27/40. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1960 — Do Not Hold Back Charity
What Has Been Related About Generosity
Hadith About Giving Charity and Not Holding Back
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1960
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1960
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْخَطَّابِ، زِيَادُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْبَصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ وَرْدَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ مَا أَدْخَلَ عَلَىَّ الزُّبَيْرُ أَفَأُعْطِي قَالَ " نَعَمْ وَلاَ تُوكِي فَيُوكَى عَلَيْكِ " . يَقُولُ لاَ تُحْصِي فَيُحْصَى عَلَيْكِ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنهما وَرَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ هَذَا عَنْ أَيُّوبَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا فِيهِ عَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ .
Asma' bint Abu Bakr Narrated from:
O The Messenger Of Allah! I Have Nothing Except What Was Given To Me By (My Husband) Az-Zubair, Shall I Give It (In Charity)?'" It Was Said: "Do Not Hold (Your Wealth) So That Allah Will Hold Against You."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1960In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 66English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1960
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1960
This Hadith about giving charity and not holding back teaches generosity in a simple way. Asma bint Abi Bakr said she had nothing except what her husband Az-Zubair gave her, and she asked whether she should give from it. The answer was yes, and she was told not to hold tightly, so that it would not be held against her. The explanation in the text says this means not to count and restrict in a way that causes restriction against oneself. The Hadith encourages giving from what a person has access to, while keeping the wording focused on Asma’s question. It teaches an open-handed attitude instead of fear-based withholding.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asma was encouraged to give from what was available to her.
- The Hadith warns against holding wealth too tightly.
- Generosity is praised through the instruction not to restrict giving.
- A person can ask when unsure about giving from available wealth.
