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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
كتاب الزكاةBook of Zakat
بَابُ أَفْضَلِ الصَّدَقَةِChapter: The Best Charity
Hadith 3591
اُردوEn
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَجُلٌ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: ((أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ، وَأَنْتَ شَحِيحٌ صَحِيحٌ تَأْمَلُ الْعَيْشَ، وَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ، وَلَا تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بِالْحُلْقُومِ قُلْتَ: لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ (وَفِي لَفْظٍ) أَلَا قَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ))
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man said: O Messenger of Allah! Which charity is the best? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Your charity when you are healthy and greedy, hoping for life and fearing poverty, and do not delay so much that when the soul reaches the throat, you begin to say: Give this much to so-and-so, give that much to so-and-so, whereas at that time the wealth has already become the property of others.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … When a person is in greater need of wealth and possessions and is more desirous of them, at that time giving charity (sadaqah) is regarded with greater esteem in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala. This is because, in such a state, overcoming one’s own self for the sake of attaining Allah Ta‘ala’s pleasure and approval is a trial of patience and a difficult task. Subduing the self (nafs) before Allah Ta‘ala is precisely the divine objective. At the time of death’s throes (i.e., the pangs of death), none of a person’s deeds are accepted; at that moment, good deeds, bequests, and acts of charity become ineffective, fruitless, and without result. Therefore, we should, during the prime and prominent period of our lives, prepare provisions for the Hereafter by giving charity and alms (sadaqah wa khayrat) according to our financial means.
