30/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3611 — Give Charity While Healthy
It Is Disliked To Delay Making A Will
The Best Time to Give Charity: While Healthy and Hopeful
Sunan an-Nasai : 3611
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3611
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ 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 قَالَ " أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
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: This is for so and so," and it nearly became the property of so and so (the heirs).'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3611In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3641
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3611
This hadith answers a direct question about what kind of charity brings the greatest reward. The Prophet described giving while a person is healthy, feels reluctant to part with wealth, fears poverty, and hopes to live for a long time. In that condition, giving requires a real choice because the person still expects to use and enjoy the money. The hadith warns against delaying charity until death is very near. At that stage, a person may begin assigning money to different people even though it is already close to passing to the heirs. The main lesson is to give charity willingly while there is still time, health, and control over one's possessions rather than waiting until parting with them becomes unavoidable.
What we learn from this hadith
- Giving while healthy and attached to wealth is described as bringing greater reward.
- Fear of poverty should not always be allowed to delay charity.
- Charity should not be postponed until death is very near.
- A person should make good use of wealth while it remains under personal control.
