A dinar you spent in the cause of Allah, a dinar you spent on a slave, a dinar you gave in charity to a needy person, and a dinar you spent on your family; the greatest in reward is the one you spent on your family
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
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"A dinar you spent in the cause of Allah, a dinar you spent on a slave, a dinar you gave in charity to a needy person, and a dinar you spent on your family; the greatest in reward is the one you spent on your family."
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned some types of expenditure, saying: A dinar you spent in striving in the cause of Allah, a dinar you spent on freeing a slave from slavery and servitude, a dinar you gave in charity to a needy and poor person, and a dinar you spent on your family and dependents. He then informed that the greatest reward with Allah is the dinar you spent on your family, dependents, and those for whom you are financially responsible.
Lessons
Numerous ways of spending in the cause of Allah.
Giving priority to those who are more deserving in terms of spending when there are more people to spend on, such as spending on one's family when one cannot spend on all others.
An-Nawawi, in his explanation of Sahīh Muslim, said: Encouraging spending on one's dependents and pointing out the great reward in doing so. Among them are those whose support is obligatory due to blood relations, some for whom it is recommended and is deemed charity as well as a means of maintaining ties, and some for whom it is obligatory due to marriage or ownership of a slave. All of this is highly commendable and encouraged, and it is superior to voluntary charity.
As-Sindi said: His statement (a dinar he spent on his dependents) means that if one intends it for the sake of Allah and intends to fulfill the rights of one's dependents, for example.
Abu Qilābah said: Who could obtain a greater reward than a man who spends on small dependents and saves them from want, or Allah benefits them through him and makes them self-sufficient?!
Explanation in Arabic
ذكر النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بعض أنواع النفقة، فقال: دينار أنفقته في الجهاد في سبيل الله، ودينار أنفقته في عتق رقبة من الرق والعبودية، ودينار تصدقت به على مسكين محتاج، ودينار أنفقته على أهلك وعيالك، ثم أخبر أن أعظمها أجرًا عند الله الذي أنفقته على أهلك وعيالك ومن تلزمك نفقتُه.
كثرة أبواب الإنفاق في سبيل الله.
تقديم الأولى في باب الإنفاق عند التزاحم، ومن ذلك النفقة على الأهل عند عدم استطاعة فعل الجميع.
قال النووي على شرح مسلم: الحث على النفقة على العيال، وبيان عظم الثواب فيه؛ لأن منهم من تجب نفقته بالقرابة، ومنهم من تكون مندوبة وتكون صدقة وصلة، ومنهم من تكون واجبة بملك النكاح أو ملك اليمين، وهذا كله فاضل محثوث عليه، وهو أفضل من صدقة التطوع.
قال السندي: قوله (دينار ينفقه على عياله)، أي: إذا نوى به وجه الله وأراد حق العيال مثلًا.
قال أبو قلابة: وأي رجل أعظم أجرًا من رجل ينفق على عيال صغار يعفهم أو ينفعهم الله به ويغنيهم؟!
Scholars’ grades
Scholar
Grade
Applies to
Work
Muslimd. 261 AH
Authenticصحيح
The hadith
صحيح مسلمNo. 995
Grades of other versions (2)
AuthenticAl-Albaniصحيح — صحيح الجامع (3398)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم — تخريج المسند لشعيب (10174)
