12/11. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 993a — Spend and Allah Will Give
Encouragement to spend and glad tidings of compensation for the one who spends on good deeds
Hadith About Spending in Charity and Allah’s Bounty
Sahih Muslim : 993a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 993a
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْكَ " . وَقَالَ " يَمِينُ اللَّهِ مَلأَى - وَقَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ مَلآنُ - سَحَّاءُ لاَ يَغِيضُهَا شَىْءٌ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Most Blessed and High, said: O son of Adam, spend. I will spend on you. The right hand of Allah is full and overflowing and in nothing would diminish it, by overspending day and night.
[1] And it is also possible that the meaning is: "Overflowing by night and by day."Reference : Sahih Muslim 993aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 45USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2178
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 993a
This Hadith about spending in charity gives a simple and powerful message. Allah says, O son of Adam, spend, and I will spend on you. The Hadith then describes Allah’s right hand as full and overflowing, and that spending by day and night does not reduce it. The meaning drawn from the text is that a believer should not view giving as pure loss. Sadaqa and spending for good are linked here with Allah’s generous giving. The Hadith does not tell a person to be careless with money. It teaches trust in Allah’s endless bounty while encouraging giving from what one has.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah calls the son of Adam to spend in a good way.
- The Hadith connects spending with receiving from Allah’s bounty.
- Allah’s giving is described as full and not reduced by spending.
- A believer is encouraged to give without seeing charity as wasted wealth.
