12/31. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1032a — Best Charity While Healthy
The best of charity is that which is given when one is healthy and inclined to be stingy
Hadith About the Best Charity While Healthy
Sahih Muslim : 1032a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1032a
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ فَقَالَ " أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا أَلاَ وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ " .
Abu Huraira reported that there came a person to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 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 such a length) that you are about to die and would he saying: 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).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1032aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 119USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2250
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1032a
This Hadith about the best charity answers a direct question. A man asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم which charity is best. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said it is to give while healthy, close-fisted, fearing poverty, and hoping to become rich. He then warned against delaying charity until death is near, when a person starts saying this is for one person and that is for another, while the wealth has already passed into someone else’s possession. The main message is timely charity. Giving while life, health, desire, and fear are still present has a special weight in this narration. The text does not say to ignore family needs. It focuses on not delaying charity until it is too late.
What we learn from this hadith
- Charity during health and desire for wealth is strongly praised.
- The Hadith warns against delaying giving until death is near.
- A person should not wait until wealth is no longer truly in their control.
