36/32. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2343 — Giving Surplus Charity Wisely
Regarding The Virtue Of Sufficing With What Is Sufficient And Giving The Surplus
Hadith About Giving Surplus Charity and Dependents
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2343
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2343
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، - هُوَ الْيَمَامِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَدَّادُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أُمَامَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَبْذُلِ الْفَضْلَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ وَإِنْ تُمْسِكْهُ شَرٌّ لَكَ وَلاَ تُلاَمُ عَلَى كَفَافٍ وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَشَدَّادُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يُكْنَى أَبَا عَمَّارٍ .
Abu Umamah Narrated from:
The Prophet (s.a.w) said: "O Son Of Adam! If You Give Your Surplus It Is Better For You, And If You Keep It, It Is Worse For You, But There Is No Harm With What Is Sufficient. And Begin(The Giving) With Your Dependents, And The Upper Hand (Giving) Is Better Than The Lower Hand (Receiving)."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2343In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2343
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2343
This hadith about giving surplus charity gives a balanced teaching. The Prophet (s.a.w) says that giving extra wealth is better for a person, while holding it back is worse for him. At the same time, the hadith does not blame someone for keeping what is enough. This makes the message clear and fair. A person should not ignore the people he is responsible for. The Prophet (s.a.w) says to begin with dependents, then reminds us that the upper hand, the giving hand, is better than the lower hand, the receiving hand. The hadith teaches generosity without ignoring real family duties.
What we learn from this hadith
- Giving surplus wealth is praised in this narration.
- Keeping what is enough for basic needs is not blamed.
- Giving should begin with the people one supports.
