1/36. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 84a — Charity Through Help and Restraint
Clarifying that faith in Allah most high is the best of deeds
Hadith About Charity: Help Others and Hold Back Harm
Sahih Muslim : 84a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 84a
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " الإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ أَىُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " أَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا وَأَكْثَرُهَا ثَمَنًا " . قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ قَالَ " تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لأَخْرَقَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ عَنْ بَعْضِ الْعَمَلِ قَالَ " تَكُفُّ شَرَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ مِنْكَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ " .
Abu Dharr Narrated from:
I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause. I again asked: Who is the slave whose emancipation is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: One who is valuable for his master and whose price is high. I said: If I can't afford to do it? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Help an artisan or make anything for the unskilled (labourer).I (Abu Dharr) said: Messenger of Allah, you see that I am helpless in doing some of these deeds. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Desist from doing mischief to the people. That is the charity of your person on your behalf.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 84aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 156USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 149
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 84a
This Hadith gives a practical path for doing good. Abu Dharr asked about the best deeds. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause. Then the questions moved to freeing a valuable slave, helping an artisan, making something for an unskilled worker, and what to do when a person is unable to do some deeds. The final answer is very easy to remember: desist from doing mischief to people, for that is charity from you on your behalf. For anyone searching hadith about helping others or withholding harm is charity, this Hadith shows that good can be done through action and also through restraint.
What we learn from this hadith
- Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause are named as best deeds here.
- Helping a skilled or unskilled worker is presented as a good action.
- If unable to do some deeds, a person can still hold back harm.
- Withholding mischief from people is described as charity for oneself.
