44/84. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4652 — Spending Priority
Selling A Mudabbar.
Hadith About Spending Priority: Start With Yourself
Sunan an-Nasai : 4652
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4652
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ أَعْتَقَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي عُذْرَةَ عَبْدًا لَهُ عَنْ دُبُرٍ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَلَكَ مَالٌ غَيْرُهُ " . قَالَ لاَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ يَشْتَرِيهِ مِنِّي " . فَاشْتَرَاهُ نُعَيْمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَدَوِيُّ بِثَمَانِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَجَاءَ بِهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " ابْدَأْ بِنَفْسِكَ فَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنْ فَضَلَ شَىْءٌ فَلأَهْلِكَ فَإِنْ فَضَلَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ شَىْءٌ فَلِذِي قَرَابَتِكَ فَإِنْ فَضَلَ مِنْ ذِي قَرَابَتِكَ شَىْءٌ فَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا " . يَقُولُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ وَعَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَعَنْ شِمَالِكَ .
Jabir Narrated from:
A man from Banu 'Adhrah stated that a slave of his was to be set free after he died. News of that reached the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Do you have any other property besides him/' He said? 'No.' the Messenger of Allah said; 'Who will buy him from me?'Nu'aim bin 'Abdullah Al-Adawi bought him for eight hundred Dirhams, which the Messenger of Allah brought and gave to him (the former owner). Then the Messenger of Allah said: 'Start with yourself and give charity to (yourself). If there is anything left over, then give it to your family; if there is anything left over from your family, then give it to your relatives; if there is anything left over from your relatives, then give it to such and such,' saying 'In front of you, to your right and to your left.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4652In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 204English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4656
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4652
This hadith about charity and spending priority gives a clear order. A man had declared that his slave would be freed after he died, but he had no other property. The Messenger of Allah asked if he had other wealth, and the man said no. The Prophet sold the slave for eight hundred dirhams and gave the money to the man. Then he said to start with yourself and give charity to yourself. If anything remains, then give to your family. If anything remains after family, then give to relatives. If anything remains after relatives, then give more widely. The wording teaches balanced giving without ignoring personal and family needs.
What we learn from this hadith
- A poor person should begin with his own needs.
- Family comes before wider charity when resources are limited.
- Relatives are mentioned after family in the order of giving.
- Extra charity comes after these needs if anything remains.
