7/38. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 680 — The Upper Hand Is Better
What Has Been Related About The Prohibition Of Begging
Hadith About the Upper Hand and Self-Reliance
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 680
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 680
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ بَيَانِ بْنِ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لأَنْ يَغْدُوَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَيَحْتَطِبَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَيَتَصَدَّقَ مِنْهُ فَيَسْتَغْنِيَ بِهِ عَنِ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ رَجُلاً أَعْطَاهُ أَوْ مَنَعَهُ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ الْيَدَ الْعُلْيَا أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَالزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ الْعَوَّامِ وَعَطِيَّةَ السَّعْدِيِّ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَمَسْعُودِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَثَوْبَانَ وَزِيَادِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الصُّدَائِيِّ وَأَنَسٍ وَحُبْشِيِّ بْنِ جُنَادَةَ وَقَبِيصَةَ بْنِ مُخَارِقٍ وَسَمُرَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ يُسْتَغْرَبُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ بَيَانٍ عَنْ قَيْسٍ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah Saying: "For One Of You To Go Out Early To Gather Firewood And Carry It On His Back So That He Can Give Charity From It And Be Free Of Need From The People, Is Better For Him Than To Ask A Man Who May Give That To Him Or Refuse. Indeed The Upper Hand (Giving) Is More Virtuous Than The Lower Hand (Receiving), And Begin With (Those Who Are) Your Dependants."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 680In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 64English translation : Vol. 2, Book 2, Hadith 680
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 680
This Hadith teaches dignity through work, giving, and caring for dependants. The Prophet says that going out early to gather firewood, carrying it, giving charity from it, and being free of need from people is better than asking someone who may give or refuse. He then says the upper hand, meaning the giving hand, is more virtuous than the lower hand, meaning the receiving hand. He also says to begin with those under one’s care. The Hadith does not shame a truly needy person; rather, it praises honest effort, self-reliance, giving when able, and responsibility toward dependants before wider giving.
What we learn from this hadith
- Honest work is better than unnecessary asking.
- The giving hand is described as better than the receiving hand.
- Charity can come from one’s own effort and labor.
- A person should begin spending with those under his care.
