22/5. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1626 — Virtuous Charity in Allah's Cause
What Has Been Related About The Virtue Of Service In The Cause Of Allah
Which Charity Is Most Virtuous in Allah's Cause?
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1626
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1626
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ حُبَابٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ الطَّائِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " خِدْمَةُ عَبْدٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ ظِلُّ فُسْطَاطٍ أَوْ طَرُوقَةُ فَحْلٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مُرْسَلاً وَخُولِفَ زَيْدٌ فِي بَعْضِ إِسْنَادِهِ . قَالَ وَرَوَى الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ جَمِيلٍ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
'Adi bin Hatim At-Tai Narrated from:
Narrated 'Adi bin Hatim At-Tai: That He Asked The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ), "Which Charity Is Most Virtuous?" He Said, "The Service Of A Worshipper In The Cause Of Allah, Or Providing The Shade Of Tent, Or Mount In The Cause Of Allah." [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Has Been Reported From Mu'Awiyah Bin Salih In Mursal Form. And Zaid Has Been Contradicted Concerning Part Of Its Chain. He Said: And Al-Walim Bin Jamil Has Reported This Hadith From Al-Qasim Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, From Abu Umamah, From The Prophet (ﷺ).
[1] “A tent under which the Mujāhid may be shaded. That is, erecting a tent or a shelter for the fighters to use for shade.” ( Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhī ).Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1626In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 8English translation : Vol. 3, Book 20, Hadith 1626
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1626
This Hadith records a direct question about charity. 'Adi bin Hatim At-Tai asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم which charity is most virtuous. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered with examples tied to service in Allah's cause: the service of a worshipper, the shade of a tent, or a mount. The explanation should stay close to the text. The Hadith is not giving a full list of every charity. It highlights certain forms of support that help a cause through service, shelter, and transport. This makes the Hadith a reminder that charity is not only money. Helpful support and practical resources can also be meaningful acts of giving.
What we learn from this hadith
- Charity can include practical service, not only money.
- Providing shade, service, or a mount is praised in this narration.
- The Hadith links these acts to Allah's cause.
- Useful support for others can be a form of virtuous charity.
