(وَعَنْهُ مِنْ طَرِيقٍ ثَانٍ) عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ((وَاللَّهِ! لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلًا فَيَحْتَطِبَ فَيَحْمِلَهُ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَيَأْكُلَ أَوْ يَتَصَدَّقَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْتِي رَجُلًا أَغْنَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ فَيَسْأَلَهُ أَعْطَاهُ أَوْ مَنَعَهُ، ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ الْيَدَ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى))
(Second chain) The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: By Allah! If any one of you were to take a rope, go out, gather firewood, carry it on his back, and thus earn his food or give charity from its price, this is better for him than going to someone whom Allah has made wealthy and asking him, whether that person gives him something or not. This is because the upper hand is better than the lower hand.