Which charity earns the greatest reward? He said: That you give charity when you are healthy and miserly, fearing poverty and hoping to become rich. Do not delay charity until your soul reaches up to the throat, and then you say: This is for so-and-so and this is for so-and-so. Lo, it has already come into the possession of so-and-so

Chapter: Hastening to do Good Deeds

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Riyad as-Salihin 90

عن أبي هريرة ، قَالَ : جاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبيِّ فَقَالَ : يَا رسولَ الله ، أيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أعْظَمُ أجْرَاً ؟ قَالَ : « أنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأنتَ صَحيحٌ شَحيحٌ ، تَخشَى الفَقرَ وتَأمُلُ الغِنَى ، وَلا تُمهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغتِ الحُلقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلان كذا ولِفُلانٍ كَذا ، وقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلانٍ » . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيهِ .

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, which charity earns the greatest reward?" He said: "That you give charity when you are healthy and miserly, fearing poverty and hoping to become rich. Do not delay (charity) until your soul reaches up to the throat and you then say: 'This is for so-and-so, and this is for so-and-so.' Lo, it has already come into the possession of so-and-so."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 1419, 2748, 5971), Muslim (No. 1032a, 1032b, 1032c, 2548a, 2548b, 2548d), Abu Dawud (No. 2865), An-Nasa’i (No. 2542, 3611), Ibn Majah (No. 2706) and Ahmad (No. 6862, 7100, 7994, 9009, 9392). Cited in Riyad as-Salihin (No. 90).

Explanation

A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to ask him about the best type of charity. So he said to him: That you give charity when you are in good health and you fear poverty if you live long, and you hope to become rich. Do not defer charity until you are dying and you know that you are about to leave this world and then you say: "For so-and-so I give this amount of money as charity or as a bequest." Lo, the money then belongs to your heir, not to you.

Explanation in Arabic

جاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يسأله أفضل الصدقة، فقال له: أن تتصدق وأنت صحيح البدن شحيح النفس، تخاف من الفقر إن طالت بك حياتك، وتطمع في الغِنى؛ ولا تؤخر الصدقة حتى إذا جاءك الموت وعلمت أنك خارج من الدنيا قلت لفلان كذا من المال صدقة أو وصية، ولفلان كذا من المال صدقة أو وصية؛ وقد كان المال لغيرك الذي يرثك.

صدقة الصحة أفضل من صدقة المرض؛ لأن الشح غالب على الإنسان في حال الصحة، فإذا سمح بها وتصدق دل ذلك على صدق نيته وعظيم محبته لله -تعالى-.
الترغيب في المسارعة إلى الخيرات، وأداء الصدقات قبل نزول بوادر الموت بالإنسان.

Scholars’ grades

Original grading term, without a named scholar: صحيح

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1419

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Which charity is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then…

أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ، تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى، وَلاَ تُمْهِلُ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا، وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا، وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2748

A man asked the Prophet, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What kind of charity is the best?" He replied. "To give in charity when you are healthy and greedy hoping to be wealthy and afraid of becoming poor. Don't delay giving in charity till the time when you are on the death bed when you say, 'Give so…

أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ حَرِيصٌ‏.‏ تَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى، وَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ، وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5971

A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ)…

ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1032a

Messenger of Allah, which charity is the best? Upon this he said: That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted, one haunted by the fear of poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to…

أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1032b

Messenger of Allah, which charity is the greatest in reward? (The Prophet said): By your father, beware, you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted, haunted by the fear of poverty, and still hoping to live (as rich). And you must not defer charity (to the time) when…

أَمَا وَأَبِيكَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّهُ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1032c

" Which charity is most excellent?"

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَارَةُ بْنُ الْقَعْقَاعِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ ‏.‏

See all 21 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2548a

Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said: Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your…

مَنْ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي قَالَ ‏"‏ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2548b

Allah's Messenger, who amongst the people is most deserving of my good treatment? He said: Your mother, again your mother, again your mother, then your father, then your nearest relatives according to the order (of nearness).

مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِحُسْنِ الصُّحْبَةِ قَالَ ‏"‏ أُمُّكَ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ثُمَّ أَدْنَاكَ أَدْنَاكَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2548d

" Who amongst the people deserves the best treatment from me".

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ طَلْحَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ، بْنُ خِرَاشٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَبَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ، بِهَذَا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 2865

A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Messenger of Allah, which sadaqah (charity) is the best ? He replied: (The best sadaqah is) that you give something as sadaqah (charity) when you are healthy, greedy, expect survival and fear poverty, and not that you postpone it until your death. and then…

أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ حَرِيصٌ تَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2542

"A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which kind of charity is best? He said: 'Giving charity when you are in good health, and feeling stingy, hoping for a long life and fearing poverty."'

تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَأْمُلُ الْعَيْشَ وَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 3611

"A man came to the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what kind of charity brings the greatest reward?' He said: 'To give in charity when you are healthy and feeling miserly, and fearing poverty and hoping for a long life. Do not wait until the (death rattle) reaches the throat and then say…

"‏ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Ibn Majah 2706

“A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), tell me, which of the people has most right to my good companionship?' He said: 'Yes, by your father, you will certainly be told.' He said: 'Your mother,' He said: 'Then who?' He said: Then your mother.' He said: 'Then who?' He…

"‏ نَعَمْ وَأَبِيكَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَبِّئْنِي يَا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 6862