Hadith 511
اُردوEn
وعن حكيم بن حزام رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال: « اليد العليا خير من اليد السفلى وابدأ بمن تعول وخير الصدقة ما كان عن ظهر غنى ومن يستعفف يعفه الله ومن يستغن يغنه الله ». متفق عليه واللفظ للبخاري.
Hakim bin Hizam (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ”The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than he who takes it). One should begin by giving to his dependents. And the best Sadaqah (charity) is that, which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left over after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will provide for him and save him from asking others; Allah will make him self-sufficient.” Agreed upon and this version is of al-Bukhari.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Safi ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri
Lexical Explanation 511:
By "al-yad al-‘ulya" (the upper hand) is meant the hand of the giver.
By "al-yad as-sufla" (the lower hand) is meant the hand of the receiver and the one who asks.
"Ibda’" means: begin, start with giving charity and spending.
"Biman ta‘ul" refers to those whose sustenance and maintenance is your responsibility. This is derived from "ghala ar-rajulu ahlahu," which means: a man took care of and maintained his family. This expression is used when a person arranges for the necessary sustenance and clothing of his dependents.
"Ma kana ‘an zahr ghina" means: that which remains surplus after fulfilling one’s own needs, and the owner of the wealth has no particular need or necessity for it, and after giving this wealth in charity, he remains self-sufficient. The word "zahr" is used here merely for rhetorical expansion, i.e., its usage is broad and frequent, and the literal meaning is not intended.
"Wa man yasta‘fif" means: whoever wishes to avoid asking and intends to maintain chastity from extending the hand of request.
"Yu‘iffahu Allah" is derived from the "af‘al" form; Allah, the Exalted, grants him the ability to abstain.
"Wa man yastaghni" means: whoever is content with what he has, whether it is little or much.
Benefits and Issues 511:
From this hadith, it is understood that if the members of one’s household are needy and in want, then spending one’s wealth on them is also an act of virtue and charity. In their presence, giving charity to others is not a commendable act. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Thawban radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The best wealth is that which a man spends on his family and household, or spends in jihad in the way of Allah, or then spends on his friends and companions (while remaining within the limits of the Shari‘ah).” (Sahih Muslim, Az-Zakah, Chapter: The Virtue of Spending on Family and Slaves..., Hadith: 994)
2. In this hadith, along with the virtue of giving charity, there is also discouragement from asking and begging without necessity, and whoever wishes to avoid asking, Allah, the Exalted, creates means for him from Himself and saves him.
By "al-yad al-‘ulya" (the upper hand) is meant the hand of the giver.
By "al-yad as-sufla" (the lower hand) is meant the hand of the receiver and the one who asks.
"Ibda’" means: begin, start with giving charity and spending.
"Biman ta‘ul" refers to those whose sustenance and maintenance is your responsibility. This is derived from "ghala ar-rajulu ahlahu," which means: a man took care of and maintained his family. This expression is used when a person arranges for the necessary sustenance and clothing of his dependents.
"Ma kana ‘an zahr ghina" means: that which remains surplus after fulfilling one’s own needs, and the owner of the wealth has no particular need or necessity for it, and after giving this wealth in charity, he remains self-sufficient. The word "zahr" is used here merely for rhetorical expansion, i.e., its usage is broad and frequent, and the literal meaning is not intended.
"Wa man yasta‘fif" means: whoever wishes to avoid asking and intends to maintain chastity from extending the hand of request.
"Yu‘iffahu Allah" is derived from the "af‘al" form; Allah, the Exalted, grants him the ability to abstain.
"Wa man yastaghni" means: whoever is content with what he has, whether it is little or much.
Benefits and Issues 511:
From this hadith, it is understood that if the members of one’s household are needy and in want, then spending one’s wealth on them is also an act of virtue and charity. In their presence, giving charity to others is not a commendable act. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Thawban radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The best wealth is that which a man spends on his family and household, or spends in jihad in the way of Allah, or then spends on his friends and companions (while remaining within the limits of the Shari‘ah).” (Sahih Muslim, Az-Zakah, Chapter: The Virtue of Spending on Family and Slaves..., Hadith: 994)
2. In this hadith, along with the virtue of giving charity, there is also discouragement from asking and begging without necessity, and whoever wishes to avoid asking, Allah, the Exalted, creates means for him from Himself and saves him.
Source: Bulugh al-Maram: Commentary by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Page: 511
