for one's dependents takes priority in terms of merit over other forms of spending.
Spending on Jihad in the cause of Allah, like preparing equipment and men for Jihad, is from the greatest channels of spending.
It was said: "In the cause of Allah" refers to every act of obedience, like Hajj, for instance.
Explanation in Arabic
بَيَّنَ صلى الله عليه وسلم صورًا في الإنفاق، ورتّبها إذا تزاحمت أوجه الإنفاق حسب الأوجب عليك، فبدأ بالأهم فالأهم؛
فأخبر أن أكثر المال ثوابًا هو الذي ينفقه المسلم على من تَلزمه نفقته؛ من نحو زوجة وولد،
ثم الإنفاق على المركوب المُعَدّ للحرب في سبيل الله،
ثم الإنفاق على أصحابه ورفقته حال كونهم مجاهدين في سبيل الله.
ترتيب النفقة في الفضل على الوجه الذي ذُكِر، فيُراعى ذلك عند التزاحم.
بيان أولوية النفقة على العيال في الفضل على غيرها.
النفقة على الجهاد في سبيل الله من أعظم النفقات، مثل إعداد الأدوات والرجال للجهاد.
قيل: المراد بسبيل الله كل طاعة كالحج مثلًا.
Scholars’ grades
Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).
