Hadith 1523

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بِشْرٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ ، عَنْ وَرْقَاءَ ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا ، قَالَ : " كَانَ أَهْلُ الْيَمَنِ يَحُجُّونَ وَلَا يَتَزَوَّدُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ : نَحْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ، فَإِذَا قَدِمُوا مَكَّةَ سَأَلُوا النَّاسَ ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى : وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى سورة البقرة آية 197 " ، رَوَاهُ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ مُرْسَلًا .
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The people of Yemen used to come for Hajj and used not to bring enough provisions with them and used to say that they depend on Allah. On their arrival in Medina they used to beg the people, and so Allah revealed, "And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah." (2.197).
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب الحج / 1523
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
A "mursal" hadith is one in which a Tabi'i (Successor) narrates a hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and does not mention the name of the Companion from whom he is transmitting.
If the name of the Companion is mentioned, then this same hadith is called "marfu'" and holds a special status in terms of acceptance, i.e., the authentic marfu' hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

In the noble verse, "taqwa" (piety) means refraining from asking (begging) and making arrangements for one's own travel expenses, and also that an even more important journey than this worldly journey is the journey of the Hereafter.
Its provision is also taqwa: abstinence, avoiding sins, and living a pure life.
In the context of Hajj, the exhortation to taqwa is in fact the essence of Hajj.
Even today, those who extend their hands to beg during Hajj have not understood the purpose of Hajj at all.

Qala al-Muhallab: "In this hadith, from the perspective of jurisprudence, it is understood that refraining from asking is part of taqwa, and this is supported by the fact that Allah has praised those who do not persistently ask people. For His statement, 'Indeed, the best provision is taqwa,' means: take provision with you and avoid harming people by asking them, and avoid the sin in that (Fath)."

That is, al-Muhallab said that from this hadith it is understood that not asking (begging) is from taqwa, and this is supported by the fact that Allah, the Exalted, has praised the person who does not cling to people with requests.
The meaning of "khayr az-zad at-taqwa" (the best provision is taqwa) is that you should take provision with you and do not cause hardship to people by repeatedly asking, and avoid the sin of begging.

A beggar cannot be truly reliant (mutawakkil).
True reliance (tawakkul) is that one does not seek help from anyone in anything, and even after arranging the means, one does not depend on the means themselves—this is from tawakkul. As the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said to the man with the camel: "Tie it firmly, then place your trust in Allah."
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said in a loud voice regarding tawakkul: "Tie the knee of your camel."
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 1523
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The definition of tawakkul (trust in Allah) is that after utilizing means and resources, one then places reliance upon Allah, because it is only Allah, the Exalted, who makes these means effective and fruitful. To sit idly with hands and feet bound is takkul (laziness), not tawakkul. In the aforementioned hadith, it is not tawakkul that is being criticized, but rather the actions of the people, because their action was not tawakkul but mere affectation.

(2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has written, quoting from Muhallab, that refraining from asking (others) is from taqwa (piety), and this is supported by the fact that Allah, the Exalted, has praised the person who does not cling to people and ask from them. The meaning of the aforementioned verse is that during the journey of Hajj, take provisions with you and do not cause hardship to others by asking them, and also avoid the sin of begging. (Fath al-Bari: 3/484) Even today, those who extend their hands in begging during Hajj have not understood the purpose of Hajj.

(3)
The narration of Ibn ‘Uyaynah has been mentioned by Sa‘id ibn Mansur in his Sunan.

(4)
A mursal hadith is one in which a Tabi‘i (Successor) narrates directly from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 1523