12/31. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1032b — Greatest Reward in Charity
The best of charity is that which is given when one is healthy and inclined to be stingy
Hadith About Charity With the Greatest Reward
Sahih Muslim : 1032b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1032b
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا فَقَالَ " أَمَا وَأَبِيكَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّهُ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ " .
Abu Huraira reported that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 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 you are about to die, and would then say:" This is for so and so, and this for so and so." It has already become the possession of so and so.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1032bIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 120USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2251
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1032b
This Hadith gives another wording for the question about charity with the greatest reward. A person came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and asked which charity is greatest in reward. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered that it is giving when one is healthy, close-fisted, afraid of poverty, and still hoping to live with wealth. He also warned not to put charity off until the soul reaches the throat, when a person says this is for so and so, while it has already become the possession of someone else. The message is clear: do not wait for the end of life before giving. The Hadith praises charity given when the heart still feels the pull of keeping wealth.
What we learn from this hadith
- Giving while one still wants to keep wealth has special value in the text.
- The Hadith warns against last-minute delay in charity.
- A person should give before death removes real choice over wealth.
